A Phoenix-based travel and events company, Viad Corp., has bought the Vancouver attraction, FlyOver Canada, for an undisclosed amount.
One of two FlyOver experiences created by CanadiancompanySoaring Attractions LP, the popular media-based ride takes visitors on a multi-sensory experience as they are immersed in thecountry's landscape andlandmarks.
FlyOver Canada, a Soaring Success
The $16 million (approx. US$12 million) FlyOver Canada was launched in 2013. One of the principal backers was Francesco Aquilini. He is theowner of the Vancouver Canucks, the city's professional ice-hockey team. He became a principal ofSoaring Attractions, alongsideentrepreneurs Andrew Strang and Stephen Geddes.The sale to Viad Corp means that the attraction now has an American owner.
FlyOver Canada is in Canada Place, Vancouver.It boasts a60-seat theatre and a 20-metre diameter screen. The attraction's technology fully enages riders' senses as they experience the wonders of Canada.With over 8 million tourists visting the city each year it proved a major success for Soaring Attractions.
The Mall of America
Since then, the principals ofSoaring Attractionscreated a similar new attraction. This was theUS$20 millionFlyOver Americaat Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.Regarding the sale, Strang and Geddes, will remainprincipals of Soaring Attractions, which will still ownFlyOver America. They will stay on as managers at FlyOver Canada.
Viad Travel & Recreation Group’s VPMarketing, Mark Hendrikse, told Business inVancouver, “We just purchased FlyOver Canada and the rights to expand that brand throughout Canada if we so choose.
“[Soaring Attractions has] maintained their ownership of FlyOver America and they may choose to expand that in the U.S. if they so choose in the future.”
Operations at FlyOver Canada’s Canada Place theatre will largely remain unchanged. In addition to Strang and Geddes, most of the staff will retain their current roles.
“The only changes will be in some of the support functions, such as accounting, finance, sales and marketing, ” Hendriksesaid. "We will achieve some synergies with the larger departments within Viad Travel & Recreation.”
Viad Corp.
Viad Corp. has two principaldivisions. One isfor trade shows and is Las vegas based, the other is itsTravel & Recreation Group, which runs a variety of attractions in Alberta, Canada.The companyowns a number of historic hotels. These include thePrince of Wales Hotel in Waterton Lakes National Park. It also runscruises and sightseeing boat tours andthe Glacier Skywalk at the Columbia Icefield.
“We’re all about getting people out into these beautiful, natural, iconic environments and providing interpretive information to help their experience, ” Hendrikse said.
So, the purchase now means thatFlyOver Canada will be American-owned while FlyOver America wil be Canadian-owned.
https://www.biv.com/article/2016/12/vancouvers-flyover-canada-sold-american-owners/
