Welcome to The Blooloop 50
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
Name
Company
The Power 10
Leading Universal Creative, Thierry Coup has overseen a series of attraction developments that have consolidated and arguably even elevated Universal Parks & Resorts‘ standing within the theme park and attractions industry.
Fernando Eiroa was promoted to the chief executive role at Parques Reunidos in late 2015 after eight years leading its US subsidiary Palace Entertainment.
Bob Iger is responsible for one of the largest media companies in the world, as well as the leading global player in the theme park industry.
Heading up Merlin Entertainment’s newest operating group, John Jakobsen helped build LEGOLAND into one of the world’s strongest theme park brands.
After stepping down as Ocean Park (Hong Kong) chief executive in late 2015, Mehrmann took on a number of advisory roles before being confirmed as the man who would spearhead the opening of Universal’s first theme park resort in China.
This deep-thinking creative has been responsible for a raft of iconic Disney projects that will inspire theme park design for years to come.
Amanda Thompson has been at the helm of one of Europe’s most famous amusement parks since 2004. Following in her father’s footsteps, she will chair IAAPA in 2019/20.
Varney has masterminded the transformation of Merlin Entertainments from an operator of aquariums and other short-stay tourist offerings into the world’s second-largest attractions operator.
Established in 1986, The Riverside Group has come into prominence within the international theme park industry thanks to its partnership with Six Flags Entertainment.
Chimelong Group was founded by Mr Su Zhigang in the Panyu district of Guangzhou, part of China’s populous Pearl River Delta.
The Judges
Our industry experts from around the globe
Christian Aaen is a founding Principal of ECA, specialising in entertainment development, attraction destination projects and leisure and tourism economics. ECA is the market leader in strategic advisory, entertainment, attraction and retail, dining and entertainment (RDE) projects worldwide, with a special focus on Asia and China.
Wonwhee Kim is a co-founder of The Park Database, a leading consultancy for the attractions and LBE industry. Their ambitious mission is to catalogue and analyse every attraction in the world.
Leading theme park blogger and formerly Senior Web Producer of the LA Times, Brady MacDonald has over 30 years of industry experience. Brady formerly wrote the Funland theme park blog for The LA Times’ Travel section and has interviewed major industry players including Disney, Universal, Six Flags, Cedar Fair and many more.
Lesley Morisetti launched Morisetti Associates in 2010 to provide economic and strategic business planning consultancy services to the attractions and entertainment industry, based on over 30 years of operational and consultancy experience.
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.
Team Leisure is a specialist leisure consulting firm based in the United Arab Emirates. Prior to founding Team Leisure in 2007, Phil Taylor worked in executive director positions in Ski Dubai, the London office of Economics Research Associates (now part of AECOM) and The London Eye.
Charles Read is Managing Director of Blooloop Ltd., which runs the website blooloop.com and conferences in the UK and Asia. Blooloop has been providing news and information for professionals working in the visitor attractions sector for over a decade and is the most widely read and trusted website in the industry.
Principal, Entertainment + Culture Advisors (ECA)
Christian Aaen is a founding Principal of ECA, specialising in entertainment development, attraction destination projects and leisure and tourism economics. ECA is the market leader in strategic advisory, entertainment, attraction and retail, dining and entertainment (RDE) projects worldwide, with a special focus on Asia and China.
Prior to co-founding ECA in late 2010, Aaen opened the legacy ERA Hong Kong office as the Managing Principal. He has conducted feasibility studies and provided advisory services for key international clients such as Merlin Entertainments/ LEGOLAND Parks, LEGO Co., Universal Studios, Cirque du Soleil (CDS), 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, Village Roadshow, Lionsgate Studios and many more.
Chief Intelligence Officer, The Park Databas
Wonwhee Kim is a co-founder of The Park Database, a leading consultancy for the attractions and LBE industry. Their ambitious mission is to catalogue and analyse every attraction in the world.
The Park DB team provides data and analytics on the attraction industry, and maintains the largest public and private database of attractions in the world, encompassing over 1,400 developments and more than 9,000 attractions in 50 countries. Clients served include multinational conglomerates, private equity funds, property developers, studios, and governments around the world.
Previously, Kim was a cofounder of Pro Forma Advisors and an associate at ERA|AECOM. He holds both hedge fund and real estate private equity experience, is a registered property tax agent and realtor.
Industry Journalist and Producer
Leading theme park blogger and formerly Senior Web Producer of the LA Times, Brady MacDonald has over 30 years of industry experience. Brady formerly wrote the Funland theme park blog for The LA Times’ Travel section and has interviewed major industry players including Disney, Universal, Six Flags, Cedar Fair and many more.
MacDonald broke a number of exclusive stories about new roller coasters, reviewed thrilling new attractions and covered major theme park trends across the United States. He also carved out a niche speciality by covering the Halloween, horror and haunted attraction sub-genre. Brady is seen as a leading speaker at industry exhibitions and conventions, whilst also attracting a strong social media following.
Director, Morisetti Associates
Lesley Morisetti launched Morisetti Associates in 2010 to provide economic and strategic business planning consultancy services to the attractions and entertainment industry, based on over 30 years of operational and consultancy experience.
Their work includes studies for Merlin Entertainments, Universal Studios, the National Trust, ITV plc, the Natural History Museums of London and Copenhagen and membership bodies such as the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions and IAAPA Europe.
Morisetti was previously a Director of the London office of the Economics Practice of AECOM (formally ERA), leading a wide range of projects within Europe, the Middle East and Africa. She also worked for The Tussaud’s Group in marketing, revenue management and new attraction development roles.
CEO, Omnico Group
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.
orking closely with the destinations industry means that Taylor understands more than most the need to embrace technology and innovation to enhance the guest experience.
Before joining Omnico, he was Director of Channel Sales EMEIA at Honeywell Scanning & Mobility, responsible for the development and execution of the PartnerNet Partner Program and creating new initiatives, partnerships and processes across this diverse region.
Managing Director, Team Leisure
Team Leisure is a specialist leisure consulting firm based in the United Arab Emirates. Prior to founding Team Leisure in 2007, Phil Taylor worked in executive director positions in Ski Dubai, the London office of Economics Research Associates (now part of AECOM) and The London Eye.
Most notable is Taylor’s 6 years as the New Business Development Director for The Tussauds Group from 1995 – 2000 (now part of Merlin Entertainment Group). The Tussauds Group’s worldwide portfolio of attractions included Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures, Port Aventura in Spain, Warwick Castle and Thorpe Park, which Phil acquired for the Group in 1998, The London Eye and Madam Tussauds.
Managing Director, Blooloop
Charles Read is Managing Director of Blooloop Ltd., which runs the website blooloop.com and conferences in the UK and Asia. Blooloop has been providing news and information for professionals working in the visitor attractions sector for over a decade and is the most widely read and trusted website in the industry.
Covering developments in theme parks, museums, zoos, aquariums, waterparks, and family entertainment centres (FECs) blooloop.com is a must-read for key industry influencers, developers, investors, executives and for anyone interested in the rapidly evolving business of out-of-home entertainment.
