STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHES NEW COMPANY: Herschend Family Entertainment and Jerry Henry Associates research consulting firm have partnered to launch a company called H2R Market Research. The new corporation provides full-service research services to the travel and tourism, leisure, retail, and health care service sectors, among others. The firm is based in Springfield, Missouri, and is led by Jerry Henry, a research industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience. www.h2rmarketresearch.com
EXPANDING ITS REACH: U.S.-based rides manufacturer Premier Rides recently announced the opening of a new office in Leicestershire, England. The office will mainly provide after-sales service support in the European market. The company said that it is currently working on a number of projects in Europe and wanted to ensure its clients had access to its technical team and support on all levels. www.premier-rides.com
SENIOR LEADERSHIP IN PLACE: Merlin Entertainments announced the placement of the last five directors of Legoland Florida as the new 150-acre park prepares to hire its remaining 1,000 employees. Jan Mahoney has been named director of operations and joins the park after working at Legoland California. Kim Jensen has been tapped as director of food and beverage, after 23 years with Legolands in Deutschland and Billund. Teresa Vaughn comes onboard as director of human resources after 20 years of experience with Walt Disney World and SeaWorld Orlando. Erik Henderson has been chosen as director of retail, bringing 15 years of retail experience with him. David Johnson is moving from Merlin Entertainments’ Warwick Castle in England to become director of finance.
EAASI WELCOMES NEW BOARD DIRECTOR: The European Association Amusement Supplier Industry has reconfirmed its board of directors for 2011. Joining existing directors Sascha Czibulka, Wieland Schwarzkopf, and Gilles Reverchon is new director Charlotte van Etten, who is an account manager for Vekoma Ride Manufacturing.
SLIDING INTO CHINA: WhiteWater West Industries opened a new office in Shanghai, intended to help the company meet a growing demand in that market and to improve service to its existing client base. The Shanghai location marks the 15th office worldwide opened by White- Water West. www.whitewaterwest.com
WELCOME ABOARD: Neptune-Benson, manufacturer of aquatic filtration systems, named Michael Turner vice president of international business development. Turner brings more than 27 years of experience in the entertainment and attractions industry and will oversee all aspects of the company’s international business operations. He spent the past 14 years with Gateway Ticketing Systems, where he built an international network of sales and support offices. www.neptunebenson.com
PRODUCTS
ANYONE FOR A ROUND? Adventure Golf Services (AGS) announced it is now an authorized dealer of the My mini Golf game, which was the winner of the GolfEurope Product Award for quality and innovation. The game consists of weatherproof, plastic-cast obstacles and targets that are randomly placed on any indoor or outdoor surface. Prices range from $12.95 to $55 for individual obstacles and from $150 to $460 for individual and team sets that come with clubs, balls, and score pads. AGS says the game is perfect for FECs, arcades, cruise lines, and more. www.adventureandfun.com
MOBILE PHOTO BOOTH WITH ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES: Digital Centre America rolled out its new Party’n’Go Photo Booth, designed for easy transportation and with several exclusive features. It includes the Automatic Rental Timer, Photo Booth Rental Token, and Weeding Video options. The cabinet offers revolutionary digital software that allows operators to track sales and gain better control of their photo booth business. www.digital-centre.com
FLUME RIDE FOR THE KIDDIES: Interlink LG added a new ride to its list of aquatic offerings in the form of the Miniflume. Designed specifically to cater to children 3 to 8 years of age, the ride covers an area of only 50 feet by 23 feet and features a station length of 15 feet and a single lift drop of 6 ½ feet. Six boats will be used, each seating three passengers, and water speed will be about one foot per second. The ride capacity is 650 riders per hour. The first Miniflume will be installed at Vias Plage in southern France. www.interlink-lg.com
WAVES—ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANY SIZE: Instant Sports S.L. joined the competitive marketplace for man-made wave generators with its own entry, Wavegarden. Wavegarden’s technology can be applied to a wide range of existing bodies of water, including lakes, reservoirs, ponds, lagoons, and man-made pools, allowing anyone to experience waves of all sizes, shapes, and speeds. The company says Wavegarden is much less costly to build and maintain than current wave generators and is also much more energy efficient. www.wave-garden.com
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHES NEW COMPANY: Herschend Family Entertainment and Jerry Henry Associates research consulting firm have partnered to launch a company called H2R Market Research. The new corporation provides full-service research services to the travel and tourism, leisure, retail, and health care service sectors, among others. The firm is based in Springfield, Missouri, and is led by Jerry Henry, a research industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience. 
EAASI WELCOMES NEW BOARD DIRECTOR: The European Association Amusement Supplier Industry has reconfirmed its board of directors for 2011. Joining existing directors Sascha Czibulka, Wieland Schwarzkopf, and Gilles Reverchon is new director Charlotte van Etten, who is an account manager for Vekoma Ride Manufacturing. 
WELCOME ABOARD: Neptune-Benson, manufacturer of aquatic filtration systems, named Michael Turner vice president of international business development. Turner brings more than 27 years of experience in the entertainment and attractions industry and will oversee all aspects of the company’s international business operations. He spent the past 14 years with Gateway Ticketing Systems, where he built an international network of sales and support offices. 
ANYONE FOR A ROUND? Adventure Golf Services (AGS) announced it is now an authorized dealer of the My mini Golf game, which was the winner of the GolfEurope Product Award for quality and innovation. The game consists of weatherproof, plastic-cast obstacles and targets that are randomly placed on any indoor or outdoor surface. Prices range from $12.95 to $55 for individual obstacles and from $150 to $460 for individual and team sets that come with clubs, balls, and score pads. AGS says the game is perfect for FECs, arcades, cruise lines, and more. 
MOBILE PHOTO BOOTH WITH ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES: Digital Centre America rolled out its new Party’n’Go Photo Booth, designed for easy transportation and with several exclusive features. It includes the Automatic Rental Timer, Photo Booth Rental Token, and Weeding Video options. The cabinet offers revolutionary digital software that allows operators to track sales and gain better control of their photo booth business. 
FLUME RIDE FOR THE KIDDIES: Interlink LG added a new ride to its list of aquatic offerings in the form of the Miniflume. Designed specifically to cater to children 3 to 8 years of age, the ride covers an area of only 50 feet by 23 feet and features a station length of 15 feet and a single lift drop of 6 ½ feet. Six boats will be used, each seating three passengers, and water speed will be about one foot per second. The ride capacity is 650 riders per hour. The first Miniflume will be installed at Vias Plage in southern France. 
WAVES—ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANY SIZE: Instant Sports S.L. joined the competitive marketplace for man-made wave generators with its own entry, Wavegarden. Wavegarden’s technology can be applied to a wide range of existing bodies of water, including lakes, reservoirs, ponds, lagoons, and man-made pools, allowing anyone to experience waves of all sizes, shapes, and speeds. The company says Wavegarden is much less costly to build and maintain than current wave generators and is also much more energy efficient.