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Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2013 issue 3
Editor's letter: Authenticity
Having authenticity and human engagement at the heart of an attraction
creates an energy which ensures its success
Profile: Terri Irwin
The conservationist, social entrepreneur
and operator of Australia Zoo describes
how she and her late husband, Steve,
built up their business and how she and
her children are continuing his legacy
Analysis: Riding High
The TEA/AECOM theme index report
for 2012 shows that the industry's
continuing to do well with recordbreaking
attendances for many parks
Waterparks: Tapping the experts
The merging of waterparks and theme
parks, shared experiences and multiple
sensation rides are among the trends,
as we find out from the operators
Top Team: Class act
The first themed entertainment design
degree launched last September at SCAD.
The team behind the programme describe
their inspiration and the challenges
Space centre: Space age
Space Shuttle Atlantis has come home
to rest at Kennedy Space Centre Visitor
Complex. COO Bill Moore tells us how
people react when they see the shuttle
Mystery shopper: The cat's whiskers?
Sanrio Hello Kitty Town is among the
attractions at the new Puteri Harbour
Family Theme Park in Malaysia. We pay
a visit to learn more about the offer
Heritage: Mary Rose Museum
King Henry VIII's war ship is brought
back to life in an exciting new museum,
which takes visitors back to the day
she sank, almost 500 years ago
Design project profile: All hands on deck
Mary Rose Museum's design team
tell us how they created a building
that complemented, but didn't
compete with, the famous ship and
the challenges of working around
the hot box it's being conserved in
3D/4D/5D: Work dimension
We find out how film distributors work
with operators and look at some of
the new products that are available
on the market for attractions
Show preview: EAS 2013
The suppliers reveal the products and
projects they'll be showcasing in Paris
What is your business model? Niceberg Studios is an integrated animation film studio. We produce and distribute rides and attraction films for simulators and 4D theatres in theme parks, science centres and FECs. The majority of our films are developed, financed and produced in-house.
How does the initial process work? Usually, operators come to us to pick a film from our library. As we’re mainly developing our own proprietary content, we make sure our films correspond to our clients’ needs. Our distribution department monitors this demand and our production department responds to this by prioritising certain themes, storylines or effects for upcoming productions. A short film production period, typically six- to nine-months, enables us to quickly meet our clients’ requests.
How can you adapt the product? As we have our own production facilities, we can make changes to our films according to our clients’ wishes: inserting a client’s logo, incorporating product placement, adapting endings or beginnings. And, provided a client contacts us in an early stage of production, they get to make decisions about theme and storyline of our upcoming films.
How do you work with the operator? Once a film is chosen, the next step is implementation. We make sure the film matches motion and effects by staying in close contact with the hardware providers who install and programme motion and effects.
What are the costs? The customer pays a fixed license fee to show the film. This fee depends on the type of venue, number of seats and license period. In some cases, we also provide programming and motion tracks.
What are your latest products? We launched three films recently. Great Wall of China puts the audience in a rickshaw on the famous World Heritage architectural monument. In Toy Ride, the audience is miniaturised and Catacombs of Paris is a Halloween film.
Fantasy adventure Great Wall of China is among Nicebery’s latest releases
Legends of Chima 4D Legends of Chima 4D Movie Experience premiered at Legoland Discovery Center Westchester, USA on 27th July.
The all-new 12-minute animated 4D film, complete with high impact special effects, immerses audiences in the Lego world of Chima, where tribes of animal warriors compete in epic battles for Chi, a mystical energy source of limitless power and destruction.
In a classic tale of good versus evil, the film follows four young animals as they tour Chima with Plovar the Parrot and help their hero, Laval the Lion Prince, against Cragger the Crocodile King.
The 3D animation sweeps the audience through dramatic landscapes, flies through the magical waters of Mount Cavora and soars over the majestic Speedorz™ Arena of Chima in a high speed chase. The adventure ends with Laval and Cragger in a super-charged race in their Speedorz vehicles to capture a precious supply of Chi. The film is only showing at Legoland Resorts and Discovery Centers, operated by Merlin Entertainment.
The film introduces audience to Lego’s new Chima range
Immersive tunnel Simworx’ latest, turnkey, media-based simulation attraction, the Immersive Tunnel uses 360-degree 3D film projection for an experience that aims to excite, thrill, scare and enthrall in equal measures. After entering the Immersive Tunnel, visitors take their seats on a tram-style simulator for a journey that includes platform drops, dynamic motion, blasts of air, water spray, vibrations, light and surround sound.
A 3D film is projected at the front and on both sides of the tram to give as realistic an experience as possible. Available in 30, 60 or 90 seat versions, each tram unit seats 30 passengers on a 3DOF motion base surrounded by 360-degree 3D film projection. As well as the 4D effects, there’s an optional track system for moving the trams from a loading bay into the main show area.
