Attractions operators are discovering the profits that can be made from selling accommodation of all types – from hotels and resorts, to shared ownership. Early adopters have led the way and now the wider market is poised for growth
By Liz Terry | Published in Attractions Management 2018 issue 2
A recent visit to the wonderful Europa Park in Germany gave me serious pause for thought, as the scale of Roland Mack’s hotel aspirations became clear.
We did a hard hat tour of the park’s new hotel which is under construction, and it’s ambitious – the size of the project is such it seems Europa Park is pivoting to become a hotel operator with a theme park attached, rather than a theme park operator with hotels on the side.
This will be the park’s sixth hotel. Called Krønasår, it will open in 2019 and have 276 rooms and 28 family suites, as well as conference and banqueting facilities and restaurants. The entire place will be themed as a natural history museum.
The Mack family, who own and run Europa Park, have more land and early work is underway on a seventh hotel.
Hotels and attractions are becoming closer bedfellows and the trend is all positive. With their experiential skills and theming expertise, attractions designers are capable of creating the most amazing places to stay – as far removed from the dull, cookie-cutter monotony of your average hotel as it’s possible to get. Accommodation also adds significantly to the guest experience, as demonstrated by the occupancy rates being achieved by operators who have taken the leap.
The new AECOM/TEA Theme Index highlights this trend by logging important new hotel developments at Parc Asterix in Paris, Ocean Park Hong Kong and the Xcaret Park in Mexico, as well as the much anticipated Star Wars themed hotel at Walt Disney World Resort and Marvel hotel at Disneyland Paris.
Personally, I can’t wait for someone to create a Harry Potter hotel – can you imagine how amazing it would be to actually stay at Hogwarts? Occupancy would be 100 per cent year-round.
With such strong catalogues of IPs to use as the basis for themed hotels, attractions owners and operators are ideally placed to either go it alone and own, build and operate themselves, or to do so in collaborating with hotel investors and hotel operating companies. The opportunity is there within the industry to roll out a wide range of accommodation offers.
These could be in any kind of attraction which is regional, national or international in scale and has a suitable catchment area and available land with the right consents.
The hospitality sector is experiencing strong growth, and hotel operators and investors are looking for partnerships to bring new developments to market: the visitor attractions sector is a great fit, given it brings with it an existing clientele, marketing firepower, land and good travel links. Attractions operators also make great joint venture partners because they understand the service economy and have strong, consumer-facing brands.
Themed hotels already exist, but we think the experience and immersion can be taken to a new level with the next generation of properties to be built, to create a new genre of hotel.
Without serious accommodation portfolios, larger scale attractions will never fulfil their true potential, so building out this side of the business is the next stage in our evolution.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
People profile: Damien Hirst
Turner Prize-winning artist Damien Hirst exhibits a series of spot paintings and huge sculptures at a Norfolk stately home
People profile: Penka Kouneva
Movie and video game composer Penka Kouneva moves into the world of attractions with the Heroes and Legends exhibit and VR installations
Industry Opinion: Zoos & Aquariums
WAZA’s Sabrina Brando on providing animals with opportunities for choices, stimulating environments and enriching activities
Interview: Sultan Al Dhaheri
With the launch of Warner Bros World and
the Louvre in Abu Dhabi, the Department
of Culture and Tourism’s Sultan Al Dhaheri
explains how investing in attractions is
helping the emirate meet its tourism goals
Animal sanctuaries: Paws for Thought
The UK’s Big Cat Sanctuary is the subject
of a recent BBC documentary. Managing
director Giles Clark explains how the
facility works – and introduces Maya
the jaguar and Willow the cheetah
Science Centres: Getting Engaged
Researchers Dr Amy Seakins and
Dr Heather King explain how science
capital empowers science centres
to engage wider audiences in STEM,
plus European initiatives in action
Digital art: Light Fantastic
Tokyo-based digital art collective teamLab is
on a mission to change the way we interact
with and experience art. Magali Robathan
reports on the group’s installation work
and their upcoming museum launch
In a world where imbalance often accumulates quietly, Wildsmith unveils its newest
wellbeing innovation: Silent Loads, an approach designed to meet the needs of modern spa
guests with precision and depth. [more...]
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly
customised approach to designing massage beds and loungers in high-end wellness
environments. [more...]
Attractions operators are discovering the profits that can be made from selling accommodation of all types – from hotels and resorts, to shared ownership. Early adopters have led the way and now the wider market is poised for growth
By Liz Terry | Published in Attractions Management 2018 issue 2
A recent visit to the wonderful Europa Park in Germany gave me serious pause for thought, as the scale of Roland Mack’s hotel aspirations became clear.
We did a hard hat tour of the park’s new hotel which is under construction, and it’s ambitious – the size of the project is such it seems Europa Park is pivoting to become a hotel operator with a theme park attached, rather than a theme park operator with hotels on the side.
