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https://blooloop.com/theme-park/news/alton-towers-plans-year-round-theme-park/

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Alton Towers Resort in Staffordshire could open 365 days a year, providing a huge boost to the local economy.

Via the Stoke Sentinel, plans are being made to attract more visitors to the UK county, with the Merlin theme park potentially becoming a year-round destination.

Per a report by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, "Alton Towers is a major driver for visits to Staffordshire Moorlands.

"The strategy proposes close working with Alton Towers to establish it as a stronger 365 day a year resort and to ensure that it brings clear benefits to the surrounding community and destination."

Plans to open 365 days a year

Councillor Keith Flunder, cabinet member for tourism, said: "The Staffordshire Moorlands really is a hidden gem at the heart of the country which has so much to offer to both day visitors and those planning holidays in the UK.

"We don't want the Moorlands to be hidden any more. It's a special place that we want to share with everyone looking for adventures and quality leisure time in the UK."

He added: "That's why we've developed this tourism strategy setting out our plans to make the Moorlands top of the list for people planning their precious holidays and days out."

Alton Towers recently launched its new eerie offering, The Curse at Alton Manor - a haunted house-style dark ride.

With flying demons, levitating dolls and haunted chandeliers, the immersive attraction tells the tale of Emily Alton and uses cutting-edge audio technology and advanced 3D projection mapping.

Bianca Sammut, Alton Towers' divisional director, said: "We've harnessed the power of cutting-edge technology to provide a fully immersive experience that blurs the line between reality and Emily's demonic world.

"Child's play, this isn't. Emily is waiting. The question is, dare you experience what she has in store?"

In more news, Alton Towers' new indoor attraction - dubbed 'Project Horizon' - has been given the green light.

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Alton Towers in Staffordshire could become a year-round attraction

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Alton Towers Resort in Staffordshire could open 365 days a year, providing a huge boost to the local economy.

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Something that is being discussed is a 10 year plan that helps boost Staffordshire is they were to be open all year long. This will then lead to more jobs and more permanent positions. Another thing is if they open all year long they will be able to limit the number of visitors they have each day, this will limit the amount of complaints they receive because the biggest complaint is their queues are too long, which will ruin their day.

There are also other local attractions nearby the park including Wildlife Park, Awesome Walls and Wetley Moor Alpaca. I think Alton Towers should work with these attractions to offer a combined price. This is beneficial because it will encourage visitors to spend more than one day in the local area which will help contribute to the multiplier effect.

By having the theme park open all year round will be beneficial as it will create more jobs in particular full-time positions for people to work. It will also improve the cost of living standards in the local area since people will start to have more disposable income.

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Alton Towers to reduce carbon and manage climate change each year. They have a budget for environmentally focused initiatives such as LED lighting, solar PV, variable speed and water efficiency at the attraction. To manage climate change Alton Towers are currently investing in onsite renewable assets and diverting waste from landfill where possible through recycling and generating energy from waste. They are also helping to reduce plastic pollution and currently focusing on removing single use plastic from the attraction. For example, in 2018 they phased out plastic straws to paper straws. Having these initiatives in place benefits the environment as they raise awareness of the environmental issues. In addition, some tourist are motivated to visit certain attractions if they are doing their but for the environment this means they will be able to attract more tourist.

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https://www.merlinentertainments.biz/responsible-business/environment/

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Helping reduce plastic pollution

An estimated 26 million tonnes of plastic pollution ends up in the oceans each year. As advocates of marine conservation, we're focusing even more on removing single use plastic from our business and actively seeking out environmentally responsible businesses throughout our supply chain.

In 2018, we phased out plastic straws within all Merlin's owned attractions worldwide. We'll continue to review the use of plastic within our business, seek innovative partnerships to raise awareness of plastic misuse, and promote recycling through our attractions.