A 3D film is projected in front of and beside visitors to completely immerse them
3D Animal Experience Visitors to Zoo Emmen’s new 3D Animal Experience can walk among the animals as a result of Jora Entertainments’ special effects.
3D effects, colours, scents and sound tracks enhance the settings of a garden filled with flowers and butterflies and a temple populated by Bengal Tigers and other exotic inhabitants. Visitors can also step into a dazzling vortex, wander through caves and mangrove forests and discover the wonders of an underwater world.
Conceived as a new way for guests to discover more about animals, the 3D walk-through experience is the first of its kind in The Netherlands.
The decor was built by Jora Vision
Ernest YalePresident and CEOTriotech
Ernest Yale
What’s your business model? Triotech is an integrated designer and manufacturer of multi-sensory attractions. We develop hardware and software and have our own studio for content.
Our business model is flexible for operators – sale or partnership. We can simply supply an attraction or we can enter into a partnership model with operators. There are several scenarios for partnerships, which are tailored to operators’ business models, as well as the specificity of the opportunity in question.
How do you choose the product? The key is to always provide a best-in-class user experience, whether through an interactive, underwater, archeology, edutainment experience or defending against zombie hordes in an amusement park setting.
How much space is needed? One of our strengths is the “scalability” of our products. They go from as little as four seats to several dozen, depending on the product. Consequently, our installations can cover either a few square metres or several hundred for large-scale, interactive dark rides or interactive cinemas.
What are the costs? From low six figures to seven figures. This depends on the product – from XD Theatre, which can have as few as four seats and no interactivity, to custom interactive dark rides.
How do you work with the client? One of the benefits of media-based attractions is that they can be monitored and updated at a distance. The days of having a ride down while waiting for a technician are essentially over, which is of real value to operators.
What are your latest products? We recently installed our first interactive dark ride. We believe this product will greatly change the attractions landscape, as they’re a fraction of the cost of large high profile dark rides.
We upgraded an existing, traditional dark ride at Tivoli Friheden in Denmark and are installing a completely new ride featuring media content that we developed specifically at Hello Kitty park in China. This will open late 2013 or early 2014. Several others are in the works.
Also new is our interactive cinema, aimed at the edutainment segment where we feel interactivity will exponentially improve the user experience.
Our latest film is Rhino Rescue 6D, which is showing at Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, USA. Visitors experience a virtual high-speed chase alongside park rangers in their pursuit to stop rhino poachers. Along the way, participants encounter elephants, wildebeest and other wildlife on an adventure to rescue a baby rhino and his mother from the poachers. The content was developed with the International Rhino Foundation.
Visitors experience a virtual high-speed chase in Triotech’s Rhino Rescue 6D
The Good The Bad and A Horse Exciting comic adventure is the aim of nWave Pictures Distribution’s new 3D/4D attraction film The Good, The Bad and A Horse.
The film tells the story of a brave young sheriff and his reluctant horse as they track down the meanest, baddest and stinkiest bandit in the wide, wild west. When the bank robber evades capture by means of an unusual weapon and then escapes by train with the loot, the hero goes after him, unfazed by the dangers posed by a deserted mine and a broken-down railway.
The 11-minute 4D experience includes 3D-stereoscopy, sound, special effects, smell, explosions and wind blasts.
Launched at IAAPA’s Asian Attractions Expo in June, the film is directed by production partner Red Star’s Ben Smith and is available for distribution exclusively from nWave.
The 11-minute, 3D film experience includes sound, special effects, smell, explosions and wind blasts as the hero chases a bank robber
Good versus evil in this comic adventure
Good versus evil in this comic adventure
Rio 4D Experience SimEx-Iwerks’ Rio 4D Experience launches on 31st August at San Diego Zoo, USA with in-theatre and in-seat 4D effects. These include lighting, bubbles and scents.
The film follows the last blue macaws on Earth – Blu and Jewel – on a 4D journey through Rio de Janeiro. When they’re captured by a gang of greedy animal smugglers, they must work together, despite Blu’s inability to fly.
Visitors join them as they embark on an adventure of courage and friendship while dodging balls, umbrellas, carnival floats and beach-goers, as they try to escape the claws of evil cockatoo Nigel. SimEx-Iwerks has transformed an existing structure in San Diego Zoo’s Children’s Zoo into a fully immersive 4D experience. The attraction is an organic experience that features live animals, a water element and an interactive and themed queue space.
In partnership with Fox and Blu Sky Productions, the 13-minute experience is available worldwide and is distributed exclusively by SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment Licensing.