This will be the park’s sixth hotel. Called Krønasår, it will open in 2019 and have 276 rooms and 28 family suites, as well as conference and banqueting facilities and restaurants. The entire place will be themed as a natural history museum.
The Mack family, who own and run Europa Park, have more land and early work is underway on a seventh hotel.
Hotels and attractions are becoming closer bedfellows and the trend is all positive. With their experiential skills and theming expertise, attractions designers are capable of creating the most amazing places to stay – as far removed from the dull, cookie-cutter monotony of your average hotel as it’s possible to get. Accommodation also adds significantly to the guest experience, as demonstrated by the occupancy rates being achieved by operators who have taken the leap.
The new AECOM/TEA Theme Index highlights this trend by logging important new hotel developments at Parc Asterix in Paris, Ocean Park Hong Kong and the Xcaret Park in Mexico, as well as the much anticipated Star Wars themed hotel at Walt Disney World Resort and Marvel hotel at Disneyland Paris.
Personally, I can’t wait for someone to create a Harry Potter hotel – can you imagine how amazing it would be to actually stay at Hogwarts? Occupancy would be 100 per cent year-round.
With such strong catalogues of IPs to use as the basis for themed hotels, attractions owners and operators are ideally placed to either go it alone and own, build and operate themselves, or to do so in collaborating with hotel investors and hotel operating companies. The opportunity is there within the industry to roll out a wide range of accommodation offers.
These could be in any kind of attraction which is regional, national or international in scale and has a suitable catchment area and available land with the right consents.
The hospitality sector is experiencing strong growth, and hotel operators and investors are looking for partnerships to bring new developments to market: the visitor attractions sector is a great fit, given it brings with it an existing clientele, marketing firepower, land and good travel links. Attractions operators also make great joint venture partners because they understand the service economy and have strong, consumer-facing brands.
Themed hotels already exist, but we think the experience and immersion can be taken to a new level with the next generation of properties to be built, to create a new genre of hotel.
Without serious accommodation portfolios, larger scale attractions will never fulfil their true potential, so building out this side of the business is the next stage in our evolution.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
People profile: Damien Hirst
Turner Prize-winning artist Damien Hirst exhibits a series of spot paintings and huge sculptures at a Norfolk stately home
People profile: Penka Kouneva
Movie and video game composer Penka Kouneva moves into the world of attractions with the Heroes and Legends exhibit and VR installations
Industry Opinion: Zoos & Aquariums
WAZA’s Sabrina Brando on providing animals with opportunities for choices, stimulating environments and enriching activities
Interview: Sultan Al Dhaheri
With the launch of Warner Bros World and
the Louvre in Abu Dhabi, the Department
of Culture and Tourism’s Sultan Al Dhaheri
explains how investing in attractions is
helping the emirate meet its tourism goals
Animal sanctuaries: Paws for Thought
The UK’s Big Cat Sanctuary is the subject
of a recent BBC documentary. Managing
director Giles Clark explains how the
facility works – and introduces Maya
the jaguar and Willow the cheetah
Science Centres: Getting Engaged
Researchers Dr Amy Seakins and
Dr Heather King explain how science
capital empowers science centres
to engage wider audiences in STEM,
plus European initiatives in action
Digital art: Light Fantastic
Tokyo-based digital art collective teamLab is
on a mission to change the way we interact
with and experience art. Magali Robathan
reports on the group’s installation work
and their upcoming museum launch
A recent survey by the UK Spa Association (UKSA) into the industry’s approach to cancer care
has revealed that almost half of participating respondents (46 per cent) are unaware that
cancer is a disability and guests with a cancer diagnosis must be given
Mexican operator, Solmar Hotels and Resorts, is hosting a series of events in celebration of
Global Wellness Day, including a Temazcal ceremony at its Playa Grande Resort and Spa in Los
Cabos.
Mandarin Oriental has announced a standalone residence brand, Mansions, which will debut at
Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions, Abu Dhabi, in 2029.
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day
(GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in
alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the 2026 event in
Phuket, Thailand, later this year with the theme: The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness.
Auko, an all-inclusive development, is opening in Phong Nha in Vietnam in Q3 2026, with a
series of 30 tented eco-lodges and wellness hospitality operations by Lumina Wellbeing.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, has opened a 2,800sq m spa called The Sanctuary,
with the design and concept inspired by the Native American people that populated Florida’s
Southwest coast – the Calusa.
Swire Hotels’ luxury hospitality brand Upper House has revealed it will roll out its two-day
House of Healing retreats at its three hotels in Hong Kong, Chengdu and Shanghai.
In a world where imbalance often accumulates quietly, Wildsmith unveils its newest
wellbeing innovation: Silent Loads, an approach designed to meet the needs of modern spa
guests with precision and depth. [more...]
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly
customised approach to designing massage beds and loungers in high-end wellness
environments. [more...]
