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indepth | Planet Attractions
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indepth | Planet Attractions
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 15 Apr 2024
The record-breaking Bermuda Storm is one of the most impressive attractions in the world and it took a host of creative minds and companies from every corner of the globe to bring it all together. Here’s the story behind its creation
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 02 Apr 2024
Already the largest of its kind in Europe, here’s how the Signal light festival worked with Christie to bring the spectacle to life
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Erik Huijing | Pretwerk | 14 Feb 2024
Belgium’s Bellewaerde Park is investing €21m in a new themed land for 2024. Erik Huijing visited Mundo Amazonia ahead of its opening next month to get a behind the scenes look at the upcoming addition to the park
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 13 Feb 2024
From waterpark suppliers and media specialists to creative designers, dark ride producers and operations specialists, Planet Attractions has gone to every corner of the globe to find out what’s hot in 2024
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 02 Feb 2024
With records for the tallest, fastest and longest rollercoaster all set to be broken by a single ride, it should give you an idea of the kind of thrills in-store for thrillseekers this year as we list 26 of the biggest coaster launches coming in 2024
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 11 Dec 2023
As the MENA attractions market continues to surge, DEAL represents one of the most important business opportunities of 2024. Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, president of show organisers International Expo-Consults speaks about this year’s upcoming event
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Gary Pope | Kids Industries | 24 Nov 2023
Kids Industries has created a range of immersive experiences such as Legoland’s Lego Mythica: World of Mythical Creatures. Its CEO, Gary Pope, shares his thoughts on the arrival of Netflix’s recently-launched ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ and how this reflects on the growing LBE market
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 06 Nov 2023
September saw the debut of a brand-new addition to Salt Lake City’s Lagoon Park - a hybrid rollercoaster and dark ride experience known as Primordial. Planet Attractions speaks to Ernest Yale and Nol Van Genuchten about the experience and how its team brought the first-of-its-kind attraction to life
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 17 Oct 2023
Benoit Cornet shares a fascinating insight into the world of dark rides and the emergence of his new company - BoldMove Nation
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 22 Sep 2023
There’s a transformative shift happening when it comes to use of technology in attractions management. Anthony Palermo, co-founder of Connect&GO, spoke to Tom Anstey...
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Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 22 Sep 2023
IAAPA is gearing up for its largest EMEA event ever, with the 2023 edition of IAAPA Expo Europe taking place in Vienna between September 25 - 28. Here’s everything you need to know about the event
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 31 Aug 2023
Path Entertainment Group and Hasbro recently worked together to produce a world-first immersive Monopoly experience. Path CEO David Hutchinson shares all with Planet Attractions
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 23 Aug 2023
Peter van der Schans has now been at the helm of IAAPA’s EMEA operations for more than a year. He shares with Planet Attractions how that year has gone and the progress being made in the global attractions markets of Europe, the Middle East and Africa
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 10 Aug 2023
The Gunpowder Plot is a multilayered immersive experience set at the Tower of London. Planet Attractions spoke to the team behind the development to see exactly how it came to life...
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 08 Aug 2023
French theme park and animal attraction Le Pal is celebrating its 50th year in 2023. Its CEO, Arnaud Bennet speaks to Planet Attractions on half-a-century of one of the country’s most popular offerings
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 05 Jun 2023
Miirage is a new modular holographic system bringing the virtual world to life without any additional need for mobile devices, screens or wearables. The creators behind the technology speak to Planet Attractions about the new product and exactly what it can do...
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 25 May 2023
How can you leverage user-generated content and photo purchases to drive revenue and simultaneously promote your attraction? Attractions.io’s Peter O’Dare has the answers...
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 09 May 2023
Andreas Andersen speaks to Planet Attractions about what's coming for Liseberg following the launch of Luna Park, the opening of the Grand Curiosa Hotel and the soon-to-open Oceana waterpark
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 02 May 2023
A new brand home dedicated to Pilsner Urquell has opened its doors in Prague. BRC’s Christian Lachel tells Planet Attractions how the attraction celebrates the brand’s place in Czech history and culture
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 25 Apr 2023
With the attractions and cruise industries seemingly closer than ever before, RWS CEO Ryan Stana speaks to Planet Attractions about what that means and the steps we can take to bring these two powerhouses under one metaphorical roof
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 04 Apr 2023
Will AI take over the planet or could it just maybe develop your next new dark ride attraction? Tom Anstey asked an AI a few simple questions to see how it would do in developing such a ride concept
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 23 Mar 2023
SeaTrade Cruise Global is returning to Florida. Here’s everything you need to know...