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2013 issue 3
Editor's letter: Authenticity
Having authenticity and human engagement at the heart of an attraction
creates an energy which ensures its success
Profile: Terri Irwin
The conservationist, social entrepreneur
and operator of Australia Zoo describes
how she and her late husband, Steve,
built up their business and how she and
her children are continuing his legacy
Analysis: Riding High
The TEA/AECOM theme index report
for 2012 shows that the industry's
continuing to do well with recordbreaking
attendances for many parks
Waterparks: Tapping the experts
The merging of waterparks and theme
parks, shared experiences and multiple
sensation rides are among the trends,
as we find out from the operators
Top Team: Class act
The first themed entertainment design
degree launched last September at SCAD.
The team behind the programme describe
their inspiration and the challenges
Space centre: Space age
Space Shuttle Atlantis has come home
to rest at Kennedy Space Centre Visitor
Complex. COO Bill Moore tells us how
people react when they see the shuttle
Mystery shopper: The cat's whiskers?
Sanrio Hello Kitty Town is among the
attractions at the new Puteri Harbour
Family Theme Park in Malaysia. We pay
a visit to learn more about the offer
Heritage: Mary Rose Museum
King Henry VIII's war ship is brought
back to life in an exciting new museum,
which takes visitors back to the day
she sank, almost 500 years ago
Design project profile: All hands on deck
Mary Rose Museum's design team
tell us how they created a building
that complemented, but didn't
compete with, the famous ship and
the challenges of working around
the hot box it's being conserved in
3D/4D/5D: Work dimension
We find out how film distributors work
with operators and look at some of
the new products that are available
on the market for attractions
Show preview: EAS 2013
The suppliers reveal the products and
projects they'll be showcasing in Paris
What is your business model? Niceberg Studios is an integrated animation film studio. We produce and distribute rides and attraction films for simulators and 4D theatres in theme parks, science centres and FECs. The majority of our films are developed, financed and produced in-house.
How does the initial process work? Usually, operators come to us to pick a film from our library. As we’re mainly developing our own proprietary content, we make sure our films correspond to our clients’ needs. Our distribution department monitors this demand and our production department responds to this by prioritising certain themes, storylines or effects for upcoming productions. A short film production period, typically six- to nine-months, enables us to quickly meet our clients’ requests.
How can you adapt the product? As we have our own production facilities, we can make changes to our films according to our clients’ wishes: inserting a client’s logo, incorporating product placement, adapting endings or beginnings. And, provided a client contacts us in an early stage of production, they get to make decisions about theme and storyline of our upcoming films.
How do you work with the operator? Once a film is chosen, the next step is implementation. We make sure the film matches motion and effects by staying in close contact with the hardware providers who install and programme motion and effects.
What are the costs? The customer pays a fixed license fee to show the film. This fee depends on the type of venue, number of seats and license period. In some cases, we also provide programming and motion tracks.
What are your latest products? We launched three films recently. Great Wall of China puts the audience in a rickshaw on the famous World Heritage architectural monument. In Toy Ride, the audience is miniaturised and Catacombs of Paris is a Halloween film.
Fantasy adventure Great Wall of China is among Nicebery’s latest releases
Legends of Chima 4D Legends of Chima 4D Movie Experience premiered at Legoland Discovery Center Westchester, USA on 27th July.
The all-new 12-minute animated 4D film, complete with high impact special effects, immerses audiences in the Lego world of Chima, where tribes of animal warriors compete in epic battles for Chi, a mystical energy source of limitless power and destruction.
In a classic tale of good versus evil, the film follows four young animals as they tour Chima with Plovar the Parrot and help their hero, Laval the Lion Prince, against Cragger the Crocodile King.
The 3D animation sweeps the audience through dramatic landscapes, flies through the magical waters of Mount Cavora and soars over the majestic Speedorz™ Arena of Chima in a high speed chase. The adventure ends with Laval and Cragger in a super-charged race in their Speedorz vehicles to capture a precious supply of Chi. The film is only showing at Legoland Resorts and Discovery Centers, operated by Merlin Entertainment.
The film introduces audience to Lego’s new Chima range
Immersive tunnel Simworx’ latest, turnkey, media-based simulation attraction, the Immersive Tunnel uses 360-degree 3D film projection for an experience that aims to excite, thrill, scare and enthrall in equal measures. After entering the Immersive Tunnel, visitors take their seats on a tram-style simulator for a journey that includes platform drops, dynamic motion, blasts of air, water spray, vibrations, light and surround sound.
A 3D film is projected at the front and on both sides of the tram to give as realistic an experience as possible. Available in 30, 60 or 90 seat versions, each tram unit seats 30 passengers on a 3DOF motion base surrounded by 360-degree 3D film projection. As well as the 4D effects, there’s an optional track system for moving the trams from a loading bay into the main show area.
