PartyCenterSoftware.com Blog

By Kathy Lauer-Williams, OF THE MORNING CALL
July 8, 2010

Demon Drop, Dorney Park‘s newest thrill ride, is a little deceiving.

The rise to the top of the 131-foot drop tower seems to take forever. But once you get to the top and the car is thrust into the top of the drop chute, you feel surprisingly stable with heavy steel grating under your feet, even though you’re suspended high in the air.

Then, without warning, you drop 10 stories. Your breath leaves your lungs in a rush as you free fall for 12 seconds ending up on your back at the end of the 99-foot track.

And it’s over.

“It’s a short ride, but intense,” says Dorney Park public relations intern Melissa Goodfriend. “It’s the only true free-fall ride in the park.”

She says the 170-foot Dominator ride, also a free-fall style ride, uses Continue reading

A new report shows that the theme park business, including Disney, is expected to grow over the next five years after slow attendance in recent years.

IBISWorld, a Santa Monica-based market research firm, predicts that theme parks should see 3.1 percent growth annually, or $12.1 billion, over the next five years, according to a report released last week. This year alone, revenue is expected to increase by 1.7 percent, or $10.4 billion. Read a previous story about the report’s initial findings about the theme-park industry.

The words, "World of Color," appear above Paradise Pier at Disney California Adventure at the end of the new light-and-water show.

A new report shows that the theme park business, including Disney, is expected to grow over the next five years after slow attendance in recent years.

IBISWorld, a Santa Monica-based market research firm, predicts that theme parks should see 3.1 percent growth annually, or $12.1 billion, over the next five years, according to a report released last week. This year alone, revenue is expected to increase by 1.7 percent, or $10.4 billion. Read a previous story about the report’s initial findings about the theme-park industry.

Boomtown Reno just switch over to PartyCenterSoftware.com for all their party management and online party booking needs. “We never got the chance to compete when they originally signed up with a competitor, but now that are leaving their contract early to switch to our more advanced and reliable platform”, said Scott Drummond, President of Agile Software and Marketing, (Makers of PartyCenterSoftware.com). Boomtown is one of the largest attractions in Reno with a family focus. It has great staff and their 3D ride is truly amazing!

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The Family Fun Center(sm) is an arcade featuring over 30,000 square feet bursting with exciting games for kids of all ages and a redemption center that offers a huge array of fun prizes.

There’s a 3D Motion Theater, Climbing Wall, Flight Simulator, Antique Carousel, Covered Wagon Ferris Wheel and the Rodeo Rider – plus over 200 video and redemption games, a separate party room and a snack bar. Now enjoy our new Bounce House! Fun Center Bounce House Waiver

Boomtown’s 3D Motion Theater is the first in the world to be all-digital. Hold on tight as you ride amid booming sound effects produced by Dolby Digital!

Fox59 | 6:55 PM EDT, June 8, 2010

America’s Incredible Pizza Company has confirmed to Fox59 News they will be taking over the Xscape Party Center located within Lafayette Square Mall. The entertainment venue is reportedly entering into a deal with the company following an accident on a ride that left a child critically injured. Xscape was also criticized for out-dated entertainment permits. Executive Vice-President of Marketing Chris Brewer said his company is planning a “rapid transformation” of the site and expects to re-open after July 4th weekend. America’s Incredible Pizza Company currently has 12 locations in the U.S. and one in Mexico. Here in Indiana, there is a location in Greenwood off U.S. 31 and County Line Road.

America's Incredible Pizza Company confirmed to Fox59 News they are taking over the Xscape Party Center located inside Lafayette Square Mall. Xscape came under fire after a child was critically injured on a ride at the amusement center. The new owners said they have plans for a "rapid transformation" at the facility and plans to reopen after July 4th. (WXIN-TV FOX59 / June 8, 2010)

Scottie’s Skateland in Quincy will add a two million dollar family entertainment center to its skating rink.

It’s the oldest family owned roller rink in the United States serving the community for over 70 years.

Scottie’s Skateland will be the first in Illinois to feature an interactive three-story foam unit and the first in the Midwest to host Lazer Frenzy.

The addition will be 15 thousand square feet and is set to be built on the west side of the property.

More attractions include bumper cars, mini-bowling and an arcade.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held this morning where we caught up with the Jeff Scott, the General Manger.

Scott said, “One of the trends right now in roller skating is to add a lot of attractions and it’s something that’s needed here in the community.

A lot of roller skating rinks are surrounded by schools and so-forth but we are outside, we have plenty of room to grow and we expect to do that.”

