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NEWS
Trump election victory could increase investment in US attractions, says GCI president
POSTED 22 Nov 2016 . BY Tom Anstey
While many are predicting a 'Trump Downturn', the US attractions sector could benefit from the President-elect's win thanks to increased investment in the domestic market Credit: Press Association
Donald Trump's US presidential election victory could be beneficial for the US theme park industry, according to the president of Great Coasters International (GCI).

Talking to Attractions Management, Clair Hain said it was likely that the Republican Party would spend more money on developing the sector than the Democrats had Hillary Clinton won the race for the White House.

President-elect Trump represents the Republican Party, which has been out of office for eight years after two consecutive terms for Democrat President Obama.

Hain said that while there had been investment during final year of the Democrat term – with purchases of four rides from the company – the years previous had been quieter by comparison.

“I think the election results are going to change a lot of things that happen in the States this year,” said Hain. “Looking at previous trends it seems like the Republicans want to spend a lot more money because they save a lot more in taxes and everything else.”

He added: “Only time will tell when it comes to the markets, but I’m very confident going forward.”

Pennsylvania-based GCI is currently manufacturing four major new rides – two in the US and two in China. During last week’s IAAPA conference it unveiled the ride cars for InvadR – Busch Gardens Willamsburg’s first wooden ever rollercoaster.

GCI’s other US coaster under development is for the Cedar Fair-owned Kings Island – a wooden rollercoaster called Mystic Timbers – while its Chinese developments are for two OCT parks in Chengdu and Chongqing.

“Right now we’re not seeing any problems in China, they’re spending heavily there,” said Hain. “In the US and Europe they’re watching every penny they can get.

“Everybody is always out there to get the biggest, the baddest, the fastest – the whole nine yards. But ultimately it comes down to the mighty dollar.”
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Uniting the world of spa & wellness
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News   Products   Magazine   Subscribe
NEWS
Trump election victory could increase investment in US attractions, says GCI president
POSTED 22 Nov 2016 . BY Tom Anstey
While many are predicting a 'Trump Downturn', the US attractions sector could benefit from the President-elect's win thanks to increased investment in the domestic market Credit: Press Association
Donald Trump's US presidential election victory could be beneficial for the US theme park industry, according to the president of Great Coasters International (GCI).

Talking to Attractions Management, Clair Hain said it was likely that the Republican Party would spend more money on developing the sector than the Democrats had Hillary Clinton won the race for the White House.

President-elect Trump represents the Republican Party, which has been out of office for eight years after two consecutive terms for Democrat President Obama.

Hain said that while there had been investment during final year of the Democrat term – with purchases of four rides from the company – the years previous had been quieter by comparison.

“I think the election results are going to change a lot of things that happen in the States this year,” said Hain. “Looking at previous trends it seems like the Republicans want to spend a lot more money because they save a lot more in taxes and everything else.”

He added: “Only time will tell when it comes to the markets, but I’m very confident going forward.”

Pennsylvania-based GCI is currently manufacturing four major new rides – two in the US and two in China. During last week’s IAAPA conference it unveiled the ride cars for InvadR – Busch Gardens Willamsburg’s first wooden ever rollercoaster.

GCI’s other US coaster under development is for the Cedar Fair-owned Kings Island – a wooden rollercoaster called Mystic Timbers – while its Chinese developments are for two OCT parks in Chengdu and Chongqing.

“Right now we’re not seeing any problems in China, they’re spending heavily there,” said Hain. “In the US and Europe they’re watching every penny they can get.

“Everybody is always out there to get the biggest, the baddest, the fastest – the whole nine yards. But ultimately it comes down to the mighty dollar.”
RELATED STORIES
Global travel market bracing itself for 'Trump Downturn'


Analysts have predicted that a Donald Trump win in today’s US Presidential election would have a similar effect to the UK’s Brexit vote, with the potential result sending shockwaves worldwide thanks to a weakened dollar.
MORE NEWS
Marriott International partners with Fitwel for wellness solutions across its residential portfolio
Marriott International has partnered with Fitwel, a healthy building certification system that aims to optimise occupant health.
Anna Bjurstam steps down from Six Senses to build new company Wahayla
Anna Bjurstam has left her role as Wellness Pioneer at Six Senses Hotels and Resorts and launched a new wellness, longevity and “consciousness consultancy” called Wahayla.
Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, opens with spa philosophy of ‘Wellness without Walls’
Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, has opened today (10 July) in the Northwest of England with a 1,715sq m Fairmont Spa that has been designed using a ‘Wellness without Walls’ concept.
'Minor wellness hotels' recorded the strongest growth across top KPIs in 2025, finds RLA Global
Wellness hotels generating less than US$1 million (€932,700, £785,200) – or 10 per cent of total revenue from wellness and leisure – recorded the strongest RevPAR and TRevPAR growth in 2025 across categories when compared with 2024, according to the latest Wellness Real Estate Report by RLA Global, produced in partnership with P and L benchmarking firm HotStats.
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Embrace the chill: TechnoAlpin's Snowsky revolutionises post-fitness recovery with falling snow
In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]

HPO Tech brings design-led hyperbaric systems to the spa floor
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has moved well beyond the clinic and spa operators represent the fastest-growing market for the technology. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers  
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Global Project & Spa Advisory

The company was launched in 2012 by CEO Patrick Saussay and Christopher Ryan. [more...]
+ More profiles  
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+ More catalogues  

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DIARY

 

23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
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ASEAN Patio Pool Spa Expo 2026

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ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
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