A 3D film is projected in front of and beside visitors to completely immerse them
3D Animal Experience Visitors to Zoo Emmen’s new 3D Animal Experience can walk among the animals as a result of Jora Entertainments’ special effects.
3D effects, colours, scents and sound tracks enhance the settings of a garden filled with flowers and butterflies and a temple populated by Bengal Tigers and other exotic inhabitants. Visitors can also step into a dazzling vortex, wander through caves and mangrove forests and discover the wonders of an underwater world.
Conceived as a new way for guests to discover more about animals, the 3D walk-through experience is the first of its kind in The Netherlands.
The decor was built by Jora Vision
Ernest YalePresident and CEOTriotech
Ernest Yale
What’s your business model? Triotech is an integrated designer and manufacturer of multi-sensory attractions. We develop hardware and software and have our own studio for content.
Our business model is flexible for operators – sale or partnership. We can simply supply an attraction or we can enter into a partnership model with operators. There are several scenarios for partnerships, which are tailored to operators’ business models, as well as the specificity of the opportunity in question.
How do you choose the product? The key is to always provide a best-in-class user experience, whether through an interactive, underwater, archeology, edutainment experience or defending against zombie hordes in an amusement park setting.
How much space is needed? One of our strengths is the “scalability” of our products. They go from as little as four seats to several dozen, depending on the product. Consequently, our installations can cover either a few square metres or several hundred for large-scale, interactive dark rides or interactive cinemas.
What are the costs? From low six figures to seven figures. This depends on the product – from XD Theatre, which can have as few as four seats and no interactivity, to custom interactive dark rides.
How do you work with the client? One of the benefits of media-based attractions is that they can be monitored and updated at a distance. The days of having a ride down while waiting for a technician are essentially over, which is of real value to operators.
What are your latest products? We recently installed our first interactive dark ride. We believe this product will greatly change the attractions landscape, as they’re a fraction of the cost of large high profile dark rides.
We upgraded an existing, traditional dark ride at Tivoli Friheden in Denmark and are installing a completely new ride featuring media content that we developed specifically at Hello Kitty park in China. This will open late 2013 or early 2014. Several others are in the works.
Also new is our interactive cinema, aimed at the edutainment segment where we feel interactivity will exponentially improve the user experience.
Our latest film is Rhino Rescue 6D, which is showing at Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, USA. Visitors experience a virtual high-speed chase alongside park rangers in their pursuit to stop rhino poachers. Along the way, participants encounter elephants, wildebeest and other wildlife on an adventure to rescue a baby rhino and his mother from the poachers. The content was developed with the International Rhino Foundation.
Visitors experience a virtual high-speed chase in Triotech’s Rhino Rescue 6D
The Good The Bad and A Horse Exciting comic adventure is the aim of nWave Pictures Distribution’s new 3D/4D attraction film The Good, The Bad and A Horse.
The film tells the story of a brave young sheriff and his reluctant horse as they track down the meanest, baddest and stinkiest bandit in the wide, wild west. When the bank robber evades capture by means of an unusual weapon and then escapes by train with the loot, the hero goes after him, unfazed by the dangers posed by a deserted mine and a broken-down railway.
The 11-minute 4D experience includes 3D-stereoscopy, sound, special effects, smell, explosions and wind blasts.
Launched at IAAPA’s Asian Attractions Expo in June, the film is directed by production partner Red Star’s Ben Smith and is available for distribution exclusively from nWave.
The 11-minute, 3D film experience includes sound, special effects, smell, explosions and wind blasts as the hero chases a bank robber
Good versus evil in this comic adventure
Good versus evil in this comic adventure
Rio 4D Experience SimEx-Iwerks’ Rio 4D Experience launches on 31st August at San Diego Zoo, USA with in-theatre and in-seat 4D effects. These include lighting, bubbles and scents.
The film follows the last blue macaws on Earth – Blu and Jewel – on a 4D journey through Rio de Janeiro. When they’re captured by a gang of greedy animal smugglers, they must work together, despite Blu’s inability to fly.
Visitors join them as they embark on an adventure of courage and friendship while dodging balls, umbrellas, carnival floats and beach-goers, as they try to escape the claws of evil cockatoo Nigel. SimEx-Iwerks has transformed an existing structure in San Diego Zoo’s Children’s Zoo into a fully immersive 4D experience. The attraction is an organic experience that features live animals, a water element and an interactive and themed queue space.
In partnership with Fox and Blu Sky Productions, the 13-minute experience is available worldwide and is distributed exclusively by SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment Licensing.
Global Wellness Day (GWD) marked its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
