If you are just coming into the waterpark hotel business today or have been here awhile, it’s time to take a fresh look at the business model. The basic business model is adapting in ways we couldn’t have expected when it all began
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There are about 900 waterparks worldwide and nearly 400 of them are located in the USA. About 114 major waterparks in the USA have attendance over 200,000 visitors annually. Most of them are outdoor waterparks located in the Sunbelt states from California to Florida with some notable exceptions, such as the Wisconsin Dells. The Dells has 14 hotels with indoor waterparks. Some waterpark owners have built hotels adjacent to their parks. But now, there is a growing trend of building hotels with indoor waterparks that is significantly boosting occupancies, increasing revenues and extending peak season to year round.
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Have you spent much time lately considering ice cream parlors, specialty retail stores, waterslides, or aromatherapy treatments? If so, you could be among a growing number of timeshare resort owners and operators nationwide looking to increase top-line revenue in new and inventive ways. An added amenity such as an indoor waterpark, spa, retail store, or eatery can increase a resort’s overall perceived value to potential owners – resulting in sales at increased point values. Resorts can charge higher maintenance fees as attractions are added, thus passing the cost along to owners. Additionally, resorts with added features can achieve higher annual…
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Floating hotel waterpark resorts race to compete for families July 2010 — It started back in 2005 when Royal Caribbean Cruise Line added rock climbing walls, mini-golf and ice-skating rinks to their cruise ships. In 2006, they launched the industry’s largest passenger ship, Freedom of the Seas, with an onboard surf simulator called a FlowRider and an H2O Zone aqua park. And the race began. In 2009, Carnival Cruise Line added an aqua park called WaterWorks to its Ecstasy Cruise Ship at Galveston TX and its Dream Cruise Ship at Port Canaveral FL. Last December, RCCI launched its newest big…
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Condo-hotels. Extended-stay properties. Boutique hotels. Here’s another tip for a hot lodging segment: As 2005 begins, it is clear that waterpark resorts will fill not only pools and water slides, but rooms as well. Here is our forecast on the future of hotel waterpark resorts. 1. Hotel waterpark resorts are not a fad. The growth trends, consumer acceptance and impact on resort occupancy, room rates and revenues are too strong to ignore. 2. The market for hotels with indoor waterparks will continue to grow faster than the hotel industry. Hotels with indoor waterparks are growing from 23 percent to 29…
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Recently, there was a published cartoon depicting a scenario of a new waterpark resort operating in a drought stricken area of the country. The cartoon related the plight of a typical family wondering why they can’t water their yard or wash their car, while a loud splash is heard coming from behind a high fence labeled waterpark. In areas of the country where drought has widespread implications on water use, the eco-friendly public has a perception of water use at waterparks as one of a gluttonous society continually consuming a precious natural resource for the benefit of entertainment. Little thought…
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Ever since waterparks came indoors, under cover, and attached themselves to hotels, the hotel waterpark resort industry has continued to grow at an accelerating pace — from 24% to 32% annually.
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January 4, 2006 — Hotels and resorts with indoor waterparks now total 104 in 2005 with 52 under construction and another 121 in development. Three major ski resorts have opened or will soon open indoor waterparks to create weather-proof vacations and capture year-round revenues. In 2004, resorts achieved higher occupancies and revenues than any other type of lodging investment. Eleven percent of all new hotel and resort projects in the pipeline have a condominium component. Resorts are hot! Thinking about investing in hotel waterpark resorts? Here are the risk factors you need to consider: Seasonality Ordinary hotels, especially resorts, have…
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June 2006: Here is our forecast on the future of resort development. 1. Americans traveling abroad will start to increase. For three straight years since 2000, Americans traveling internationally has declined. However, outbound travel was up 15% during the first nine months of 2004. The Iraq War, US foreign policy, terrorist threats, currency exchange rates and our actions in the world will increasingly place the spotlight on Americans traveling abroad. Those Americans wanting to avoid criticism, intimidation,fear of danger or even loss of life will choose to avoid certain countries or stay home altogether. More Americans will Visit USA and…
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Vision 2020: Emerging trends for the future and today February, 2005. – According to an International Spa Association study, 2001 was the first year spa revenues outpaced golf revenues in the resort industry. While the spa development boom continues unabated, following closely on its heels is what we believe is the Next Big Thing: the indoor waterpark and its offshoot – waterplay. Waterpark theme hotels entered the resort scene around ten years ago, and have quickly picked up steam. According to Hotel Waterpark Resort Research & Consulting, a collaboration of hospitality consultant Jeff Coy and leisure industries consultant Bill Haralson, the launch of the waterpark resort…
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