The addition should be completed by November and a go-kart track is also in the works.

Link to the Article

Written by: Scott Drummond, PartyCenterSoftware.com

There are some huge waves moving through the bowling/FEC industry right now.  These waves have the potential to be extremely positive for both the industry and for the customers.  These waves include some sweeping changes to how the bowling center interacts, attracts and retains their customers.  Bowling centers for years have known that there is a huge potential in the business of parties and events.  It took a few pioneers in the industry to demonstrate that a renewed focus on parties and events could have significant changes to a company’s profitability.  Take CJ Barrymores for example.  They keep reinventing themselves but if you look at the core of what they are selling it is an event or party.  Whether it is a spontaneous party for five friends on a Friday night or a pre planed birthday or corporate event.

Having seen so many successful bowling centers convert to this new style of business is bringing the concept into reality for the masses.  Many centers in this year’s Bowl Expo will be exclusively looking for ways to improve and reinvent their current party and event offerings.  Some centers will need to make large changes to their facility structure and entertainment offerings while other centers can just make slight adjustments to the way in which they promote and deliver their services.  This year will mark a dramatic shift in how the industry views itself and how the customers come to view what they previously knew as “The Bowling Alley”.

Some centers will make minor changes to their name while others will have a completely new brand identity.  Part of reinventing your center requires you to shock your customer a little.  That is shock them out of their old preconceived ideas about your facility and into your newly developed brand.  One of the hardest things to overcome is the stigma of an old dingy bowling center.   Just because you bowled back in the 1980′s doesn’t mean that you will have that same experience now.  The experience now is much grander and far more interactive.   While the first part of the shock is to cast off old notions, the second part is to ignite passion and excitement for your new brand and newly reinvented center.  Making sure you are on point and have your marketing fine tuned is key to every employee and eventually every customer being able to accurately and completely talk about why your facility is so awesome… (That is according to your new brand image!)

The best way to educating your customers and employees on your new mantra is to say it often, post it everywhere and make it part of your daily or hourly routine.    Get both your customers and your employees excited about this change and about the great things to come from this renewed focus.  As soon as you start hearing your customers singing your theme song or chanting your mantra you will know that they understand your vision and have fully embraced you new direction.

These are just a few of the waves that are moving through the bowling and family entertainment industry.  As more and more centers reinvent themselves the industry as a whole will see a renewed interest and vigor from our customer base that we have taken for granted for so long.

See you at this year’s Bowl Expo 2010

PartyCenterSoftware.com is the world’s most popular online booking and party management software for the fun industry. “While we have been growing rapidly in the US and Canada, we have been inching our way into the United Kingdom market over the past few years and have finally hit our stride” said President Scott Drummond.  PartyCenterSoftware.com has announced that they are now being used by four of the top fun centers in all of the UK.  One of those companies is Kidspace Adventure Park who was the winner of the 2008 and 2009 Best Site Over 12k sq ft according to the Play Providers Association Aspire Awards.  Another top UK facility is Eddie Catz which has garnered the PPA’s 2008 Best Center Under 12k sq ft.

“As more and more centers realize the power and profitability of our software they are quick to add it to their marketing efforts.  As customers get further plugged in with their cell phones we have seen a rapid increase in the number of centers around the world are starting to us our software.  We have very big plans for 2010 and should have some amazing new features before the years end”, said Drummond.

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PartyCenterSoftware.com is an online party booking and facility management tool offered by Agile Software and Marketing LLC. The president and creator of the software, Scott Drummond, has vast experience in both the fun industry and in online marketing and applications. Drummond started his first web marketing company in 1998 while the internet was still in its infancy. Growing that company into a full service digital and traditional marketing firm help him understand all aspects of advertising and promotion. In the early 2000′s he took over an indoor family entertainment center that was owed by a partner of his from another venture. Seeing that there was no affordable or comprehensive solution for the smaller operators he set out to build an application that could be used by everyone no matter what the size. Now years later this software is used around the world in both large and small companies. Some of the notable companies are America’s Incredible Pizza Company, Putting Edge Entertainment, Adventuredome Theme Park, Dorney Park, Kings Island, LEGOLAND, SeaLife Aquarium, California’s Great Adventure, Kidspace Adventure Park, Eddie Catz Ltd and many more… For more information about the software you can contact PartyCenterSoftware.com at 888-804-1166 or visit www.PartyCenterSoftware.com

2010 Golden Phaser Awards to Robert Peppard with Battlefield Live in Manalapan, New Jersey,

Excerpt from The 2010 Laser Tag Convention Review by Eric Gaizat

On the show floor, the ILTA announced the winners of the 2010 Golden Phaser Awards. One of the show’s attendees, Robert Peppard with Combat Sports Laser Tag Park, New Jersey, won the award for best website (www.OutdoorLaserTag.com) and was able to receive his plaque at the show.

