By leveraging several core attraction brands such as Legoland, Sea Life, Madame Tussauds and the Dungeons, CEO Nick Varney has turned Merlin Entertainments into the world’s second-largest operator. With an ever-increasing footprint, it now operates 139 attractions, 23 hotels and six holiday villages in 24 countries.
The company’s roots in the ‘midway’ (short stay) attraction business have helped it to develop efficient operations with a relatively quick return on investment. Yet Merlin has also enjoyed success in recent years at its theme parks, including Legoland, by adding themed accommodation. Merlin’s 10th Legoland attraction, Legoland Korea Resort, opened in 2022.
In addition to building its own brands, Merlin is increasingly working with external intellectual property providers to bring fresh stories and characters to its guests. These include Peppa Pig-themed experiences. The world’s first Peppa Pig Theme Park launched in Florida in 2022. Merlin and Hasbro are also creating the world’s first standalone Peppa Pig Resort in China, which is scheduled to open in 2024.
Varney retired in 2022