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The Power 10
The blooloop 50
The Judges

The blooloop 50 Theme Park Influencer List 2018

Entertaining and unforgettable experiences are the lifeblood of the theme park business. The blooloop 50 Theme Park Influencer List 2018 celebrates some of the key individuals shaping this multi-billion dollar global industry in 2018 and leaving their mark on the 21st century theme park experience.

Working closely with the Omnico Group and our select panel of judges, we have created an exciting list of influencers which draws on the many nominations received from our readers across the world. Our influencers are making waves in all corners of the industry and include a broad range of innovators, entrepreneurs, designers and executives.


The Blooloop 50 is designed to be an industry standard highlighting the most influential people each year. We hope this celebration of the theme park industry influencers inspires discussion across the industry. And remember, if you don’t see your influencer in the list this year, be sure to make a nomination in 2019.

Charles Read, Managing Director, Blooloop

There is a huge amount of innovation at play in the theme park industry. Behind those innovations are great ideas and influencers who make things happen. In this industry, getting it wrong can be hugely damaging in a very public way.

Beyond having a great idea, you must believe in that idea and have the drive to follow it through and convince those around you that it’s going to work.

Creativity, drive, the ability to absorb information and make judgements based on the evidence are important qualities every influencer must have. The biggest influencers are often those who lead with consistency, insistence on the highest standards and openness to innovation make them stand out. They are the kind of people who can quickly assess what will or will not work and whose judgement is widely respected beyond their immediate colleagues and has a resounding impact on the wider industry.

Mel Taylor , CEO , Omnico Group

Entertaining and unforgettable experiences are the lifeblood of the theme park business. The blooloop 50 Theme Park Influencer List 2018 celebrates some of the key individuals shaping this multi-billion dollar global industry in 2018 and leaving their mark on the 21st century theme park experience.

Working closely with the Omnico Group and our select panel of judges, we have created an exciting list of influencers which draws on the many nominations received from our readers across the world. Our influencers are making waves in all corners of the industry and include a broad range of innovators, entrepreneurs, designers and executives.


The Blooloop 50 is designed to be an industry standard highlighting the most influential people each year. We hope this celebration of the theme park industry influencers inspires discussion across the industry. And remember, if you don’t see your influencer in the list this year, be sure to make a nomination in 2019.

Charles Read, Managing Director, Blooloop

There is a huge amount of innovation at play in the theme park industry. Behind those innovations are great ideas and influencers who make things happen. In this industry, getting it wrong can be hugely damaging in a very public way.

Beyond having a great idea, you must believe in that idea and have the drive to follow it through and convince those around you that it’s going to work.

Creativity, drive, the ability to absorb information and make judgements based on the evidence are important qualities every influencer must have. The biggest influencers are often those who lead with consistency, insistence on the highest standards and openness to innovation make them stand out. They are the kind of people who can quickly assess what will or will not work and whose judgement is widely respected beyond their immediate colleagues and has a resounding impact on the wider industry.

Mel Taylor , CEO , Omnico Group

​The Blooloop 50 is designed to be an industry standard highlighting the most influential people each year. We hope this celebration of the theme park industry influencers inspires discussion across the industry. And remember, if you don’t see your influencer in the list this year, be sure to make a nomination in 2019.

-Charles Read, Managing Director, Blooloop

Mohamed_Ali_Alabbar blooloop 50 theme park influencer 2019

HE Mohamed Ali Alabbar

Founder and Chairman

Emaar Properties

Abdulmohsin-Abdulaziz-Alhokair-Al-Hokair-Group blooloop 50 theme park influencer 2019

Abdulmohsin Abdulaziz Alhokair

Founder and Chairman

Al Hokair Group

xavier lopez ancona kidzania blooloop 50 theme park influencer 2019

Xavier López Ancona

President, Founder and CEO

KidZania

walter bolliger blooloop 50 theme park influencer list

Walter Bolliger

Co-founder

Bolliger & Mabillard

raymon braun eca blooloop 50 theme park influencer list 2018

Raymond Braun

Founder

Entertainment + Culture Advisors (ECA)

adrian cheng k11 themed entertainment blooloop 50 theme park influencer list 2018

Adrian Cheng

Founder and chairman / CEO

K11 / New World Development

Dave-Cobb-Thinkwell-Group-blooloop-50-theme-park-influencer-list-2019

Dave Cobb

Principal, Creative Development

Thinkwell Group

jane cooper Herschend Family Entertainment blooloop 50 theme park influencer list 2018

Jane Cooper

President/Chief Operating Officer

Herschend Family Entertainment

Thierry Coup headshot blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Thierry Coup