On Tuesday night, the ILTA had their first Convention Mixer on the third floor of Margaritaville in the Flamingo Hotel. Over 40 people joined in appetizers, drinks, and discussion of all things laser tag. A few ILTA Developer Members had commented that it was great to see a vast representation of the industry having a great time together.

The mixer event wasn’t all work though. Shane Zimmerman, Executive Director of the ILTA, presented Jarett Waite with the Golden Phaser Award for Operator of the Year. Scott Drummond with Party Center Software also turned 31 that night and everyone got to sing Happy Birthday while Scott wore a balloon hat in the shape of 31 (seen left).

The awards didn’t stop there. Before the show was done, Battlefield Sports also won an award from the RSA Trade Show for the best single booth! Congratulations to Elaine with BFS for representing the industry in style.

Is Your Leadership Showing
By: Beth Standlee, TrainerTainment

I believe that most people that read this newsletter are leaders, supervisors, owners, and influencers of some kind. We all influence or have some leadership roles with someone or ones in our lives. How are you showing up when it comes to leadership?

Whether you believe in scripture or not, Exodus provides great insight to the visual presence of leadership. Exodus 13:21 says that God lead his people out of Egypt with a cloud by day and fire by night. When I read this scripture it struck me that leadership has a real presence that others can see. It takes different shape depending on the situation.

In the fast paced world we live in, people move in and out of our businesses very quickly. Those that show themselves as leaders demand to be promoted. Our young leaders today have a confidence that they can get the job done, but may lack the wisdom of what leadership looks like. Oh wait, that can apply to mature leaders too!
I don’t know that I’m an expert in what leadership looks like but I have noticed that these 5 things inspire others to follow:

1. CARE: Great leaders show that they care. John Maxwell teaches Continue reading

By Rob Lovitt
Travel writer
msnbc.com contributor
updated 11:07 a.m. PT, Tues., April 20, 2010

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something … boo! With warm weather in the forecast, theme parks are opening around the country, taking advantage of the latest technology to unveil new attractions, update old favorites and create more immersive experiences.

“You’re dealing with a generation now that’s grown up with video games as opposed to just TV and movies,” says Robert Niles, editor of ThemeParkInsider.com. “They’re used to a certain level of interactivity with their entertainment.”

Depending on your tastes and travel plans, the following parks are definitely putting the active in interactive:

Six Flags Great America
This weekend, the popular park in Gurnee, Ill., will unveil MagiQuest, the first theme-park-based outlet of the popular live-action/interactive attraction. Upon entering the 10,000-square-foot game space, visitors can purchase a “magic” (okay, wireless-equipped) wand that unlocks more than 80 special effects. Along they way, they tackle challenges, navigate multiple game levels and try to defeat the dragon and save the princess. Open weekends through May 9, then daily May 12–Aug. 29.

Kings Island
Long known for its kid-friendly focus, this park in Mason, Ohio, heads into ghostbuster territory with Boo Blasters on Boo Hill, its newest interactive ride. Rolling through various dungeons and graveyards, riders are confronted by legions of ghosts and demons, but can fight back courtesy of their car-mounted lasers. Optional 3-D glasses enhance the effects while scoreboards track your boo-blasting ability. Open Friday–Sunday through May 23, then daily through the summer.

Silver Dollar City

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, this 1880s-style theme park in Branson, Mo., honors Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and water fighters everywhere with a new, $7 million ride called Tom & Huck’s RiverBlast.
Legoland plans to open a new 5.5-acre water park by Memorial Day.
Guests board eight-person rafts and ride down a 570-foot river channel, doing super-soaker battle with passengers on other rafts, shore-based sharpshooters and targets that occasionally shoot back. At the end, a giant drier is available to blow everybody dry. The park is open Wednesday–Sunday through May 16, then daily.

