Charlotte Coates is blooloop's editor. She is from Brighton, UK and previously worked as a librarian. She has a strong interest in arts, culture and information and graduated from the University of Sussex with a degree in English Literature. Charlotte can usually be found either with her head in a book or planning her next travel adventure.
AZA, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, has chosen four member-led conservation projects to support through the SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction granting program, now in its second year. The association is helping to drive nearly $730K to these projects.
“It is exciting to witness the growth of the SAFE granting program, both in terms of the scope of the projects funded and the shared commitment by AZA members to conservation,” says Dan Ashe, President and CEO of AZA.
“Despite the extraordinary challenges of the past year, AZA members have continued their dedication to saving animals from extinction, which further demonstrates that conservation is in the DNA of modern, accredited zoos and aquariums.”
Advancing species recovery
The SAFE granting program was set up in 2019 with initial funding from the Arthur L. and Elaine V. Johnson Foundation. Its goal is to bring funds to AZA members who are implementing program plans to advance species recovery.
This year, extra funds were made available through the support of the Disney Conservation Fund and other philanthropic and corporate contributors. Project partners bring additional matching funds, driving more resources from the program.
“Receiving the SAFE grant from AZA is an incredible honor," says Dr Lisa Hoopes, Director of Research, Conservation, and Nutrition at Georgia Aquarium and a project lead for In Situ Population Reinforcement of Endangered Zebra Sharks in Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia.
"Not only will this grant help us financially to achieve our goal of reintroducing zebra sharks to Indonesia, but it also highlights the important role zoos and aquariums play in conserving wild populations. We are excited to continue this important research and can’t wait to release our first group of zebra sharks."
11 of 28 eligible SAFE projects submitted a proposal, and from these judges selected four projects to receive funding of more than $165,000 in grants. This is in addition to $560,000 in matching funds, making a total of nearly $730,000. 15 AZA members and 9 additional non-governmental organizations, government agencies, and universities will partner to complete these projects.
“We are excited and honoured to receive funding from this innovative SAFE program, which will allow us to answer important questions about the devastating shell disease that has slowed the recovery of the endangered western pond turtle," says Dr Tim Storms, an associate veterinarian at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.
"Our 30-year multi-institutional collaboration has made great strides toward ensuring the survival of this species, and we’re determined to continue this important work."
“The Little Rock Zoo is proud to partner with the Orangutan SAFE on this important conservation effort and pleased to be working with so many of our AZA colleagues to save wildlife,” says Susan Altrui, Little Rock Zoo Director.
SAFE granting program recipients 2021:
Ensuring Protection of the World’s Largest Black Rhino Population in the Face of the Global Corona Virus Pandemic. Richard Bergl, PhD, North Carolina Zoo & Seth Stapleton, PhD, Minnesota Zoo. Additional Collaborators: Buffalo Zoo, Etosha National Park, Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History, Little Rock Zoo, Save the Rhino Trust, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Gaining a New Understanding of Orangutans in Agricultural Mosaic Landscapes to Cause a Paradigm Shift in Conservation Strategy. Louis DiVincenti, DVM, MS, DACLAM, DACAW, Seneca Park Zoo & Brian Kutsch, Little Rock Zoo. Additional Collaborators: Birmingham Zoo, Borneo Futures, Henry Vilas Zoo, HUTAN, Maria Voight Consultant, Wildlife Impact
In Situ Population Reinforcement of Endangered Zebra Sharks ( Stegostoma tigrinum ) in Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Tim Carpenter and Erin Meyer, PhD, Seattle Aquarium, Julie Levans, Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, & Leah Neal, Alistair D.M. Dove, PhD, and Lisa Hoope s, PhD, Georgia Aquarium
Investigating Shell Disease and Its Associated Pathobiome in Western Pond Turtles. Tim Storms, DVM and Kevin Murphy, Woodland Park Zoo, Kelly Flaminio, DVM, Oregon Zoo, Karen Terio, DVM, PhD, DACVP, University of Illinois & Lee Pinnell, PhD, Texas A&M University. Additional Collaborators: John G. Shedd Aquarium, Washington Department of Fish, and Wildlife and Smith Root, Inc.
Charlotte Coates is blooloop's editor. She is from Brighton, UK and previously worked as a librarian. She has a strong interest in arts, culture and information and graduated from the University of Sussex with a degree in English Literature. Charlotte can usually be found either with her head in a book or planning her next travel adventure.
