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The blooloop 50 Theme Park Influencer List 2020

2020 has been a challenging year for the theme park business as COVID-19 has devastated the attractions industry. Many parks have suffered irreparable damage, some have closed for good and those that are still standing are feeling their way, adjusting to the ‘new normal’.

It is a year for consolidation, for readjustment and for reflection. However, it is also a time for innovation and a time in which the theme park business has had to rapidly adapt. This unique year will perhaps come to be been seen as an accelerator, one which pushed the industry through into a more digitally seamless age.

In its third year. the blooloop 50 Theme Park Influencer List celebrates creativity and expertise. In association with our friends at Gateway Ticketing we are shining a spotlight on 50 people who, despite this year’s unique circumstances, are showing leadership, innovation and influence. This is a resilient business and it is these influencers who will help guide the way.

smugglers run ride queue disney

With the blooloop 50, we celebrate the work of key individuals in the theme park business. This year is unique and the list reflects not only the leaders, but also the creatives and innovators who are shaping the response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Peter Wolf

“We have followed Blooloop for years as the preeminent publication in our space. Their coverage of the attractions industry is informative, timely and comprehensive – particularly during the last few months when we were all searching for reliable information around coronavirus recovery.

“To have the opportunity to align our brand with theirs is an honor, especially to align with the Blooloop 50. The people in the list are the most creative and influential professionals in the world, and we’re excited to help facilitate recognizing their incredible accomplishments.”

Peter Wolf , Director of Sales and Marketing , Gateway Ticketing Systems

2020 has been a challenging year for the theme park business as COVID-19 has devastated the attractions industry. Many parks have suffered irreparable damage, some have closed for good and those that are still standing are feeling their way, adjusting to the ‘new normal’.

It is a year for consolidation, for readjustment and for reflection. However, it is also a time for innovation and a time in which the theme park business has had to rapidly adapt. This unique year will perhaps come to be been seen as an accelerator, one which pushed the industry through into a more digitally seamless age.

In its third year. the blooloop 50 Theme Park Influencer List celebrates creativity and expertise. In association with our friends at Gateway Ticketing we are shining a spotlight on 50 people who, despite this year’s unique circumstances, are showing leadership, innovation and influence. This is a resilient business and it is these influencers who will help guide the way.

smugglers run ride queue disney

With the blooloop 50, we celebrate the work of key individuals in the theme park business. This year is unique and the list reflects not only the leaders, but also the creatives and innovators who are shaping the response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Peter Wolf

“We have followed Blooloop for years as the preeminent publication in our space. Their coverage of the attractions industry is informative, timely and comprehensive – particularly during the last few months when we were all searching for reliable information around coronavirus recovery.

“To have the opportunity to align our brand with theirs is an honor, especially to align with the Blooloop 50. The people in the list are the most creative and influential professionals in the world, and we’re excited to help facilitate recognizing their incredible accomplishments.”

Peter Wolf , Director of Sales and Marketing , Gateway Ticketing Systems

​With the blooloop 50, we celebrate the work of key individuals in the theme park business. This year is unique and the list reflects not only the leaders, but also the creatives and innovators who are shaping the response to the coronavirus pandemic.

-Peter Wolf

Marian Adams headshot blooloop theme park influencer list 2020

Marian Adams

Senior Manager, Operational Safety & ADA Compliance

Universal Orlando Resort

Abdullah Al-Dawood headshot blooloop theme park influencer list 2020

Abdullah Al-Dawood

Managing Director

Qiddiya Investment Company

Gary-Blumenstein universal creative

Gary Blumenstein

Creative Director

Universal Creative

ken bretschneider

Ken Bretschneider

Founder, CEO and Chairman

Evermore

jenefer brown lionsgate

Jenefer Brown

Executive Vice President and Head of Global Live, Interactive & Location Based Entertainment

Lionsgate

Bettina Buckley headshot blooloop theme park influencer list 2020

Bettina Buckley

Vice President

Disney Parks Live Entertainment

charita carter headshot theme park influencer 2020

Charita Carter

Executive Creative Producer

Walt Disney Imagineering

Bob Chapek headshot blooloop theme park influencer list 2020

Bob Chapek

CEO

The Walt Disney Company

Thierry Coup headshot blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Thierry Coup

Senior VP and Chief Creative Officer

Universal Creative

al cross pgav

Al Cross

Vice-President

PGAV Destinations

Zeina Dagher headshot blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Zeina Dagher

CEO

Emaar Entertainment

Tracy Eck headshot blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Tracy Eck