Employee participation

Every year we take part in 'We Care about our Planet' events to support our commitment to sustainability. These include collecting plastics and other waste, encouraging staff to cycle, walk and even skateboard to work and driving awareness about environmental initiatives amongst our staff and guests. Our SEA LIFE aquariums host 'beach cleans' to clear litter and help prevent materials entangling and poisoning creatures that live on or near the beach.

Reporting

We're required to report on our carbon dioxide emissions annually. Our target is to reduce our carbon emission intensity by 2.0% year on year. Full details of our reporting can be found in the Responsible Business section of our Annual Report and Accounts.

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Helping reduce plastic pollution An estimated 26 million tonnes of plastic pollution ends up in the oceans each year. As advocates of marine conservation, we're focusing even more on removing single use plastic from our business and actively seeking out environmentally responsible businesses throughout our supply chain.

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Throughout the Alton Towers will put on events fundraising events, for example, this includes bake sales for specific causes to MacMillan coffee mornings and family fun nights to memorabilia auctions to raise vital funds to supporting Merlin's Magic Wand and other charities and campaigns and community project in Staffordshire, provide overnight experiences to local hospices and their child beneficiaries in end-of-life care and deliver education and training programmes including Princes Trust. It is a positive for Alton Towers to put these events on because they are involving local people and encourage local people to input into the tourism vision. By supporting local people both the brand and attraction will be seen in a positive light.

Alton Towers will see Drayton Manor as a competitor and something they do Alton Towers do not currently offer is wedding packages. I think this is something they should consider is an increase in people wanting to host their weddings in a unique way.

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At Alton Towers use technology for a range of things which enables the business to reach more customers, serve more customers and improve communication. They also allow visitors to book online before they visit, scan their tickets in the form of a QR code once they get there. In addition to this in 2019 Alton Towers worked with Coco-Cola to pilot self-driving robots to deliver to customers, making it more convenient for them. The negative impact is Alton Towers will be using technology instead of employing local people to do jobs like selling tickets, and scanning tickets into the park as technology will take their place. This will be a negative impact on the local employment in the area. However, a positive impact that technology has had is that people are able to book tickets online therefore there will be less vehicles queuing in the village to purchase tickets on the day, this is a positive impact because it would avoid traffic congestion in the area.

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Alton Towers helps the local community through employment as they employ approximately 2,500 local people. In 2019, they made £1.74 billion, which has had a positive impact on the local area because of the money spent in the local area as well as people's wages. This is called the multiplier effect. However, most Alton Towers jobs are seasonal as they are not open all year long meaning it will leave people unemployed at other times in the year.

They also contribute the local economy through local procurement as well as supporting local businesses in the area through generating consistent flow of tourists.

By Alton Towers earning more money it will also benefit the local area by contributing to their local GDP. If they have more money they will also be able to improve local infrastructure, this could be new building such as hotels, roads and railways, which will benefit the local people in terms of accessibility and jobs.

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https://www.merlinentertainments.biz/responsible-business/people-and-communities/communities/

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We believe a thriving hospitality and tourism sector is a cornerstone to any economy. It's often the principal industry within certain areas. Many young people start their working life in this industry and we're proud to be their springboard into many rewarding careers.

Investing in our people

Merlin employs 28,000 passionate people who are dedicated and committed to delighting our guests. We invest in their training and development, and offer opportunities to learn valuable skill sets on the job. Accelerate apprenticeships provide the opportunity to experience many roles in several locations, while our apprenticeships provide practical experience and the chance to learn skills in specific professions.

Contributing locally

In many locations, we contribute significantly to the local economy through employment, local procurement, while supporting other local enterprises and services through generating consistent flows of tourists. Wherever we operate, we aim to be an integrated partner to our immediate communities, protecting our environments and investing in local initiatives.

Taking a leadership position in our industry

We're proud to be a member of UK Hospitality and the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions.

We actively participate in developing policy and legislation at both a national and local level. To promote effective, considered policy-making and attract greater investment into our sector, we play a key role within our trade associations, and frequently share information and best practice.

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We believe a thriving hospitality and tourism sector is a cornerstone to any economy. It's often the principal industry within certain areas. Many young people start their working life in this industry and we're proud to be their springboard into many rewarding careers.