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 20 Mar 2023
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi’s Mission Ferrari opened to the public to much fanfare in January. Holovis’s James Lodder shares a decade-long journey to realise this incredible immersive rollercoaster experience
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 03 Mar 2023
Keith James, president of JRA; Robin Breese-Davies, executive vice president of ted; and Danielle Kramer, executive vice president of RWS, speak to Planet Attractions about what looks to be a bumper year ahead for the company
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 21 Feb 2023
DEAL is coming back to Dubai next month. Here’s everything you need to know about the region’s hottest attractions show
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Tom Anstey and Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 14 Feb 2023
From waterpark suppliers and media specialists to creative designers and dark ride producers, Planet Attractions has gone to every corner of the globe to find out what’s hot in 2023
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Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 18 Jan 2023
After a difficult few years the museum sector is showing promising signs of recovery with several exciting projects set to open this year. Here are 14 of 2023’s most anticipated museum openings
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 10 Jan 2023
It’s a new year with old records just waiting to be broken by some incredible new projects. Here are twelve blockbuster rollercoaster openings for the coming year
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Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 16 Dec 2022
Simworx’s new flying theatre concept delivers a thrilling and immersive experience within a limited footprint. Simworx CEO Terry Monkton and lead creative Matt Clarkson told Planet Attractions more about the Brass Ring Award-nominated attraction
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 14 Dec 2022
When it comes to all-in-one solutions for visitor attractions, Semnox’s Venue Management Software system has transformed operations at popular FEC Kokomo Joe’s. Here’s how the technology works
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 08 Dec 2022
The highly-anticipated Pipeline surf coaster is coming to SeaWorld Orlando this spring. SeaWorld’s vice president of rides and engineering, Jonathan Smith, spoke to Planet Attractions about the project
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 22 Nov 2022
More than 36,000 people travelled to Orlando in November for the annual spectacular known as IAAPA Expo. Planet Attractions was in attendance
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 21 Oct 2022
Ahead of a special industry panel looking at iconic attractions, experts from WhiteWater have named their personal picks, explaining why they think their choice is an iconic attraction
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Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 28 Sep 2022
Simworx has partnered with Katapult to develop a new dark ride offering an adrenaline-fuelled car chase. Simworx CEO Terry Monkton and lead creative Matt Clarkson spoke with Planet Attractions about the exciting new project
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 21 Sep 2022
The Giant - a mammoth moving attraction and exhibition - is coming to a city near you
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Tom Anstey & Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 12 Sep 2022
IAAPA Expo Europe is coming to London this September. Here’s everything you need to know about the event
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 12 Sep 2022
OCT Group has debuted a first-of-its-kind attraction at its new Fabland Valley Resort in China. Triotech’s Ernest Yale and Nol van Genuchten speak to Planet Attractions about the exciting new multi-path dark ride, how it came to be and what it could mean for future attractions
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 12 Aug 2022
Blurring the lines between an experiential art gallery, interactive theme park and detailed film set, Wake the Tiger is a new attraction that just opened its doors in Bristol, UK. We spoke to co-founder Graham MacVoy about the new attraction, dubbed the world’s first ‘Amazement Park’
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 08 Aug 2022
SeaWorld, Cedar Fair and Universal have all experienced strong second quarters with the operators also revealing some hints as to what’s coming for each in the near future
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 27 Jul 2022
Shark Week is back for 2022 and Planet Attractions has taken a deep dive to find a collection of shark-related content that you can take in during the event
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 18 Jul 2022
Planet Attractions travelled to Belgium recently to meet Peter van der Schans, IAAPA’s new executive director and vice president for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region. Here’s what he had to say
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 27 May 2022
It’s a busy year for WhiteWater, which has more than 70 waterpark projects across the world opening in 2022. We’ve rounded these projects up so you can keep track of everything happening this year
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 18 May 2022
How do you develop a POS system that caters to both digital natives and the generation before them? Convious’s Miendu Dang has the answers
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 17 May 2022
Following the RWS acquisition of The Experience Department, Planet Attractions travelled to ted HQ to meet RWS CEO Ryan Stana and ted CEO Robin Breese-Davies to see what’s next following the landmark deal
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Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 16 May 2022
The new Gruffalo Discovery Land at Twycross Zoo opened to the public in April. Lauren Heath-Jones paid a visit to The Deep Dark Wood to find out more
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 11 May 2022
Fast becoming one of the key industry events for the visitor attractions sector, here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Saudi Entertainment and Amusement Expo
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Planet Attractions | 05 May 2022
Leaders in the themed entertainment industry gathered last month for the return of TEA Summit and Thea Awards Gala for the first time in two years. Christine Kerr on behalf of the TEA and Nicole Sangster from Thea Award recipients Simworx both report on the event
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 26 Apr 2022
A number of attractions suppliers and manufacturers have been named winners of China’s prestigious Golden Crown Awards
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 21 Apr 2022
Attractions.io’s Peter O’Dare explains how user segmentation is transforming the visitor experience for the better
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 14 Apr 2022
The Dubai Entertainment, Amusement & Leisure Exhibition returned in 2022, bringing with it much success for attendees and exhibitors alike
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 31 Mar 2022
Toronto Zoo is starting to undergo a major transformation. Its CEO Dolf DeJong spoke to Planet Attractions about the ambitious masterplan
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 01 Mar 2022
Here are all the events you should be attending this month
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 02 Feb 2022
With so many big things coming in the year ahead, we’ve rounded up all the key events taking place this year. Welcome to your attractions calendar for 2022.