Legoland
This soon-to-debut water park at Legoland California may not be interactive in the usual sense, but it’ll definitely be immersive. Occupying 5.5 acres at the north end of the resort, the attraction will feature water slides for one to six people, a zoo-themed water play area for toddlers and a variety of LEGO characters that spray and splash water. Guests will also be able to float a lazy river on rafts they design themselves. Management hopes to open the floodgates for Memorial Day.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Transatlantic airfare not in the budget this year? If so, the new Europe in the Air attraction at Busch Gardens Williamsburg may be the next best thing. Combining a 59-seat motion simulator and large high-definition screen, visitors will find themselves swooping over the likes of Stonehenge, Neuschwanstein Castle and the Colosseum. Alas, although the park is currently open — Friday–Sunday through May 30, then daily through Labor Day — Europe in the Air won’t take flight until sometime next month.

INTERACTIVE
The world’s wackiest theme parks
These pioneering playgrounds are stepping further into the realm of the bizarre.

Disneyland
He’s ba-a-a-ck. Thirteen years after he left the stage at Tomorrowland, Michael Jackson’s space-age alter ego Captain EO has returned to Disneyland. A groundbreaking achievement at the time (brought to you by George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola no less), the 17-minute 3-D movie will serve as a nostalgia trip for some, an introduction for others and a chance to see the late King of Pop before he became Wacko Jacko.

Universal Studios Hollywood
Speaking of return engagements, another iconic character will make a comeback this summer when Universal Studios unveils King Kong 360 3-D, the high-tech successor to the animatronic attraction destroyed by fire in 2008. As part of the studio’s tram tour, guests will encounter physical stimuli (wind, water, gorilla breath), 3-D effects (flying raptors and snarling dinosaurs) and, of course, the big fella himself as he does battle with that toothsome T. rex. Alas, the official opening is a vague “Summer 2010.”

Patriot Place
Although it’s not a theme park per se, this shopping, dining and entertainment complex in Foxborough, Mass., is going interactive this summer with Espionage, an hour-long, walk-through adventure experience set to open in July. Working in groups, visitors role-play as secret agents in order to solve puzzles, complete tasks and undertake missions that change based on their decisions. A second immersive experience based on Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is expected to go live in August.

Universal Orlando
Finally, unless you’ve been living in utter Muggle oblivion, you’ve probably heard about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the new attraction dedicated to everybody’s favorite boy wizard. Located at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, it’ll feature, among other things, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, a combination tour/ride that will take visitors through the halls of Hogwarts, past the Whomping Willow and into the thick of things in a hotly contested Quidditch match. The magic — actually, it’s advanced robotics and 360-degree filmmaking — begins June 18.

Read it here

Brand Republic (London, England, UK)

Attendance at theme parks in the United Kingdom rose 12 percent between 2004 and 2009, and revenue increased 27 percent, according to a market research organization. Average per capita revenue increased from £20 (US$30.75) in 2004 to £23 (US$35.31) last year. Merlin Entertainments dominates the U.K. industry, with its attractions accounting for almost 60 percent of admissions and 70 percent of revenues.

Revenue growth has outstripped rising admissions as operators make the most of the trend to visit attractions in the UK.

A recent ad campaign to promote the delights of Blackpool made full use of the similarity between its famous Tower and the somewhat bigger one in Paris to which it was built in homage. But there has always been more to the Lancashire seaside resort than Victorian engineering, and now its attractions are to be regenerated. Merlin Entertainments, the UK’s leading theme park operator, is being brought in to help with the process.
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The company, which counts Legoland, Alton Towers and the London Dungeon among its portfolio of attractions, posted strong results for 2009 – like-for-like sales up more than 6% year on year – despite delaying plans for stock market flotation.

Indeed, the theme park industry has come through the recession relatively unscathed: between 2004 and 2009 revenues grew by 27%, according to Mintel, with admissions up 12% over the same period.

Revenue growth has outstripped admissions as operators have added extras to increase revenue potential from visitors. As a result, people have increased their spending on premium tickets or virtual queuing options to avoid long waits for the rides.

Last year, theme park revenues reached £315m, with admissions at 13.8m. The average revenue per visitor has increased from £20 in 2004 to £23 last year. However, people are being more cautious with secondary spending once inside the parks: it dipped slightly as visitors have been bringing in their own food rather than using the restaurants on site, as well as cutting back on souvenirs.

The sector has benefited from sustained investment from the operators and has been well-placed to make the most of the trend for cash-strapped consumers to stay in the UK for their holidays in the form of more day trips and shorter breaks. Holidays in the UK, by UK residents, increased 17% in the year to October 2009, according to VisitEngland, while outbound travel by UK residents declined by 15%.

With families providing the backbone of visitors to theme parks, peak activity centres on two key trading periods -the Easter and summer school holidays. Advertising spend and promotion are, accordingly, focused on these periods, as the winter weather in the UK means that most outside attractions have to close down during those months.