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https://www.goldington.beds.sch.uk/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Curriculum%20Areas/Travel%20and%20Tourism/Impacts%20of%20Tourism%20Revision%20Notes%20B.pdf

https://www.statista.com/statistics/934348/most-popular-wedding-venue-types-united-kingdom/

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Currently something that is being discussed is a 10-year plan that boost tourism in Staffordshire by Alton Towers being open  all year long, this would generate more jobs and more permanent positions. I also think that if they open all year long they can reduce the numbers of tourists entering, this is because customers biggest complaint is the queue are long which ruins their day. Additionally there are other local attractions nearby the park including Wildlife Park, Awesome Walls and Wetley Moor Alpaca's, I think that they can all work together and offer a combined ticket price. This would encourage visitors to spend more than one day in the local area. By the attraction being open all year round it will create more jobs in the local area in particular full-time positions, which will improve the cost of living standards in the area as people will have more disposable income.

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https://notlost.com/the-secret-to-enhancing-customer-experience-at-your-visitor-attraction-this-halloween/

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Customer experience is at the forefront of any visitor attraction or theme park organiser's mind when it comes to one of the busiest times of the year - Halloween.

This blog will explore how technological advances have changed the game for these attractions. Customer satisfaction is constantly improving due to important changes to the way the attractions are run. Most notably, we highlight how important a reliable, market-leading lost property process can be for a brilliant customer experience. Our clients Alton Towers are a brilliant example of how this works.

The busy summer season has sadly ended so for many businesses this may mean the gentle dwindle of customers. However, for businesses like theme parks and visitor attractions, things are only about to get busier.

The period from the end of October to November means one thing - Halloween. A huge hit for all ages, young and old. Halloween events are in full swing across the UK, from Thorpe Park's Fright Nights, to Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Even some of the zoos, such as Longleat and ZSL London Zoo, are getting in the spooky spirit!

This busy Autumn period will push visitor attractions to the limit; the demand for the perfect experience will be higher whilst queues simply get longer. This can mean a real decline in customer satisfaction which is detrimental for the overall enjoyment of the attraction.

So, what can cause a bad customer experience? And what are visitor attractions doing to improve it?

1) Paperwork in a paper-less society

The problem:

Printing tickets, looking after passes, room keys and cards can be a great hassle, especially if you're with the whole family.

The solution:

Companies have launched innovative wearable bands act as park passes, room keys and contactless payment devices. For example, Disney's 'Magic Band' allows guests to enjoy the park to the max without worrying about tickets, paperwork, multiple cards or keys. Attractions are also now moving towards exclusively paper-free e-ticketing. This encourages customers to book in advance, allowing the attractions to predict footfall and to adapt accordingly. Also, it means customers can arrive with just their phone with an e-mail and simply scan a barcode.

The problem:

Queues are the most dreaded part of the day. Research reports that amongst the UKs leading attractions, queues for rides can bypass 2 hours on peak days.

The solution:

Leading attractions have invested time and money into upgrading the experience of queuing. A prime example is that of Disney's Star Tours attraction, that has used the queue as part of the overall ride experience. Themed spaces and interactivity eliminates the worst part of the day and boosts customer experience.

The problem:

The tech world is constantly evolving. As such, visitor attractions can get stuck in with out-dated tech, lacking the latest gadgets and gizmos to excite customers.

The solution:

Companies are working hard to ensure their attractions have cutting-edge technology to put them above their competitors. In August 2019, Coca-Cola worked in partnership with Alton Towers to pilot self-driving robots to deliver drinks to visitors. These robots used cutting-edge artificial intelligence, GPS tech, sight, sound and motion sensors to trial if attractions could enable 24/7 on-demand logistic services. They went down a treat with visitors!

4) Lack of environmental awareness

The problem:

Encouraging sustainability in every aspect of our lives is of global importance now. For example, food wastage is a concern as data shows 1/3 of all food produced in the UK ends up in the bin. Additionally, reducing the use of single-use plastic at visitor attractions has proven hard and many are still struggling to eliminate this bad-practice.

