Attractions management stories

Attractions management covers the process of managing all aspects of visitor attractions such as theme parks, water parks, zoos, aquariums, museums, FECs, and brand experiences. Some attractions are managed by large corporations. For example, Parques Reunidos in Europe, Miral in the Middle East, and Six Flags Entertainment Corporation in the US. There are also global players, like Disney, Universal and Merlin Entertainments.

Some attractions are managed by local or national governments. This is often the case with national museums. For example, the British Museum in the UK, the Louvre in France, and the Smithsonian in the US. Meanwhile, many smaller attractions, like amusement parks and FECs, are standalone or are managed as part of a small group.

Several locations within the attractions industry are managed by families. Knoebels in the US has been in the Knoebel family for a century. In Germany, Europa-Park has been managed by the Mack Family for three generations. The family’s manufacturing firm, Mack Rides, has been in the family for eight generations.

Attractions management encompasses everything from managing staff, resources and budgets, adding new rides or exhibits and investing in expansion projects to overseeing the food and beverage offering and ensuring adequate health and safety. Most importantly, it is about making sure that the guest has an enjoyable visit.

Depending on the size of the attraction, several departments, alongside an executive team, will be tasked with managing elements like HR, operations, health and safety, visitor experience, food and beverage, marketing, and more.