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Aleatha Ezra, director of park
member development, WWA
Being a great community partner has proven to be a powerful tool for waterparks and aquatic venues looking to raise their goodwill profile. There are a couple of ways to launch a charitable initiative that can make a difference in your community while elevating your brand.
One way is to create your own charitable programme from scratch. For example, in 2008, Merlin Entertainments founded Merlin’s Magic Wand, a charitable organisation that enables seriously ill, disabled and disadvantaged children to enjoy a day out at a Merlin attraction. Over the past decade, this program has helped more than 377,000 children and their families make precious happy memories.
A second way is to find a well respected partner and put your full support behind them to raise money or awareness. Since June 2016, Center Parcs has partnered with Together for Short Lives, a UK charity that raises awareness and funds for children’s hospices. Center Parcs matches fund donations made by guests and donates 25 breaks a year to the charity. As well as national support, each Center Parcs village fundraises for their local children’s hospice, allowing them to make a real difference to their local community.
Both examples have merit, However, if creating your own programme seems daunting, the second option can be a more manageable way forward. Whether you choose to host a duck race in your leisure river to raise funds for your local children’s hospital or you hold a canned food drive once a month to support your local food bank, there are endless ways to become a force for good.
Aleatha Ezra, Director of Park Member Development, WWA
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...]
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...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Saskia Spa
Founded in 2014, Saskia Spa continues to evolve as a professional luxury skincare brand. It forms pa [more...]
Omnisens
Rooted in nature and guided by a holistic philosophy, Omnisens' treatments and products are crafted [more...]
Aleatha Ezra, director of park
member development, WWA
Being a great community partner has proven to be a powerful tool for waterparks and aquatic venues looking to raise their goodwill profile. There are a couple of ways to launch a charitable initiative that can make a difference in your community while elevating your brand.
One way is to create your own charitable programme from scratch. For example, in 2008, Merlin Entertainments founded Merlin’s Magic Wand, a charitable organisation that enables seriously ill, disabled and disadvantaged children to enjoy a day out at a Merlin attraction. Over the past decade, this program has helped more than 377,000 children and their families make precious happy memories.
A second way is to find a well respected partner and put your full support behind them to raise money or awareness. Since June 2016, Center Parcs has partnered with Together for Short Lives, a UK charity that raises awareness and funds for children’s hospices. Center Parcs matches fund donations made by guests and donates 25 breaks a year to the charity. As well as national support, each Center Parcs village fundraises for their local children’s hospice, allowing them to make a real difference to their local community.
Both examples have merit, However, if creating your own programme seems daunting, the second option can be a more manageable way forward. Whether you choose to host a duck race in your leisure river to raise funds for your local children’s hospital or you hold a canned food drive once a month to support your local food bank, there are endless ways to become a force for good.
Aleatha Ezra, Director of Park Member Development, WWA
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
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.
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.
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...]
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...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Saskia Spa Founded in 2014, Saskia Spa continues to evolve as a professional luxury skincare brand. It forms pa [more...]