The solution:

Attractions have launched a variety of initiatives in order to combat this. Firstly, easy-to-use recycling bins around the site have encouraged sustainable behaviour from visitors. Furthermore, the pull towards re-usable cups has been astounding.

Recently, Thorpe Park introduced their Fright Night reusable cups to try and stamp out single-use plastic from its park. Changes are being made, much to the customers delight, improving customer experience.

The problem:

Visitors to attractions and theme parks are only human. Therefore, every day a lot of belongings go missing and a lot end up in lost property. This means customers must battle against old-fashioned, poorly organised lost property systems in the hope they will be returned with their item. This is frustrating for visitors, as staff are often busy with other jobs and it can take a lot of time and enjoyment out of your trip.

The solution:

To put it simply, NotLost does it best. Using NotLost's transformational lost and found software solution ensures the whole process is efficient from start to finish. This enables visitors to be reunited with their lost items and significantly improves the customer experience.

NotLost has worked alongside Alton Towers to completely transform their lost property process for the better.

The market-leader when it comes to theme parks is undoubtedly Alton Towers Resort. Based in Staffordshire, attracting guests from every corner of the country, Alton Towers Resort saw an estimated 2.1 million visitors through its gates in 2018.

From 18th October - 3rd November, the UK's largest theme park Alton Towers Resorts hosts its ninth annual ' Scarefest '. Scarefest treats (or tricks?) guests to menacing mazes, terrifying tours of the haunted Altonville Mines and chilling interactive live shows, alongside the chance to ride the nations favourite rides in the dark!

With expected footfall to peak during this October-November period, it's paramount that Alton Towers put visitor experience at the forefront of their minds.

The challenge:

Each week, up to 200 items were found across the park and passed to the Box Office for registration and then onto Reception for storage. Around 150 enquiries came in via a number of channels to both locations. Each item was registered manually on a paper form and then was inputted into Excel. Shockingly, it typically took up to 15 minutes to register each item as team members were often distracted with other important guest-facing tasks.

The process was extremely time-consuming and difficult. Moreover, the lack of communication to guests resulted in numerous enquiries about the same items, further convoluting the process and frustrating everybody involved. The whole process was a burden for team members and resulted in a negative guest experience.

The solution:

Items are now registered with NotLost on an electronic tablet. Image recognition software ensures accurate data entry and detailed, standardised reports, as well as removing the need for duplicate registration. NotLost have also built an online lost form that provides a simple 24/7 method for visitors to report lost items. The use of images, lost/found comparison and keyword searching enables reception staff to quickly identify items and validate guest enquiries. To find out more about how it works, head here!

The results:

The team spend up to 90% less time registering items and 20% less time handling enquiries. The customer experience has also improved. A more robust process means that enquiries have a faster turnaround, and ultimately more items are returned.

"It's now a lot simpler for guests to report a lost item. We've even had quite a few emails from people post visit saying 'thank you for finding it so quickly' and 'it's been really efficient!"

Sales and Customer Services Manager | Alton Towers

In conclusion, using technology and innovation is vital for customer success and satisfaction. Most notably, the issue of lost property can be fixed with NotLost's transformational software solution.

Are you in charge of lost property at your visitor attraction? Think NotLost could be the answer to your lost and found woes? Please feel free to get in touch, we'd love to hear from you!

To find out more about NotLost, check out our . Or, explore our About Us section, as well as our Twitter or LinkedIn case studies from different industries to get a real feel to how we work.

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The secret to enhancing customer experience at your attraction | Blog

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Customer experience is at the forefront of any visitor attraction or theme park organiser's mind when it comes to one of the busiest times of the year - Halloween. This blog will explore how technological advances have changed the game for these attractions.

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https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/aug/28/alton-towers-rollercoaster-crash-villagers-wait-for-trade-to-return

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A few miles past the village of Alton, on through the Staffordshire countryside, is the former seat of the Earl of Shrewsbury.

