Successfully Delivering the Experience

Your guests, including the children, are astute, and parents are mindful of how they are spending their entertainment dollars. So your careful planning, and the analysis of customers’ wants and needs, are never wasted exercises.  In the area of technology, expectations have never been higher. Guests want to make instantaneous connections with your attraction, and the more satisfaction you provide, the more positive word-of-mouth you will receive. This is our Magic of High Technology issue, and we offer a comprehensive look at sound, lighting and special effects across the many facets of the leisure entertainment industry covered in the magazine. You can read about efforts to keep up with technology to enhance the guest experience at zoos, aquariums, skating and bowling centers, science museums, laser tag centers and haunted attractions.
Two positive signs for the industry opened this summer to good response, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando and Legoland’s Legoland Water Park, in Carlsbad, Calif. We cover the Harry Potter Three Broomsticks restaurant in Food Service Spotlight, and the Legoland attraction in Waves, our waterpark section.
Our Family Entertainment Center Report offers a new feature – the Industry Owls. Writers for The Industry Owls section are Larry Cossio, Sondra Doyle, Brent Dryer, Alan Fluke, Jerry Merola, Frank Price, Jack Samuels, Frank Seninsky, Randy White and Dave Wilson. In this inaugural issue for the section, Price contributed an insightful article on practices that harm birthday party business efforts, and White covered the timing of finding a site and completing a feasibility study.  
The food service offerings at arenas and stadiums are becoming increasingly sophisticated, although the old favorites will always generate sales and interest. We feature a story on what is behind efforts to increase quality and selection at these high-volume food outlets.  
Finding quality vendors is a priority for everyone in the industry. In our 2010 Profiles in Excellence section, we offer a look at companies dealing in insurance, design and fabrication, food service, special effects, coin-op games, tokens and others.
We also offer stories on safety at amusement parks, and on safety and maintenance at go-kart and miniature-golf centers, the arcade business for skating centers, photo booth and jukebox trends and industry outlooks, the most-requested diversions for amusement rental companies and the latest dates for Foundations Entertainment University.
Let us know how you enjoy the issue by e-mailing the magazine at the address below with your comments, questions and suggestions.

Scott C. Borowsky
President and Executive Editor
Tourist Attractions and Parks magazine
editortapmag@kanec.com