Walt Disney Imagineering has shared a behind-the-scenes tour of the new Avengers: Infinity Defense attraction at Disney California Adventure.
Now under construction at Disneyland, Avengers: Infinity Defense is one of two new attractions coming to the Avengers Campus expansion, which will double the size of the Marvel land.
In the behind-the-scenes video, Walt Disney Imagineering structural engineer Alanna Marshall offers a look at Infinity Defense's construction site.
As well as revealing the main building columns and the foundations to support them, Marshall shows off the catwalk, which will eventually support projectors, speakers and other types of show elements.
Avengers: Infinity Defense is a dark ride, described as a multi-world adventure during which riders travel to iconic locations such as Asgard and Wakanda via spaceship.
Guests will assemble with the Avengers and battle King Thanos across multiple worlds, Disney previously revealed.
Avengers Campus expansion
The second attraction in the expanded Avengers Campus is Stark Flight Lab, which will put riders inside Tony Stark’s workshop.
During this experience, guests will be seated in two-person pods before being grabbed by a robot arm and whirled around in a simulated flight.
“Transferring from a track to a robot arm and then back again – nothing like this has ever been done before in a theme park, and we’re so excited about it,” said Imagineering's president and chief creative officer Bruce Vaughn at last year's South by Southwest event.
“Usually, we hide all the tech behind the scenes so you can focus on the story. Here, the tech IS the story, so we’re putting it front and center.”
The world’s first Avengers Campus launched at Disneyland in 2021. This was followed by a second Avengers Campus at Disneyland Paris in 2022.
Also coming to Disney California Adventure is a new Coco boat ride, as well as a new Avatar experience.
Combined, the above parks welcomed around 4.5 million visitors for the full year ended 31 December 2025, generating approximately $260m in net revenue.
The sale will enable Six Flags "to concentrate our capital, leadership and operational focus on the properties that we believe generate the strongest returns and offer the greatest long-term upside", said John Reilly, Six Flags' president and CEO.
"Since joining the company, I have been clear that Six Flags’ earnings power has been under-realized," he added.
"This transaction will simplify our portfolio, strengthen our balance sheet and position us to execute with greater clarity and discipline.
"By focusing our resources on the parks that we believe have the highest growth potential, we expect to drive operating leverage, expand margins and accelerate our cash flow generation."
Six Flags to streamline portfolio
EPR will partner with Enchanted Parks to operate the six US properties, and with La Ronde Operations, Inc. to manage Six Flags La Ronde in Canada.
The company will retain the right to use the Six Flags brand through the end of this year.
The transaction is expected to close by the the end of the first quarter or beginning of the second quarter of this year, subject to certain closing conditions and third-party approvals.
"Decisions like this are never taken lightly," Reilly said.
"We’re confident the parks will be in good hands with EPR and its partners, who have strong experience operating parks of this quality and scale.
"At the same time, this move allows Six Flags to concentrate on the parks that we believe offer the greatest opportunities for growth and long-term success."
Six Flags will now oversee its remaining collection of 34 parks in 23 locations across North America.
SSA Group has been working on a transformative approach to operations. By weaving its signature 452 Hospitality ethos, rooted in a legacy of welcome and human connection, into Scout, a new AI-driven operating system, the company demonstrates how AI can enhance rather than replace the human side of hospitality.
For nearly 60 years, SSA Group has been a staple in the cultural attractions sector, collaborating with zoos, aquariums, and museums to provide comprehensive guest services. As a family-owned business, the company has continually adapted, but its core mission remains centred on a simple, powerful concept: hospitality.
We speak with CEO Sean McNicholas and vice president of people and culture, Jason Stover, to unpack Scout's mission and learn how it can open the door to both greater efficiency and more memorable moments.
SSA reimagines the industry
Starting by looking at the bigger picture, McNicholas says: “What I love about SSA and our family business is our curiosity for continuing to reimagine the industry.
"Those are pillars of our plan. We approach 60 years as a family business in 2030, and what’s exciting to us is continuing to innovate, not just our business, but the guest experience for our clients and partners.”
Sean McNicholas and Jason Stover
This culture of curiosity is what prompted McNicholas and Stover to investigate the potential of artificial intelligence long before it became the industry buzzword it is today.