Senior VP and Chief Creative Officer

Universal Creative

Andrew Darrow the void blooloop 50 theme park influencer list 2018

Andrew Darrow

Chief Strategy Officer

The Void

Gordon Dorrett FORREC

Gordon Dorrett

Executive Director

FORREC

Fernando Eiroa parques reunidos blooloop 50 theme park influencer list 2018

Fernando Eiroa

CEO

Dubai Holding Entertainment

mark fisher merlin entertainments

Mark Fisher

Chief Development Officer

Merlin Entertainments

majid-al-futtaim blooloop 50 theme park influencer list 2018

Majid Al Futtaim

Founder

Majid Al Futtaim Group

DON-Ghermezian-triple-five blooloop 50 theme park influencer list 2018

Don Ghermezian

CEO

Triple Five

Franceen Gonzales headshot blooloop theme park influencer list 2020

Franceen Gonzales

Chief Experience Officer

WhiteWater

bernard harrison blooloop 50 theme park nfluencer list

Bernard Harrison

Principal Partner

Zoo Design Consultant

Lance hart screamscape blooloop 50 theme park influencer list 2018

Lance Hart

Owner

Screamscape

Gordon Hartman morgans wonderland blooloop 50 theme park influencer list 2018

Gordon Hartman

CEO

Morgan's Wonderland

Phil-Hettema_blooloop 50 theme park influencer list 2018

Phil Hettema

Owner

The Hettema Group

robert iger disney withmickey mouse blooloop 50 theme park influencer 2109

Robert Iger

CEO

The Walt Disney Company

john jakobsen merlin entertainments blooloop 50 theme park influencer list 2018

John Jakobsen

Chief Operating Officer

Legoland Resorts Group

Keith James

Keith James

President

JRA

taylor jeffs legacy gge blooloop theme park influencer list 2018.

Taylor Jeffs

President and Chief Creative Officer

Legacy Entertainment

clark kirby village roadshow

Clark Kirby

CEO

Village Roadshow Theme Parks

Gilles Ste-Croix and Guy Laliberté of cirque du soleil

Gilles Ste-Croix and Guy Laliberté

Co-Founders

Cirque du Soleil

pam landwirth gktw blooloop 50 theme park influencer list 2018

Pam Landwirth

President and CEO

Give Kids the World (GKTW)

technifax president CEO monty lunde

Monty Lunde

Founder, President and CEO

Technifex

Michael Mack blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Michael Mack

CEO

Europa-Park

cecil magpuri

Cecil Magpuri

Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder

Falcon’s Beyond Global

kathy mangum disney imagineering blooloop 50 theme park influencers 2018

Kathy Mangum

Senior Vice President

Walt Disney Imagineering

Tom Mehrmann headshot blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Tom Mehrmann

President and COO

Universal Parks and Resorts, Pacific Rim

terry monkton

Terry Monkton

CEO

Simworx

amanda thompson

Amanda Thompson OBE

Managing Director

Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Miguel Quintana Pali Grupo Experiencias Xcaret blooloop 50 theme park influencer list 2018

Miguel Quintana Pali

President and CEO

Grupo Xcaret

jim reid anderson

Jim Reid-Anderson

Chairman, President and CEO

Six Flags Entertainment

Man in blue suit and tie smiling with a neutral gray background.

Luke Riley

Chief Commercial Officer

Village Roadshow Theme Parks

annabel rochfort cartoon network UK blooloop 50 theme park influencer list 2018

Annabel Rochfort

Head of Themed Attractions & Live Events

Cartoon Network

Joe Rohde Disne yparks blooloop 50 theme park influencer list 2018

Joe Rohde

Portfolio Creative Executive

Walt Disney Imagineering

peter schnabel

Peter Schnabel

CEO

CAVU Designwerks

nick varney ceo merlin entertainments blooloop 50 theme park influencer 2019

Nick Varney

CEO

Merlin Entertainments

Nicolas de Villiers headshot blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Nicolas de Villiers

President

Puy du Fou

Bob Weis Headshot

Bob Weis

Head of Immersive

Gensler

John Wood

John Wood

Chairman and CEO

Sally Dark Rides

ernest yale triotech blooloop 50 influencer list 2018

Ernest Yale

President, CEO and Founder

Triotech

li zhe riverside group blooloop 50 theme park influencer list 2018

Li Zhe

Chairman and CEO

Riverside Investment Group

su zhigang chimelong group blooloop 50 theme park influencer list 2018

Su Zhigang

Chairman and Founder

Chimelong Group

Christian Aaen

Christian Aaen

Principal/Partner, Entertainment + Culture Advisors (ECA)

Wonwhee Kim

Wonwhee Kim

Co founder, The Park Database

Lesley Morisetti

Lesley Morisetti

Director, Morisetti Associates

charlie blooloop

Charles Read

Managing Director, Blooloop

mel taylor first Blooloop 50 Theme Park Influencer List

Mel Taylor

Mel Taylor has been CEO of Omnico Group since 2014, overseeing business operations for the various companies that form the Group. Omnico’s cloud based technology powers unified POS and customer engagement solutions across destinations, hospitality and retail, including 7 of the top 11 global theme parks and resorts.

Phil Taylor

Phil Taylor

Managing Director, Team Leisure