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Alice Davis | Planet Attractions | 31 Jan 2022
The Jean Nouvel-designed Museum of Art Pudong has been in operation for six months. Alice Davis paid a visit to the cultural newcomer in Shanghai
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Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 21 Jan 2022
Visitors to SeaWorld’s US parks are being offered a new perspective on animal care, with a brand-new education programme taking them behind the scenes of its animal operations
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 21 Jan 2022
A pair of highly anticipated John Wick and Now You See Me attractions are making their way to MOTIONGATE at Dubai Parks and Resorts. Planet Attractions spoke to FORREC’s Eric O’Rourke about the record-breaking new additions
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 10 Jan 2022
We’re not far off Mark Zuckerberg’s big reveal of the metaverse and what that means for the future, but when it comes to attractions, there are some companies already well ahead of the curve. Andrew Jacobs, accesso’s chief commercial officer, explains what it means for operators to be in a mobile-first world.
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 08 Dec 2021
Tis the season to be jolly AND to give gifts, so why not give a special gift to a special someone from your favourite attraction? We took a look at some of our favourite stocking fillers from the world’s biggest attractions
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 02 Dec 2021
We asked some of the industry’s top names from Disney and Universal where it all started for them - with their first-ever ride experience
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 30 Nov 2021
You’ll need an armed military escort to get there but the reward will be great with a new museum dedicated to exploring themes of peace through art inside Korea’s DMZ
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Tom Anstey & Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 27 Sep 2021
IAAPA’s international trade show is back with IAAPA Expo Europe emanating from Barcelona, Spain. Here’s everything you need to know about the event
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 09 Sep 2021
Cruise operator Carnival recently made headlines around the world with the debut of the first rollercoaster to operate at sea. Maurer Rides’ Marco Hartwig explains how this all came about
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 25 Aug 2021
Everything is about to get bigger (and smaller) as Disney continues to take the world by storm with its latest animatronic projects
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 17 Aug 2021
China has welcomed a flying theatre to its Changbaishan Biosphere Reserve with Brogent Technologies supplying the landmark new attraction
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 27 Jul 2021
The World Heritage Committee has inscribed 13 new sites in Europe, Asia and the Middle East to Unesco’s World Heritage List
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 15 Jul 2021
We spoke to Triotech’s Ernest Yale and Nol van Genuchten about Knott’s Berry Farm’s iconic Bear-y Tales dark ride, which has been reimagined for a brand new audience more than three decades later
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 17 Jun 2021
He’s fast, he’s blue and he might just be coming to an attraction near you. Here are Sega’s attractions plans for Sonic the Hedgehog in 2022 and beyond
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 04 Jun 2021
Disney has brought Marvel to life like never before with the launch of Avengers Campus at Disneyland California Adventure
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 04 Jun 2021
Kazakhstan has welcomed the country’s first flying theatre ride with Brogent Technologies behind the landmark new attraction
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Alice Davis | Planet Attractions | 04 Jun 2021
A museum dedicated to the Jewish refugees who fled Nazi Germany for Shanghai reopened after a major expansion and renovation project. Our contributor in Shanghai, Alice Davis, paid a visit
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 21 May 2021
WAZA CEO Martin Zordan discusses the global disruption caused by COVID-19, the association’s plans during another challenging year and how community has kept the world’s animal attractions going through an unprecedented event
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Alex Chapman | Planet Attractions | 13 May 2021
With the opening of the UK’s hottest new attraction imminent, Gary Pope of Kids Industries has revealed how Legoland Windsor’s newest addition - Lego Mythica - was brought to life
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 29 Mar 2021
Peter Cliff explains how Lego is utilising Holovis technology to create a state-of-the-art interactive dark ride
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 22 Mar 2021
After being named president for one of the world’s leading waterpark manufacturers, we had a chat with Paul Chutter about his new role, working with his father and what it means for WhiteWater going forward