"Five or six years ago, Jason came to me as one of the early adopters of AI. We started talking about it, and the more we looked at tools like AI, we asked a very simple question: what one, two, or three areas could AI positively impact our business?"
For SSA, the goal was not to replace staff or remove the human element from the museum or zoo experience through automation. Instead, the emphasis was on liberation.
"The thing that became clear was how tools like AI could help us become more efficient with data, back-end systems, and administrative work," adds McNicholas.
"If we can be more efficient there, we can spend more time meeting guests where they need us, which is on the front line.”
The outcome of this exploration is Scout, an AI-assisted tool and ‘unified intelligence layer’ designed specifically for cultural attractions.
Scout is positioned not as a replacement for human workers, but as a co-pilot. It is an operating system that gathers data from across the industry to provide real-time insights. Unlike general-purpose AI tools, Scout has been built for the sector's operational realities.
"AI is trending now, but it’s not new," says Stover.
"I’ve been with SSA for almost 30 years, and my journey with AI in this company has existed since day one. When I first became a manager, we were already experimenting with predictive analytics, trying to forecast attendance and staffing.
"That was AI at the time."
However, the leap to generative AI offered a new opportunity to support SSA's secret sauce: its people.
Stover employs a cinematic analogy to describe Scout’s role within the workforce:
"I compare it to Tony Stark," he says. "He’s brilliant, but he doesn’t become Iron Man until he has Jarvis. That’s what Scout is. It’s a co-pilot that takes away routine, monotonous work so our people can focus on what matters."
Real-time, useful insights
Designed to support guest-journey walkthroughs, the platform collects real-time observations and converts them into actionable insights tailored to each attraction.
The tool was created in accordance with SSA’s core belief that technology should never replace connection; it should enhance it. The idea is that data and design can collaborate to create memorable guest experiences.
This supports SSA’s wider focus on innovation, which aims to turn curiosity into meaningful change that advances partners' missions. By automating data analysis, Scout helps operators make more informed decisions about designs, platforms, and revenue strategies.
"Guest expectations are evolving faster than ever," says Stover. "Scout was built to meet this moment as a tech-forward AI tool that allows us to keep experiences deeply personal.”
The heart of the system: 452 Hospitality
Although the technology is impressive, the engine driving Scout remains entirely human. At the centre of Scout’s design is 452 Hospitality, the cultural ethos that defines SSA Group’s purpose and character.
Named after 452 Leyden Street, the Denver home where SSA’s founders first lived and practised hospitality, 452 has since become both a numeric and philosophical code for what the company stands for: a spirit of welcome, belonging, and genuine human connection.
At 452 Leyden Street, anyone could come in for a meal, a chat, or a place to rest. And that sense of genuine warmth now lives on in every SSA service encounter.
Today, 452 Hospitality reflects SSA’s ongoing dedication to creating authentic, memorable moments that uplift guests, partners, and colleagues alike.
That same spirit guides Scout’s purpose: rather than replacing people, the AI system aims to enable staff to embody 452 Hospitality more fully, freeing them from administrative burdens so they can provide the personal engagement that makes guests feel welcome and valued.
In practice, this involves a particular method for engaging with guests and monitoring operations. Scout develops a digital framework for this using the SOQ model: Observation, Opinion, and Question.
"Scout is being trained by the entire zoo, aquarium, and cultural attraction industry," Stover says. "Every conversation, every audit, every partner insight gets ingested and shapes how Scout operates.”
Within the Scout ecosystem, there are various ‘agents’ dedicated to different tasks, such as labour optimisation and inventory management. However, the ‘452 agent’ is unique.
"It has vision and voice capabilities. As you walk through operations, it analyses images and observations in real time and evaluates them against our hospitality standards. It acts as a co-pilot for auditors and operators, making observations, offering insights, and matching them with best practices and solutions.
“You might miss something as a human, but Scout won’t.”
Scout in action
The deployment of Scout is already producing tangible outcomes, progressing from theoretical ideas to solving complex on-site issues. This highlights SSA’s focus on turning insights into action by combining data, technology, and human connection.
McNicholas emphasises that the team is "continually evolving Scout by testing it across multiple attractions," noting that "every new site adds more data and sharper insights.”
