Siblings Cassie Poland and Ollie Smith have taken over the running of Drusillas / Drusillas Zoo Park
Brother and sister team Cassie Poland and Ollie Smith have taken charge at Drusillas Park in Sussex, UK, after a childhood spent toddling around the theme park owned by their parents.
Smith and Poland have been appointed joint managing directors at Drusillas, which was acquired by their parents Laurence and Christine Smith in 1997. Cassie Poland started her career at Drusillas in the retail and warehouse team, then spent time in the education department, before heading up the marketing department for six years. When Christine Smith retired in December 2018, Poland assumed the role of joint deputy managing director.
“I feel privileged to be doing a job I love and am thankful I get to work closely with my family,” said Poland. “I’ve worked across many departments within the park and feel that’s given me a fantastic understanding of the business. I’m very excited about the future of Drusillas and will continue to work hard to ensure it remains a place where families can create magical fun-filled memories together.”
Ollie Smith first joined the team in 2009, working in the zoo, before joining the Playland team in 2010, returning from university to run the marketing department as maternity cover, and taking up directorship in 2020.
“It’s been fantastic to return to the park where I spent my childhood,” said Smith. “We have some very exciting plans in the pipeline.”
Resigning from his role as managing director, Laurence Smith said: “Since we reopened in May 2021, Cassie and Ollie have effectively been running Drusillas. My role has deliberately changed, and the next step is for me to give myself a new title of chair. They’ve done a great job in difficult circumstances over the last year. I’ll still be working on a part time basis – I don’t want the gold watch quite yet!”
Recent developments at Drusillas include the opening of sensory attraction Spark, renovation of the park’s under fives’ play area, migration to a new ticketing system, a new naturalistic animal enclosure, and the upcoming opening of The Rainforest Adventure attraction.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2022 issue 1
Editor's letter: Supersensory
With our growing insight into how to engage visitors’ more complex senses, it’s time for a new approach, says Magali Robathan
Immersive experiences: Joseph Wisne
Truly ambitious attractions providers need to push the boundaries of immersive design by engaging visitors’ senses of pain, danger, balance, justice and more, argues Roto’s CEO
Interview: Esther Dugdale
As the Burrell Collection relaunches and Eden Qingdao takes shape, Event’s creative director shares her tips for creating experiences that spark joy and curiosity
The arts: Room to grow
Could the space age, ultra flexible design of the new Taipei Performing Arts Center provide a model for future attractions spaces?
Museums: Ones to watch
From an AI museum built by robots to the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum, we take a look at some exciting 2022 openings
Research: All of history
As demand for growing honesty in relation to links to slavery and colonialism grows, should attractions be open about their history? Jon Young investigates
Opinion: Vince Kadlubek
Art engages and delights visitors. Kadlubek argues that attractions should embrace and support artists and look for shared initiatives
Waterparks: Waves of change
As The Wave inland surf lake announces plans to open six more sites, we go along for a surf and a sit down with CEO Craig Stoddart
Experience economy: Joe Pine
Experience platforms represent one of the biggest growth opportunities in today’s experience economy, argues Joe Pine. Here’s how to get them right
Interview: Cale Heit
With new themed coasters open at Motiongate Dubai and some intruiging projects underway, Forrec is making the most of the pent up demand for shared experiences. CEO Cale Heit tells us more
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...]
Siblings Cassie Poland and Ollie Smith have taken over the running of Drusillas / Drusillas Zoo Park
Brother and sister team Cassie Poland and Ollie Smith have taken charge at Drusillas Park in Sussex, UK, after a childhood spent toddling around the theme park owned by their parents.
Smith and Poland have been appointed joint managing directors at Drusillas, which was acquired by their parents Laurence and Christine Smith in 1997. Cassie Poland started her career at Drusillas in the retail and warehouse team, then spent time in the education department, before heading up the marketing department for six years. When Christine Smith retired in December 2018, Poland assumed the role of joint deputy managing director.
“I feel privileged to be doing a job I love and am thankful I get to work closely with my family,” said Poland. “I’ve worked across many departments within the park and feel that’s given me a fantastic understanding of the business. I’m very excited about the future of Drusillas and will continue to work hard to ensure it remains a place where families can create magical fun-filled memories together.”
Ollie Smith first joined the team in 2009, working in the zoo, before joining the Playland team in 2010, returning from university to run the marketing department as maternity cover, and taking up directorship in 2020.
“It’s been fantastic to return to the park where I spent my childhood,” said Smith. “We have some very exciting plans in the pipeline.”
Resigning from his role as managing director, Laurence Smith said: “Since we reopened in May 2021, Cassie and Ollie have effectively been running Drusillas. My role has deliberately changed, and the next step is for me to give myself a new title of chair. They’ve done a great job in difficult circumstances over the last year. I’ll still be working on a part time basis – I don’t want the gold watch quite yet!”
Recent developments at Drusillas include the opening of sensory attraction Spark, renovation of the park’s under fives’ play area, migration to a new ticketing system, a new naturalistic animal enclosure, and the upcoming opening of The Rainforest Adventure attraction.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2022 issue 1
Editor's letter: Supersensory
With our growing insight into how to engage visitors’ more complex senses, it’s time for a new approach, says Magali Robathan
Immersive experiences: Joseph Wisne
Truly ambitious attractions providers need to push the boundaries of immersive design by engaging visitors’ senses of pain, danger, balance, justice and more, argues Roto’s CEO
Interview: Esther Dugdale
As the Burrell Collection relaunches and Eden Qingdao takes shape, Event’s creative director shares her tips for creating experiences that spark joy and curiosity
The arts: Room to grow
Could the space age, ultra flexible design of the new Taipei Performing Arts Center provide a model for future attractions spaces?
Museums: Ones to watch
From an AI museum built by robots to the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum, we take a look at some exciting 2022 openings
Research: All of history
As demand for growing honesty in relation to links to slavery and colonialism grows, should attractions be open about their history? Jon Young investigates
Opinion: Vince Kadlubek
Art engages and delights visitors. Kadlubek argues that attractions should embrace and support artists and look for shared initiatives
Waterparks: Waves of change
As The Wave inland surf lake announces plans to open six more sites, we go along for a surf and a sit down with CEO Craig Stoddart
Experience economy: Joe Pine
Experience platforms represent one of the biggest growth opportunities in today’s experience economy, argues Joe Pine. Here’s how to get them right
Interview: Cale Heit
With new themed coasters open at Motiongate Dubai and some intruiging projects underway, Forrec is making the most of the pent up demand for shared experiences. CEO Cale Heit tells us more
Global Wellness Day (GWD) will mark 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-
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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
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...]