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 12 Mar 2021
As the attractions industry struggled in 2020, Europa-Park was no exception. Company CEO Michael Mack explains how the Mack family business navigated these troubled waters, as well as detailing a number of exciting plans for when the world finally starts to turn once again
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 11 Mar 2021
In part two of our exclusive interview with the man who advised on Jurassic Park and has his own army of robotic dinosaurs, ‘Dino’ Don Lessem returns to talk everything from the business of dinosaurs to the world-famous Trump Toilet
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 07 Mar 2021
Europa Park and Mack Rides are two true titans of the theme park industry. On what would have been his 100th birthday, we take a look back at the man that started it all - the legendary Franz Mack
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 05 Mar 2021
Don Lessem has gone from advising on Jurassic Park to building enough robotic dinosaurs that he could fill an entire zoo. In part one of our interview, we get a peek into the life of ‘Dino Don’, who talks about everything from Steven Spielberg to the real-life dinosaur that’s been named after him
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 19 Feb 2021
Adam Reeves has created a range of immersive experiences at home and has now turned his attention to a new rollercoaster-themed game show
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 03 Feb 2021
As the world fights back against Covid, so does the visitor attractions community, which is offering its sites up as mass vaccination centres
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 28 Jan 2021
There are parts of Chernobyl so dangerous you could die in minutes just standing there but that’s not stopping tourists who are visiting the exclusion zone in record numbers
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 08 Jan 2021
Businessman Mario Celso Lopes is planning to transform the economic landscape of his hometown by building one of the largest waterparks in Latin America
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 07 Jan 2021
How do you operate a zoo when your customers aren’t allowed to visit? Chester Zoo MD Jamie Christon tells Planet Attractions how the attraction made it through 2020 and what management’s outlook is for 2021
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 01 Jan 2021
Recognising the world’s most astonishing attractions, Planet Attractions names 2021’s Wonder Award winners
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 18 Dec 2020
Holovis CEO Stuart Hetherington talks to Planet Attractions about the past 12 months, major projects and the future of technology in the world of attractions
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Chris Tebbutt | Planet Attractions | 15 Dec 2020
Europa Nostra has announced which of Europe's heritage sites are most at risk
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 15 Dec 2020
With voting currently underway for this year’s Clamshell Awards, we’ve taken a look at each of the nominees.
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 09 Dec 2020
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 07 Dec 2020
Ultraleap’s touchless technology could prove a game-changer for health-conscious attractions and their visitors.
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 01 Dec 2020
Prof Theo Pagel, president of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and director of Germany’s Cologne Zoo, looks back at a year of turmoil for his community, while also looking at the future for visitors, biodiversity, education and animal protection.
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 01 Dec 2020
From The Simpsons to Black Mirror, we cross the entertainment multiverse to find the very best fictional attractions we wish existed, also offering you a real-world alternative.
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Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 01 Dec 2020
Disney’s strict costume rules at its parks led to a Disney fashion revolution. Lauren Heath-Jones finds out more.
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Alice Davis | Planet Attractions | 01 Dec 2020
While most of the world is in shutdown, China has managed to keep the ongoing pandemic in check. With the country successfully adapting to its new normal, Alice Davis takes a look at five major projects coming to one of its largest cities - Shanghai.
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 01 Dec 2020
Who was Ota Benga? How did this happen and why did it take 114 years for the zoo in question to apologise?
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Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 01 Dec 2020
A brand new Nickelodeon family entertainment centre is about to open its doors in Shenzhen, China. Planet Attractions spoke to China Leisure president, Linda Dong, about the upcoming project, the country’s FEC market and the importance of major IPs to developments in China
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