Stover offers an example of Scout’s operational intelligence in action from a working session with the Detroit Zoo. The team was exploring a complex “what-if” scenario: opening a new entrance near a new exhibit while navigating compliance considerations, budget constraints, and a nearby rail track.
“Using Scout as a sandbox alongside their team, we pressure-tested the constraints, surfaced relevant regulatory considerations, explored alternative approaches like repurposed shipping containers, and generated rough-order cost ranges. It was less about committing to a final plan and more about accelerating discovery.”
“What’s exciting is that every audit surfaces a new real-world question, and we ask: Should this become a new sub-agent? That’s how Scout keeps evolving.”
Another success story comes from the Dallas Zoo, where Scout was instrumental in helping the zoo team explore their own AI journey while SSA conducted an inter-department relationship audit.
Scout is tailored to each user’s psychology
What makes Scout different from typical business AI tools is its incorporation of behavioural psychology. Acknowledging that strong operations don't happen by accident, SSA has combined leadership development with its technological roadmap.
Stover, whose background is in people and culture, insisted that if they were to create co-pilots, they had to understand the humans who would use them. So, instead of providing generic recommendations, Scout adapts its guidance to each leader's thinking and communication style.
"One of the first things we decided was that if we were going to build AI co-pilots, they needed to integrate Behavioural Essentials," Stover says. "We already use behavioural assessments that give leaders a 21-point profile, with strengths, tendencies, and blind spots. We’ve now incorporated that into Scout.”
This means that when a manager logs into Scout, the system is tailored to their specific personality profile.
"It understands how I communicate, where I might need softer language, or where I might need more structure," Stover says.
He adds that McNicholas served as the ‘guinea pig’ for this feature:
"We merged his traits and blind spots into Scout as he was working through our future roadmap. Scout isn’t just an AI tool; it understands your psychological makeup and helps cover your blind spots as you operate in your role.”
The future of the workforce
A common concern about AI is the risk of job displacement. However, SSA’s leadership firmly states that their investment in technology aims to safeguard, not eliminate, their workforce.
"As CEO, culture is my responsibility, and culture starts with values," McNicholas says. "Hospitality, human-to-human interaction, has always been our foundation. I don’t want a world of all robots and automation. I love people too much.
“That’s why Scout exists. It helps us live what we love to do: creating special moments for people.”
Stover shares this view, considering AI as a safeguard against the decline of interpersonal skills observed in other industries:
"We have to be proactive in shaping the future. Many companies will use AI purely to impact the bottom line. That’s their choice. But SSA has always been people-focused. We’re adopting AI safely and intentionally to better our people. As interpersonal skills decline elsewhere, we’re protecting them by freeing people up to reconnect.”
The efficiency gains are clear. Stover notes that tasks like scheduling, which previously took hours to analyse against weather and sales history, now happen in seconds. "That frees managers up to spend time with their team. That’s the point.
“We’re hospitality people. We want to be in front of guests, not behind a screen.”
A vision for 2030
Looking ahead, SSA has set bold goals for the next five years. As the company approaches its 60th anniversary in 2030, the vision is for a fully enabled workforce where each employee has a digital partner.
"By 2030, every person in our company will have a co-pilot that helps them be more efficient," predicts McNicholas. "We’ll also bring a unified revenue strategy to attractions, something the industry lacks.”
He also believes the metrics of success are shifting. It is no longer enough to simply count heads at the gate:
"The future metrics won’t just be attendance. They’ll be revenue, guest experience, and fulfilment," he says.
"There’s more competition than ever, and we have to be the place where guests leave thinking, 'That felt right.' To do that, our people need tools like Scout so they can spend more time creating those moments.
“That’s how we reimagine the industry.”
The future of hospitality
Summing up the benefits, COO Travis Kight says:
"AI is the future of hospitality, but not in the way most imagine. We see AI as a co-pilot, not a replacement, designed to protect the human connection that defines our industry.
“Tools like Scout allow us to turn data into real-time insights, freeing our teams from repetitive tasks so they can focus on creating unforgettable guest experiences.
"As Sean mentioned, by 2030, our vision is for every team member to have a digital partner that amplifies their strengths, covers blind spots, and helps us deliver hospitality at a level the industry has never seen.
“AI isn’t about automation. It’s about empowerment.”
As SSA Group looks towards the attractions of tomorrow, its message is clear: the path to the future is built on data, but the goal remains human connection.