Art Director

Disneyland Paris

Ahmad Hussain Bin Essa headshot blooloop theme park influencer list 2020

Ahmad Hussain Bin Essa

Chief Operating Officer

DXB Entertainments

mark fisher merlin entertainments

Mark Fisher

Chief Development Officer

Merlin Entertainments

PY Gerbeau headshot blooloop theme park influencer 2020

PY Gerbeau

CEO

The London Resort

Mark Ghermezian Headshot blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Mark Ghermezian

Co-CEO

American Dream

Sarah Gibbon headshot blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Sarah Gibbon

Vice President/Executive Producer

Universal Creative

Franceen Gonzales headshot blooloop theme park influencer list 2020

Franceen Gonzales

Chief Experience Officer

WhiteWater

Ty Granaroli headshot blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Ty Granaroli

Executive Vice President, Themed Entertainment

Paramount Parks

kim gritzer blooloop theme park influencer list 2020

Kim Gritzer

Creative Director

Universal Creative

gateway ticketing webinar

Randy Josselyn & Matthew Hoenstine

Principal - Wildlife and Conservation, Principal - destinations

Gateway Ticketing Systems

candy holland blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Candy Holland

Senior Creative Director

Legoland Resorts/Merlin Entertainments

nathan jones cavu designwerks

Nathan Jones

Chief Executive Officer

Medici XD

Asa Kalama headshot blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Asa Kalama

VP Executive, Creative & Interactive Experiences

Walt Disney Imagineering

paul kent electrosonic

Paul Kent

Global Business Development ManagerGlobal Business Development Manager

Simworx

Sim Choo Kheng headshot blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Sim Choo Kheng

CEO

Sim Leisure Group

june ko blooloop theme park influencer 2020

June Ko

Executive Director/Vice President, Asia Pacific Operations

IAAPA

Chris Lange

Chris Lange

Creative Director

Creative Studio Berlin

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

Jason_McManus blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Jason McManus

Prinicipal

Thinkwell

Tom Mehrmann headshot blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Tom Mehrmann

President and COO

Universal Parks and Resorts, Pacific Rim

Shigeru Miyamoto headshot blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Shigeru Miyamoto

Director, Producer and Designer

Nintendo

paul moreton headshot

Paul Moreton

Chief Development Officer

Merlin Entertainments

Tom Acomb & Mike Ostendorf headshot

Tom Acomb & Mike Ostendorf

Chief Creative Executive/CEO

AOA

Michael-Reininger-qiddiya-blooloop-50-theme-park-influencer-2020

Michael Reininger

Former CEO

Qiddiya

Steven Rhys headshot blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Steven Rhys

Executive Vice President (retired)

FORREC

Bianca Sammut Headshot

Bianca Sammut

Divisional Director

Alton Towers Resort

Daisy Shang headshot blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Daisy Shang

Executive President

Fantawild

carmen smith walt disney imagineering

Carmen Smith

Senior Vice President of Creative Development

Walt Disney Imagineering

Eddie Sotto

Eddie Sotto

President

SottoStudios

Dang Minh Truong headshot blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Dang Minh Truong

CEO

Sun Group

Nicolas de Villiers headshot blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Nicolas de Villiers

President

Puy du Fou

Pham Nhat Vuong blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Pham Nhat Vuong

Chairman and Founder

Vingroup

jason white blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Jason White

Managing Director, Corporate Safety & Security

Hersheypark

Carlye Wisel headshot blooloop theme park influencer 2020

Carlye Wisel

Position

Freelance Journalist

kathryn woodcock blooloop headshot theme park influencer 2020

Kathryn Woodcock

Professor, School of Occupational and Public Health

Ryerson University

Christian Aaen

Christian Aaen

Principal/Partner, Entertainment + Culture Advisors (ECA)

Denise Hatcher headshot

Denise Hatcher

Managing Director, AOA

Wonwhee Kim

Wonwhee Kim

Co founder, The Park Database

Lesley Morisetti

Lesley Morisetti

Director, Morisetti Associates

Owen Ralph blooloop-50-theme-park-influencer-list

Owen Ralph

Lead Feature Writer, Blooloop

Rachel Read judge blooloop-50-theme-park-influencer-list

Rachel Read

Director, Blooloop

Phil Taylor

Phil Taylor

Managing Director, Team Leisure

Peter_Wolf_.gateway ticketing

Peter Wolf

Peter Wolf is Director of Sales and Marketing at Gateway Ticketing Systems. He has an MBA and has worked for Fujitsu America, ParTech and Glory Global Solutions before joining Gateway Ticketing Systems.