SeaWorld Announces Major Expansion Plans for the Future
SeaWorld Entertainment held the company's Investor and Analyst Day today.
During this presentation, President and Chief Executive Officer Joel Manby shared with investors and analysts a plan to build on the company's strong business fundamentals by evolving the guest experience to align with consumer preferences for experiences that matter – to learn more about the natural world, the plight of animals in the wild, along with family entertainment and attractions.
During this presentation, President and Chief Executive Officer Joel Manby shared with investors and analysts a plan to build on the company's strong business fundamentals by evolving the guest experience to align with consumer preferences for experiences that matter – to learn more about the natural world, the plight of animals in the wild, along with family entertainment and attractions.
The plan includes a new approach to in-park activities as well as greater connection to the company's award winning television programming that highlights SeaWorld Entertainment's world-class veterinary care and animal rescue operations. Other elements of the plan include a more simplified approach to value-based pricing, investment in new attractions, and an ongoing focus on cost control as part of a larger commitment to financial discipline. In addition, Manby announced several new business initiatives, including partnerships with Panasonic and Evans Hotel Group.
NEW PARTNERSHIPS AND NEW HOTELS
As a part of a multi-year partnership with Panasonic Enterprises Solution Company, Panasonic will become an Official Technology Partner of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment and its Parks. Panasonic Enterprises Solution Company provides advanced technology solutions serving sports, entertainment and retail industries.
"Panasonic is very pleased to be chosen by SeaWorld Entertainment as their new technology partner," said Jim Doyle, President of Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Company. "There are endless possibilities when it comes to adding technology to update and enhance the guest experience throughout all of the parks. Panasonic looks forward to delivering the most cutting-edge technology solutions to impress and amaze."
Manby said after the presentation that a key objective of the Panasonic partnership is to use technology to better connect park guests with animals and the company's 23,000 employees, now known as ambassadors, with the larger goal of inspiring a shift in behavior.
"We hope that experiencing animals in our parks moves our guests to a deeper understanding of the plight of all animals – and an increasingly threatened natural environment -- and inspires those guests to help conserve the world we share," Manby said.
The company also announced Monday that it has signed a letter of intent with Evans Hotels Group to explore development of a resort hotel on SeaWorld's leased land in San Diego. Evans owns and operates well-known resorts and attractions in San Diego County, including The Lodge at Torrey Pines, Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa, the Bahia Resort Hotel and the Bahia Belle and William D. Evans sternwheelers. The Evans partnership is part of SeaWorld Entertainment's strategy to look at opportunities and partners to develop resort properties in or near some of its parks.
"We are delighted to partner with Panasonic and Evans Hotels, companies that have such well-established reputations for quality and innovation," Manby said. "We are excited to begin deploying Panasonic technology solutions to enhance the guest experience in our parks and to explore resort development opportunities on Mission Bay with Evans Hotels."
"Evans Hotels and SeaWorld Entertainment have been pioneers in helping to make Mission Bay the leisure and entertainment destination it is today. Our companies have each served the local community and visitors to San Diego for more than half a century. This project is an exciting opportunity for our iconic brands to join together to create the ultimate resort experience," said Robert H. Gleason, President and CEO of Evans Hotels.
NEW "SEA RESCUE"-THEMED RIDES COMING TO SEAWORLD PARKS
SeaWorld Entertainment's management also announced that the Company's Saturday morning family television programs, Sea Rescue and The Wildlife Docs, have been renewed by Litton Entertainment through summer 2018. The award-winning and Emmy-nominated shows are number one in ratings in their respective Saturday morning timeslots on ABC. The shows document the Company's long-standing commitment to assisting wild animals in need – more than 27,000 to date – and the sophistication of animal husbandry and veterinary care in its zoological parks.
A new roller coaster themed after Sea Rescue will open in 2017 at SeaWorld San Antonio, while new dark rides will make their way to SeaWorld Orlando and SeaWorld San Diego that same year.
A new roller coaster themed after Sea Rescue will open in 2017 at SeaWorld San Antonio, while new dark rides will make their way to SeaWorld Orlando and SeaWorld San Diego that same year.
"Animal rescue is part of what we have always been and a key way we are different from other theme park companies. These shows are part of a larger strategy and we are looking to transform what guests experience in our parks and what the public learns about us," Manby said. "In developing new experiences in our parks we want guests to explore, to be inspired and, ultimately, to act and we feel our parks are uniquely suited to creating meaningful and fun vacations – experiences that matter.
"The overwhelming majority of adults – nearly 95 percent according to research we have seen -- tell us that they believe that visiting a zoo or aquarium can inspire conservation," Manby said. "We see a growing trend within our core guest demographic that a vacation can and should be more than just fantasy and entertainment. Guests want to know that they're making a difference for the world we share and our parks deliver on that promise."
NEW SEAWORLD ORLANDO WEBSITE
A much easier-to-use SeaWorld Orlando website will debut very soon, highlighting special offers and helping future Guests to create their own tickets, add more days, include special experiences, and more:
As part of that commitment, Manby announced the company has initiated production on a new orca presentation for its San Diego park. The new experience will engage and inform guests by highlighting more of the species' natural behaviors. The show will include conservation messaging and tips guests can take home with them to make a difference for orcas in the wild. The current show, One Ocean, will run through 2016.
IMAGES: © 2015 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. All rights reserved
I love Seaworld and am very excited that they are upgrading various aspects. We are really looking forward to Mako. We were passholders at Disney for years and just felt over time they really didn't care if we were there or not. We spent far too many days dodging walls and construction. Seaworld always makes us feel welcome and the staff is genuinely nice. Granted Disney has a ton of stuff that Seaworld couldn't even dream of, but once the kids got tired of it, Seaworld still remains a great day for the family.
ReplyDeleteDisney is like walmart... everyone shops there, but no one wants one in their neighborhoods.
ReplyDeleteConstruction walls are Disney growing and providing more, yep, they suck, but they are a sign of a resort that is growing and changing. Its either construction walls, or stale, and I will take walls everyday. People hate on the oddest things. Once they start DHS people will be upset with all the walls, rather than excited that they are getting 25 acres of new things.
(Full disclosure... yes, I wish they built things faster!)
I wonder if that jet ski ride will be built with jet-ski's in mind... no harness and no seat belts. Just hold on tight and make sure you don't fall off!
ReplyDeleteLol.. Darren, you know that's not going to happen. Would be great if they did though.. Lol. Thanks for the smiles.
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