What is marketing? The dictionary describes marketing as: ‘The strategic functions involved in identifying and appealing to particular groups of consumers, often including activities such as advertising, branding, pricing, and sales.’ Advertising is at least not the only activity. Imagine a new attraction is being built. How will this be communicated to the public? The marketing department wrote a press release, which will be spread … Continue reading Marketing management for theme parks and other leisure activities

Is admission for Attractions & Theme Park Management is only for people knowledgeable about the industry? The answer is no. There have been quite some misconceptions that you need to be a theme park fan in order to be admitted to the program and in order to understand the materials. I personally knew nothing about theme parks, apart from my own experiences. I applied because of … Continue reading Admission to ATPM: only for theme park fans…?

Project 5 is all about financing. As a manager, it is essential to understand financial statements and to be able to calculate in order to have a proper view on how your business is developing. When is your break-even point? How would cash be generated in the next 10 years and how would that influence your investments? These questions need to be answered to enable … Continue reading Project 5: Revenue & Financial Management

The Efteling – located in the Netherlands – is a welcoming and creative company. Now, a statement like this can provoke a number of different reactions. Group A might fully agree, group B is doubtful or has no clear vision towards the topic and group C will oppose the statement. This is a perspective; a way of regarding and thinking about situations, facts and objects. Every … Continue reading The Consequences of Different Perceptions: the Intercultural Competence

Winter – a difficult season to be opened for the public – has led to a new creation; holiday events. Increasingly, European parks are open year-round. The non-stop daily operations forces to find solutions to challenges such as yearly maintenance, the malfunctioning of elements at cold temperatures, and the decrease in guests due to weather conditions. Holiday events are certainly no new invention, but are … Continue reading Holiday Events at Theme Parks & Attractions

How is art connect to this management track? Is it is in any way related to the ‘classic’ meaning of art? Painting, writing, acting… Perhaps not these specific forms, but it depends on the students themselves. Presentations with mood boards, creative storytelling to explain concepts, and much more. Projects stand out and the commissioner often appreciates the creativity. In (International) Leisure Management, the studies the majority … Continue reading Bachelor of Arts?

The new winners of the European Theme Park Talent contest 2017 are known. See the webcast about the contest and get to know this years Talent(s):   Read here all about the contest: After the success of the first talent contest in 2016, NHTV (university of applied sciences  in Breda, the Netherlands)  is looking for the newest European Theme Park Talent.  NHTV is the first university … Continue reading Who will be the European Theme Park Talent of 2017?