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From the Industry: VelociCoaster, Jason Avant’s new business and the 1800s version of virtual tourism

Rounding up all the biggest news from both publications and associations, here is this week’s edition of From the Industry

Another week and another round-up of all the biggest industry news, with dinosaurs at the top of the agenda this week as Universal aims to bounce back from a tough year, while a former NFL player has launched an FEC business.

The hunt is on

Universal’s official blog has gone behind the scenes of its newest attraction, the VelociCoaster at Islands of Adventure.

The blog speaks to Gregory Hall and Shelby Honea, the art director and show producer of the project, which is scheduled to open to the public later this year.

Sticking with sharp-toothed Jurassic predators, Attractions Magazine has spoken to Adam Friedman, CEO of Jurassic Quest.

The show has toured the US for many years but with the pandemic, had to make changes. In the interview, Friedman explains what changes were made, such as turning the experience into a drive-thru.

It’s a touchdown for Funworld and former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver, Jason Avant, who in 2017 launched the first of three FEC trampoline parks.

IAAPA’s official magazine spoke to Avant about his growing business, which he described as “one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life”



The Impact of Covid

Over at InPark magazine, Joe Kleiman has taken a deep dive into California’s COVID-19 policies and the devastating effect these have had on tourism businesses.

At the American Alliance of Museums, the organisation looks at how the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum adapted its approach in a pandemic world, introducing virtual volunteers through the use of remote streaming technology.

A call to action came this week from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which says that accredited facilities can seize the momentum and address climate change.

“Now is the time to lean in to this challenge, with audiences more aware than ever of the interconnectedness of the health of wildlife, people, and the planet,” said the article.

The Disney Parks Blog has shown off its green fingers ahead of Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival, which kicks off on March 3.

Spokes - the official publication of Ecsite - has published an article from the organisation’s president, Herbert Münder, who has reflected on 2020, while looking forward to a more positive 2021.

Does Glytch have the formula for esports LBE dominance? That’s the question posed by Blooloop this week, which this week spoke to Glytch CEO and founder, Michael Williams.


Culture&’s New Museum School has trained 134 young people from diverse backgrounds over the past seven years - Credit: Culture&

Struggle, perseverance and opportunity

Eurotunnel is currently struggling with fewer passengers, as Group, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, saw its revenues fall by 25% due to the health crisis in 2020. TourismReview has looked at these numbers, which total a loss of €816m through the year.

Bernard Donoghue, director of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) and a judge for the Museums + Heritage Awards, has commended the perserverance and “astonishing” work of the past year from the museums and heritage sector. Read his thoughts in the Museums + Heritage Advisor.

Opportunity is on the table from the Museums Association, which has looked at Culture&’s new training programme.

The scheme, which is aimed at people from diverse backgrounds, has introduced its New Museum School Advanced Programme in response to a survey of previous programme participants who highlighted barriers to their career progression.

The show goes on

The cover story for the February issue of Amusement Today takes a look at the 53rd annual International Independent Showmen’s Foundation (IISF) Super Trade Show & Extravaganza, which is set to go ahead as planned in February.

At iNTERGAME, the magazine has looked at a different event, the Showup virtual exhibition, where game developer LAI has promised “a big announcement”.


This 1801 etching by Robert Mitchell, shows a building in Leicester Square, London designed to exhibit the panoramic paintings of Robert Barke - Credit: British Library

And finally

Last up is Art News, which has taken a look at virtual tourism via painted panoramas.

Today, virtual tourism is developed with computers. In the late eighteenth century, the task fell to painters. The article looks specifically at Irish artist Robert Barker, who coined the word “panorama” from Greek roots for his artworks.