Bemusement - The Attractions Industry Blog

Jeroen Nijpels

The Principal at JN Entertainment & Leisure Consultancy and With over 17 years experience in the Leisure & Entertainment industry, Jeroen is an all round manager, creative developer and project director. He has been involved in projects as diverse as the development from scratch of a stand-alone visitor attraction (Eye on Malaysia), the creative development of a new theme park in Greece and putting together an entertaining and educating exhibition & visitor attraction on Human Space Exploration.

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Monday, January 16, 2012 Family owned amusement parks: the reversal of a trend or a one-off?    In the amusement park industry, the last decade was characterised by a peak in the trend that family-owned businesses were sold to large corporations, investment funds and the like. Many questions were asked about the potential for success for this strategy, and most of these questions were justified....View more

Friday, May 27, 2011 Europa-Park and 35 years of success: how do they do it???    I have just returned from yet another spectacular event at Europa-Park, the first IAAPA Spring Forum. Preceded by some IAAPA committee meetings, the event offered again a wonderful opportunity to enjoy and appreciate the perfection and hospitality for which the Mack family has become known throughout the years. And it remains mind-boggling: how do they do it? Year after year of record-breaking attendance, major additions and award-winning productions. Don't they ever make mistakes?
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Thursday, April 07, 2011 10 years to Orlando or not to Orlando - is that a question?    The topic is certainly not new, but it keeps on coming back in various media, most recently in the evaluation of the 2010 IAAPA Expo. In 2010, IAAPA signed a 10-year deal to hold the annual conference and tradeshow at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. It was a decision that sparked many comments, both in favour and against.
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Wednesday, March 30, 2011 IP & Theme Parks: here to stay?    "It all started with a Mouse", one of Walt Disney's famous quotes. Well indeed, I believe the Disney company may be credited for being the first theme park that successfully based its themes around well known TV and film characters. And although amusement parks here and there have since then added famous characters to their theme, not until just a few years ago did we see the surge in intellectual property (IP)-based themed areas, for the moment in Europe led by the UK. What started with the very successful "Thomasland" at Drayton Manor Theme Park is now being replicated by others around the country....View more