It’s not all Doom and Gloom for Tourism Industry…
LEGOLAND® California and SEA LIFE™ Aquarium Fare Well Despite Economy
Merlin Entertainments Growth
Brings Positive Momentum to Tourism Industry
CARLSBAD, Calif. – In the midst of tough economic times globally, Merlin Entertainments Group announces another year of strong growth and strategic progress as the world’s second biggest visitor attraction operator releases its figures for 2008.
With 57 attractions, including LEGOLAND® California and SEA LIFE Aquarium, six hotels and two holiday villages in 12 countries across three continents, Merlin experienced the eighth consecutive year of double-digit EBITDA (earnings before interest tax depreciation and amortization) growth up 20 percent from 2007. Visitations also grew across the attractions to more than 35.1 million, up 28 percent from 2007.
“We are very encouraged by these results, and by the fact that a large proportion of our growth in 2008 was driven by like-for-like trading in our existing parks and attractions,” said Merlin Entertainments Group CEO Nick Varney. “Indeed, I believe Merlin’s real success lies in our ability to maximize organic growth with the business through planned investment in all of our sites combined with high levels of customer service. Most importantly, our primary objective is to deliver memorable experiences to all our visitors. Without their word-of-mouth endorsements and return visits, there would be no business – and this is never more true than in tough economic times.”
“Since we are geared towards families with children ages 2 to 12, we are fortunate families are still taking time to spend those early years with their children here at LEGOLAND California and SEA LIFE™ Aquarium,” said LEGOLAND California Resort General Manager Peter Ronchetti. “We will continue to provide them with the best value possible and are excited to continue our growth with new rides, shows and attractions for them to enjoy year after year.”
LEGOLAND is celebrating its 10th birthday this year and has doubled its amount of rides since opening in 1999. The newest area, Land of Adventure is expanding this summer with Dune Raiders. Opening June 25, the 30-foot-high attraction features six side-by-side 50-foot-long racing lanes and a pair of double-helix corkscrews. Dune Raiders is themed in an Egyptian bazaar motif complete with interactive LEGO® model scenes and fun new LEGO models. Land of Adventure features the family theme park’s first dark ride, Lost Kingdom Adventure, plus a 16-foot tall Pharaoh made of more than 300,000 LEGO bricks. In March, the Park debuted an exclusive movie, Bob the Builder™ In 4-D: Bob the Builder and the Roller Coaster which airs daily during regular operating hours in the LEGO Show Place Theatre.
This Memorial Day weekend, SEA LIFE™ Aquarium launches “Sharks Revealed” – a new interactive exhibit designed to introduce children to these mysterious and misunderstood creatures of the deep. Fun, hands-on displays give an up-close and personal look at the life cycle and evolution of sharks. the Aquarium has added several new features to the Discovery Zone to offer inspiration and ideas so that every day can be Earth Day. Additions include a “trash timeline,” a “wall of promises,” an “underwater parks” building project, and a “save the whales” area. These features join the interactive pop-up bubble and touch pools already found in the Discovery Zone and are included in the cost of admission to the Aquarium.
LEGOLAND® California is a 128-acre interactive theme park dedicated to families with children between the ages of 2 and 12. With more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, LEGOLAND is geared towards family fun! There are three other LEGOLAND Parks in the world – LEGOLAND Billund in Denmark, LEGOLAND Deutschland near Günzburg, Germany and LEGOLAND Windsor outside of London. The LEGOLAND theme parks are a part of Merlin Entertainments Group, the second largest attractions operator in the world. Merlin Entertainments is the leading name in location based, branded, family entertainment and currently owns more than 57 attractions worldwide serving more than 30 million visitors. For the most current information, log on to www.LEGOLAND.com or call (760) 918-LEGO.
