Gus Antorcha took over at SeaWorld in February 2019
It’s been almost plain sailing for Seaworld’s new head honcho. The former Carnival Cruise Lines COO, Gus Antorcha has helped the company climb out of murky waters, with what once looked like a sinking ship now starting to turn around several years of financial decline.
Appointed in February 2019, Antorcha has been SeaWorld CEO for just over half-a-year. While he admits there’s still “plenty of work to do” on a number of fronts, he’s confident in the direction the company is heading: “We’ve got an exceptional business model and we’re focused on improving our execution with enhanced marketing and communications initiatives, more effective pricing strategies and the introduction of new compelling rides, attractions and events in every one of our parks every year.”
A key investment area for SeaWorld is Orlando. Major developments in the area include Universal’s Epic Worlds (see p44) and Disney’s new Star Wars lands, both of which are expected to boost visitor numbers to the area significantly in the coming years. Antorcha believes these developments will be of great benefit to SeaWorld, with its offering helping the operator to stand out in a busy market.
“I’m encouraged by investment in Orlando and I think it will drive visitation into the market.” he says. “The amount of capital investment – including what we’re building and what the others are building in Orlando – is going to make the city an even bigger destination for tourism and vacations than it is today.
“We’re a unique value proposition. We have our rollercoasters, our lands such as Sesame Street and our animals. Together, we provide a very compelling differentiated experience for families to come in and spend part of their vacation with us.”
SeaWorld recently reported strong growth in visitor numbers and operating income, reversing a multi-year decline stemming from controversy over captive cetaceans in its parks.
Visitor numbers for the first six months of 2019 were 9.8 million visitors – a 1.7 per cent rise year on year. Company earnings were US$166.1m – a 34 per cent increase over the previous year. The company has set a target of delivering US$475m to US$500m of annual adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation by the end next year.
“We’ll continue to push on the cost lever and it’s very much becoming a way we think about an approach to business,” says Antorcha. “I came from one of the lowest cost operators in the cruise industry. Working with the team here, we’re going to continue to find ways to become more efficient without impacting the guest experience. I’ll be working closely with our in-house teams to make sure that we continue that focus and continue to drive cost out of our business.”
“Sometimes you push a little bit and you make mistake and you pull it back. A lot of what this company has been doing and what I’ve focused on is testing and learning as we go.”
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
People profile: Tom Hennes
Tom Hennes discusses how he has transformed the Empire State Building's visitor experience
People profile: Dimitrios Pandermalis
The Acropolis Museum has just celebrated its 10-year anniversary. Its president, Dimitrios Pandermalis, talks about his plans to take the museum forward in the next decade and beyond
People profile: Gus Antorcha
SeaWorld's new CEO Gus Antorcha on the company's new direction as it starts to recover following several years of turmoil
Museums: A museum in motion
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image
is undergoing a AUS$40m renewal. CEO
Katrina Sedgwick talks about the plans
Tourism: The dark side
With locations like Chernobyl increasing
in popularity, Kath Hudson looks at the
dark side of the global tourism sector
Promotional feature: Whitewater
WhiteWater thinks outside the box to create memorable,
immersive experiences that go beyond the thrill
Rides: Monsters, myths and motorbikes
We take a look at some of the biggest ride
openings for visitor attractions worldwide,
including Universal’s new Hagrid coaster
Promotional feature: OurPeople
Home to the world-revered peppa pig world and welcoming more than one
million visitors every year, paultons park was voted Tripadvisor’s number
one UK amusement park for the fourth year running in 2019
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...]
Gus Antorcha took over at SeaWorld in February 2019
It’s been almost plain sailing for Seaworld’s new head honcho. The former Carnival Cruise Lines COO, Gus Antorcha has helped the company climb out of murky waters, with what once looked like a sinking ship now starting to turn around several years of financial decline.
Appointed in February 2019, Antorcha has been SeaWorld CEO for just over half-a-year. While he admits there’s still “plenty of work to do” on a number of fronts, he’s confident in the direction the company is heading: “We’ve got an exceptional business model and we’re focused on improving our execution with enhanced marketing and communications initiatives, more effective pricing strategies and the introduction of new compelling rides, attractions and events in every one of our parks every year.”
A key investment area for SeaWorld is Orlando. Major developments in the area include Universal’s Epic Worlds (see p44) and Disney’s new Star Wars lands, both of which are expected to boost visitor numbers to the area significantly in the coming years. Antorcha believes these developments will be of great benefit to SeaWorld, with its offering helping the operator to stand out in a busy market.
“I’m encouraged by investment in Orlando and I think it will drive visitation into the market.” he says. “The amount of capital investment – including what we’re building and what the others are building in Orlando – is going to make the city an even bigger destination for tourism and vacations than it is today.
“We’re a unique value proposition. We have our rollercoasters, our lands such as Sesame Street and our animals. Together, we provide a very compelling differentiated experience for families to come in and spend part of their vacation with us.”
SeaWorld recently reported strong growth in visitor numbers and operating income, reversing a multi-year decline stemming from controversy over captive cetaceans in its parks.
Visitor numbers for the first six months of 2019 were 9.8 million visitors – a 1.7 per cent rise year on year. Company earnings were US$166.1m – a 34 per cent increase over the previous year. The company has set a target of delivering US$475m to US$500m of annual adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation by the end next year.
“We’ll continue to push on the cost lever and it’s very much becoming a way we think about an approach to business,” says Antorcha. “I came from one of the lowest cost operators in the cruise industry. Working with the team here, we’re going to continue to find ways to become more efficient without impacting the guest experience. I’ll be working closely with our in-house teams to make sure that we continue that focus and continue to drive cost out of our business.”
“Sometimes you push a little bit and you make mistake and you pull it back. A lot of what this company has been doing and what I’ve focused on is testing and learning as we go.”
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
People profile: Tom Hennes
Tom Hennes discusses how he has transformed the Empire State Building's visitor experience
People profile: Dimitrios Pandermalis
The Acropolis Museum has just celebrated its 10-year anniversary. Its president, Dimitrios Pandermalis, talks about his plans to take the museum forward in the next decade and beyond
People profile: Gus Antorcha
SeaWorld's new CEO Gus Antorcha on the company's new direction as it starts to recover following several years of turmoil
Museums: A museum in motion
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image
is undergoing a AUS$40m renewal. CEO
Katrina Sedgwick talks about the plans
Tourism: The dark side
With locations like Chernobyl increasing
in popularity, Kath Hudson looks at the
dark side of the global tourism sector
Promotional feature: Whitewater
WhiteWater thinks outside the box to create memorable,
immersive experiences that go beyond the thrill
Rides: Monsters, myths and motorbikes
We take a look at some of the biggest ride
openings for visitor attractions worldwide,
including Universal’s new Hagrid coaster
Promotional feature: OurPeople
Home to the world-revered peppa pig world and welcoming more than one
million visitors every year, paultons park was voted Tripadvisor’s number
one UK amusement park for the fourth year running in 2019
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...]