By anchoring Scout in 452 Hospitality's philosophy of creating meaningful, human-centred moments, SSA isn’t just adopting AI for efficiency. It’s enhancing its ability to deliver heartfelt experiences that define its brand and shape the future of the guest experience.
"That’s the foundation of Scout," Stover says. "If a tool doesn’t protect hospitality or make us better people-facing operators, it doesn’t get built.”
Announcing the news on social media, Universal shared images of the new cars onX and released a teaser video of the ride on Instagram.
Per the announcement, ride vehicles will feature four iconic designs, including the Mazda RX-7, Nissan Skyline GT-R, Toyota Supra, and the previously announced Dodge Charger
Universal captioned the post: "Four iconic designs, one fast ride. The Mazda RX-7, Nissan Skyline GT-R, and Toyota Supra join the iconic Dodge Charger to complete the lineup for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift."
Opening at the California theme park this summer,Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will be the fastest coaster in Universal's lineup, reaching speeds of up to 72 mph.
As the park’s first-ever high-speed outdoor coaster, guests will race along 4,100 feet of aerial track in 360-degree rotating vehicles, designed to resemble iconic cars from Fast & Furious.
Located on the Upper Lot of Universal Studios Hollywood, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will include a queue experience situated within a garage-like structure.
Speaking last year, Scott Strobl, executive vice president and general manager of Universal Studios Hollywood, said: "Watching the progress of this incredible roller coaster come to life is truly spectacular."
Four iconic designs
He continued: "Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will be a powerful game changer for Universal Studios Hollywood that will not only transform the topography of our destination but will infuse an entirely new level of adrenaline to our already dynamic theme park."
Teasing what to expect from the new coaster, Universal said in a press release: "Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will put guests in the driver seat of the high-speed thrills of Universal Pictures’ Fast & Furious universe like never before."
This opening marks the exhibition's North American debut and the beginning of its tour of the US and Canada.
The globally acclaimed exhibition has engaged hundreds of thousands of guests across Europe and now brings an insightful perspective on the Cold War to a new region.
Democracy, division & freedom
Visitors to The Berlin Wall: A World Divided can see more than 200 original artefacts, including authentic fragments of the Berlin Wall, alongside personal testimonies from Berliners. The exhibition tells stories of separated families, choices made, and the resilience of those confronting ideological barriers.
Luis Ferreiro,CEO of Musealia, says: "History is often remembered through dates and figures, but what truly resonates are the human stories at its core.
"The power of an exhibition lies not only in presenting history, but in making it human. When visitors engage with an authentic story—through an artifact, testimony, or personal document—they reflect, empathize, and connect across time and culture. That is where real impact happens."
Beyond the typical East versus West narrative, The Berlin Wall: A World Divided explores how daily life was affected by competing societal models, from authoritarian control to liberal democracy, and the human cost when pluralism disappeared.
Visitors are encouraged to consider the fragility of democracy, the enduring nature of authoritarian impulses, and how civic action can influence history.
Union Station Kansas City offers a compelling setting for the North American debut. Formerly a major rail hub, the iconic landmark is now one of the leading cultural institutions in the Midwest, bringing together history, education, and public engagement.
At the presentation ceremony on 18 February, George Guastello, president and CEO of Union Station, said: "Union Station is committed to presenting exhibitions that educate and inspire.
"We are proud to serve as the starting point for this important North American tour."
The event was also attended by Ferreiro, Rolf Snyder, honorary German consul; Mark P. Adams, director of the Harry S.Truman Library and Museum; and Timothy Riley, Sandra L. and Monroe E. Trout, director and chief curator, America’s National Churchill Museum.
Their presence highlighted the exhibition’s significance and the shared dedication to education and historical reflection.
For more than 25 years, Musealia has made history resonate by connecting visitors to personal stories. The Berlin Wall: A World Divided enhances understanding of the human side of this ideological conflict, illustrating how political decisions shape real lives and how collective action can help reshape history.
At a time when discussions about democracy, division, and freedom are at the forefront of global conversations, this exhibition encourages visitors to explore history and engage with the human stories behind it, fostering reflection on the significance of human rights, liberty, and civic duty.
Earlier this year, Musealia marked the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz as the Seeing Auschwitz exhibition opened at the Archivio di Stato di Torino (Sale espositive, Piazzetta Molino 1) in Turin.
