Julien Simon is a project engineer at Compagnie des Alpes, a French company specialising in managing and operating ski resorts and leisure parks, including Park Asterix in France and the Walili Parks in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. His role involves overseeing technical and operational projects that enhance the company’s properties’ infrastructure, efficiency, and guest experience.
His responsibilities include leading engineering projects such as renovations, new attractions and technology innovations, as well as ensuring that all engineering projects adhere to strict safety standards and all regulatory requirements. He works with multidisciplinary teams, including architects, contractors, and operational staff.
“In addition to being a great theme park enthusiast, he anticipates and knows visitor flows, knows how to choose the right attraction for the right park and for the right audience,” said one of the people who nominated him. “He is a very good masterplanner who has worked over these 10 years on the renewal of the new areas of Parc Astérix, Walibi Belgium, Walibi Rhône-Alpes, etc. He is at the origin of the Toutatis project at Parc Astérix. He paved the way for a new vision of the theme park masterplan in Europe.
Speaking to blooloop in 2021 about the retheming project at Walibi Belgium, Julien Simon said:
“If you look at Exotic World, three years ago, there was nothing except the Challenge of Tutankhamon. Today, we could almost put a gate in front of this area and sell it as a separate ticket. We have the dark ride, two coasters, a kids’ ride, theatre, restaurant and bar, toilets, everything.”
This includes Kondaa, a 1.2km Intamin mega coaster that forms the backdrop to a new themed area within Exotic World. It is the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Belgium at 50m in height and with a top speed of 113km/h.