Attractions.io, a leading creator of mobile visitor apps, has announced the appointment of its new chief operating officer, Ted Ismert.
The appointment follows a string of milestones, with investment from SSA Group and the launch of a new partnerships programme.
2023 has seen huge expansion for the firm, with a 59% increase in employees so far. The team plans to continue growing with the same innovative spirit that has shaped the industry’s approach to the digital guest experience for over 10 years.
Embracing SaaS
Attractions.io was established in 2009 with a vision to use technology to maximise the value of every visit. With experience as ride operators and as regular visitors at attractions, the founders knew the guest experience in detail and understood the issues inherent to a visit.
Mark Locker, founder and CEO, says: “Attractions.io exists today because we built something
we wanted to use ourselves as frequent guests to parks and attractions, solving the frustrations we personally experienced. From there, we spun out a mico-agency to help other attractions do the same, and it quickly became apparent that attractions of all sizes lacked the tools and data to influence the guest journey. We made the decision to embrace the SaaS model in 2016, creating a scalable platform to span every touch point of the guest journey.”
Attractions.io now provides its technology to over 70 attractions on 4 continents, and its services are available in 12 languages. The firm has worked with an impressive lineup of the world’s leading entertainment providers, with Merlin Entertainments, The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and the Professional Golf Association of America among its portfolio.
Attractions.io collaborated with SSA Group in early 2023 to expedite the development of their ambitious product roadmap and provide additional support to cultural attractions across the US and Canada. Later in the year, the team announced an expansion of their partnership approach to foster interoperability and collaboration among the industry’s main vendors.
Poised to grow
Ted Ismert brings over 20 years of experience to the firm with his appointment as COO, including mobile app development, enterprise customer support, and digital products.
He was previously president of Wunderman Thompson Apps and has worked with companies such as JetBlue, PGA TOUR, and the NBA to develop enterprise solutions. Ismert’s experience at a publicly-held Fortune 500 company offers a deep understanding of the dedication needed to develop the commercial side of the business sustainably in a period of rapid expansion.
“Ted’s vast experience in mobile technology and commercial operations made him the perfect fit for Attractions.io at this exciting time of growth,” says Locker. “I look forward to working with Ted to bring our vision to life, helping more attractions to deliver a seamless guest experience that unlocks the full potential in every visit.”
Ismert says on joining the Attractions.io team: “Coming into an organisation that’s poised to grow is very exciting. I’m very eager to help shape that growth, drive the commercial side of the business, and scale teams up for the good of the company and its customers.”
Reflecting on the opportunities within his new role, Ismert adds: “Going from a 12-24 month development timeline to build a bespoke guest experience platform in just 2-3 months using the Attractions.io platform, and delivering what would be a multi-million dollar project for a fraction of the price is astonishing.
“Layer in an expanding professional services team within the business that is developing bespoke solutions on top of the core platform for our enterprise clients and instantly there’s tremendous possibility to have a real impact in our industry.”
Enhanced services
Under Locker and Ismert’s leadership, Attractions.io will focus on strengthening existing customer connections, increasing their professional services team, and expanding into additional markets. Ismert will concentrate on providing enhanced services for organisations in the US, supported by recent appointments Chris Antoline, partnerships manager, and Cory Nadler, customer success.
These projects will assist customers on multiple continents make the greatest use of the Attractions.io platform to improve guest experience, gain actionable behavioural insights, and generate revenue and secondary spending.
Attractions.io announced the launch of its dedicated partnerships team last June. The team aims to enhance the firm’s partnership strategy by extending Attractions.io’s existing integrations network and improving collaboration with industry leaders. This will support the development of top-quality visitor experiences worldwide.