Screams rise from inside the woodland boundary of Alton Towers as thrillseekers clamber aboard rides - seemingly undeterred by a rollercoaster crash in the park in June that left 16 people stranded.

Inside the 200-hectare (500-acre) amusement park are thousands of visitors.

Loishana Ani, 18, stands next to the 14-loop Smiler rollercoaster, closed since an incident in which four people were seriously hurt.

"I've been on it before, it was really good. I think I would go on it if it reopened because they would be more cautious and make it better," she said.

Alton Towers has yet to complete its investigation into the cause of the crash but has taken full responsibility for those injured including 18-year-old Leah Washington and Vicky Balch, who each had a leg amputated.

Leah Washington talks about her experience on ITV's This Morning programme. Photograph: Ken McKay/ITV/Rex Shutterstock

Those taking advantage of the many offers and vouchers available at the park see the crash as a freak occurrence.

"Accidents happen. You can get killed crossing the road. I'd go on it today if it was open," said Rob Taylor, 42, fresh off the Oblivion rollercoaster.

Lab scientist Shiekha Al-Hajri and her two brothers are on a two-week holiday from Oman and booked their Alton Towers trip as part of a four-stop tour which also included London, Oxford and Edinburgh. "I would ride it [the Smiler] for sure if it was open," said Al-Hajri.

Merlin Entertainment, the company behind the theme park, will not comment on visitor numbers but local anecdotal evidence is that numbers have fallen dramatically since the accident.

Down the road in the historic village of Alton, business would usually benefit from knock-on trade from the theme park. But this summer it is suffering.

"Normally the traffic is backed up right up here to the village from 9.30am to 11.30am," said gardener Andrew Cooper. "It's been quiet since the accident. Alton Towers has taken a hammering in the press and it's affecting local business."

For locals, there are upsides: "You can do all the rides within two hours, there are no queues," said one villager. Down the road, shopkeeper Debbie Fenton agreed: "You used to have to queue for up to two hours for CBeebies [a children's area] but I've a friend who said there was hardly any queue now."

Four weeks ago, Merlin Entertainment warned that its annual profits were expected to be £26m lower than anticipated because fewer families have been visiting the theme park. In a trading update, the company said the temporary closure of the park and suspension of marketing had resulted in "significantly reduced volume" of visitors.

Opened in 2013, the Smiler rollercoaster was Alton Towers' star attraction, breaking the previous world record for the most inversions in a rollercoaster. At a cost of £18m, it represented the company's biggest investment.

"This is more than just a physical rollercoaster, this is really going to be something that plays with your mind," John Wardley, Smiler's designer, said at the time.

"When you turn upside down 14 times in a relatively small space, it's over a kilometre of track, boy oh boy, you never get an opportunity to work out what is up, what is down, what is sideways, your brain is just spinning over and over and over," he said at the launch.

For those involved in the crash, it was a life-changing ride. Washington's injuries were so bad that she nearly died twice while trapped in the wreckage of the rollercoaster as medics battled to treat her.

Her lawyer, Paul Paxton, of Stewarts Law, has said the compensation claim will be substantial. "It will not just be for now, it is for life, and is likely to run into millions."

Back in Alton, businessespeople hope the corporate fallout will not last through to next season. The amusement park has engaged with the community on how to improve businesses by focusing on other interests in the area including walks, fishing, restaurants and neighbouring historic market towns.

"Business has definitely been affected, bookings are down," said Lynn Phoenix, owner of the Bank House guesthouse. "However, they are starting to trickle back now."

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Alton Towers rollercoaster crash: villagers wait for trade to return

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A few miles past the village of Alton, on through the Staffordshire countryside, is the former seat of the Earl of Shrewsbury. Screams rise from inside the woodland boundary of Alton Towers as thrillseekers clamber aboard rides - seemingly undeterred by a rollercoaster crash in the park in June that left 16 people stranded.