The market benefits from high numbers of repeat visitors: 23% of those who visited a park in 2009 were returning visitors.

Higher overheads, such as electricity prices and staffing costs, have had an impact on the attractions’ operating margins. Staffing levels are high in theme parks and wage bills and staffing costs account for 20%-33% of turnover.

Although a high number of attractions compete with theme parks, there are fewer than 20 major parks in the UK. However, those in the South East in particular face added competition from European parks; Disneyland Paris attracts more UK visitors than most domestic parks except Alton Towers.

Merlin Entertainments dominates the UK scene, with its parks accounting for almost 60% of admissions and 70% of revenues. It has invested in its attractions with new rides, and its strategy of providing accommodation has also proved popular – all its parks now have a hotel or are seeking planning permission to add one.

Its Alton Towers park is the most popular in the UK – more than half of all adults have visited – followed by Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures and Legoland.

Flamingo Land, the combined theme park and zoo in North Yorkshire, is the biggest independent operator. Meanwhile, Drayton Manor in Staffordshire added Thomas Land, based on the Tank Engine character, to its park in 2008 to appeal to younger children and extend its season; as a result, admissions and revenue jumped by a third in 2008.

Looking at future growth of the market, by 2014 Mintel predicts visitor numbers will reach 15m – up 9% on 2009 – and revenue will reach £374m. Although this equates to a 19% rise in revenue over the five-year period, when inflation is taken into account it means the market remains static.

Read it here

Article published April 16, 2010
Opening month discount aims to boost attendance
By JON CHAVEZ
BLADE BUSINESS WRITER

Still smarting from a season in which attendance was sketchy and about to unveil a new $10.5 million water ride, Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky will try to ignite attendance immediately this season by offering a 35 percent discount on admission during its opening month.

The park is offering its regular $45.99 ticket at a price of $29.99 – a $16 savings – for use in May if customers buy the ticket through Cedar Point’s Web site before April 30. It doesn’t affect junior and senior ticket prices.

The park opens May 15 and is hoping crowds will come out to enjoy its new Shoot the Rapids water ride, the park’s third water ride and the most expensive water ride at Cedar Point.

Robin Innes, a park spokesman, called the offer “by far our most aggressive effort” in spring promotions. “I think it will have an impact, and it always helps to be able to get off to a good start.”

Dennis Speigel, president of International Theme Park Services Inc. of Cincinnati, said the amusement park industry is smarting from 2009 and is discounting heavily this spring.

“The sooner you get them in, the better, because you don’t know how the rest of the season is going to go,” he said.

Other amusement parks, such as the Six Flags Inc. chain and several independents, are offering significant May discounts, he added.

Some Six Flags parks, he said, are offering a season pass for $50, or just a few dollar above their full daily admission price.

“Everybody is very concerned with higher oil prices right now. We’re sort of still in recession and they’re not seeing any great signs of an uptick from last year,” Mr. Speigel said. “But the weather has been good, so they’re trying to create impulse purchases. People want to come out of the chute strong,” he added.

Contact Jon Chavez at:
jchavez@theblade.com
or 419-724-6128.

By Matilda Battersby Thursday, 15 April 2010

360-degree images of some of Britain’s most popular theme parks have now been made available on Google’s Street View maps.

Alton Towers in Staffordshire, the UK’s largest theme park, is among the attractions to have been featured on Google’s mapping technology. Prospective visitors and keen fans can now virtually navigate through the mock-gothic exterior and check out the scale of the park’s popular rides.

Other theme parks to receive the Google Street View treatment include Legoland, Chessington World of Adventures, Thorpe Park and Sea Life in Weymouth.

The parks were photographed by the Google Trike (a three wheeled bike with camera equipment attached to it) last summer and the imagery was then processed and carefully stitched together.

“As attractions like theme parks have grown to offer so many more rides and activities, it can be difficult to fit everything in without a bit of planning!” remarked Mark Fisher, managing director of theme parks for Merlin Entertainments, which collaborated with Google on the project.

“Street View will add another dimension to the other tools that we offer our visitors to help in this, and we look forward to adding the facility to more of the Merlin attractions in time.”

Trainertainment invites you to the 2010 Western Region Party Summit where you will lean to increase yor sales… through great groups and parties!

1.5 days of Party Training Fun including training for group sales and everything birthdays!

When: March 23-24, 2010
Where: Boomers in Irvine
3405 Michelson Drive
Irvine, CA 92612

See the full flyer here