February 2010 Table of Contents

How Six Flags Is Using the Online World to Tap Real-Time Revenue Streams
Enticing large park guests to spend as much money as possible once inside the attraction is an ongoing challenge for operators around the country. One park chain, Six Flags, is cleverly beating the odds by allowing guests to buy tickets online far in advance so that more spending money is available once the visit takes place.

Working Harder and Smarter - 2010 Is Off to a Great Start
Knowledge is power in today’s highly competitive marketplace, and many companies are thoughtfully and optimistically taking on the task of rebuilding their businesses. Sectors poised to take advantage of an economic recovery include bowling, which has been made healthier by the popularity in general of family entertainment centers.

The Fun of Learning - The Role of Entertainment in Cultural Institutions
Cultural institutions such as museums are often perceived as some of the more lofty forms of entertainment. But that perception is changing as theme park and family entertainment center elements find their way into the mix to meet guests’ demands for interactive fun.

Zoo and Aquarium Workers - Training and Retaining for Best Performance
One of the biggest challenges for zoos and aquariums is finding, training and retaining a quality workforce. Read about the philosophies and procedures that drive human resources departments at zoos and aquarium around the country as they strive to enhance the guest experience with the best possible employees.

Focus on Resorts - Resort Waterparks Offer Foods for Every Taste and Budget
Prepared and pre-packaged foods were once an acceptable option for waterpark resorts. That is no longer the case, as an increasingly sophisticated clientele look for quality snacks and meals in addition to the best in attractions and facilities. Resorts with waterparks around the country share their strategies to offer creative menus that will satisfy guests of all ages.

What Is On the Menu for Science Museum Special Events
Special events are an exciting way for science museums to create a whole new revenue stream, but the food offered at these parties and meetings must be top notch if the institutions want to create repeat clientele and positive word-of-mouth advertising. These institutions are providing the best possible food, both in-house and through caterers, to offer experiences that are anything but accidentially enjoyable.

H2Oasis Indoor Waterpark - A Spot in the Sun for Alaska’s Most Populous City
The H2Oasis waterpark, located in Anchorage, Alaska, opened in 2003 at a cost of $10 million as the first stand-alone indoor waterpark in the United States. The park has become an energy efficient beacon and an escape from the everyday chill for state residents and visitors alike.

Safe Havens - FECs Turn Up the Volume on Safe Operating Procedures
Safety is an enormous concern for family entertainment centers, as even a single accident or incident can spell disaster for a location’s reputation among the concerned parents that frequent the facilities with their children. Read about how centers around the nation approach the safety and security of the industry’s most vulnerable customers.

Playing to Win - How Redemption Done Correctly Is a Profit Center
A reliable earner that blends a nostalgically familiar diversion with the excitement of a contemporary presentation, bowling is just plain fun for customers of all ages. By adding redemption games and prizes to the mix, bowling centers have found a new formula for profit and success.
Counting Kids - What Makes Young Bowlers Tick
It is a fact, children are often the arbiters when it comes to deciding where to go and what to do for family fun. Bowling centers must therefore subtly, and not so subtly, reach out to the youngest family members in order to successfully tap into this market. Read about how centers around the country are catering to kids in an effort to keep visitation growing and strong.

Keeping Rinks Rolling - Ice and Roller Skating Center Maintenance Report
Whether maintaining an ice surface or a wood floor, roller skating and ice skating rinks face tremendous challenges keeping the skating surfaces, and all of the supporting areas, such as restrooms and food areas, clean and looking like new. Centers need to sparkle, and look like someone cares, if they are to attract new and repeat customers. This article shares tips and strategies to meet that end.

That Critical First Impression - Staffing and Training for the Front Desk
It is said that first impressions are lasting impressions, and the front desk at any attraction is the “face” customers put on an establishment. Front desk employees are among the most important workers at any fun center, and they must be well-groomed, knowledgeable and available to answer, or get the answers to, a myriad of questions. Centers share their strategies for successfully staffing the front desk.
Bouncing Off the Walls - Inflatables Fit the Bill for Fun at FECs
Young children never tire of bouncing and jumping, and fun centers are tapping into that mindset with all types of inflatables. Large slides are among the most popular, and centers share other insights into choosing the best models to satisfy a young clientele with limitless energy.

2010 Amusement Expo Report - Reflections on an Industry in Transition
Amusement Music Operators Association (AMOA) members share their insights into a changing industry in advance of the 2010 Amusement Expo, which represents a joint effort effort between the AMOA and the American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA).
Operators See Self-Redemption Machines as the Hope for the Future
Coin-op operators have been struggling for years with the decreased popularity of video games, a segment changed forever by the home market, and have been searching for new ways to capture revenue. Self-redemption machines, which provide fun and instant gratification and offer simple operating requirements, are being lauded as the next trend to satisfy the public’s need to play.

Trends in the Inflatables Industry - Water Attractions Stir Up Business
Inflatables that can be used as wet attractions can be high maintenance and frustrating to dry out, but the public loves them. As an alternative to expensive waterpark parties, these diversions are the perfect fit for gatherings on hot summer days. This is why many rental companies are diving in and purchasing these inflatables despite the operating challenges.

Insurance Report - Staying Safe While Delivering Scares
The illusions that go into offering scares to the public at haunted attractions take careful planning and execution to ensure the safety of the staff and the public. Proper insurance is a necessity to combat operating dangers, and even weather, in today’s entertainment climate.
The 2010 Halloween and Attractions Show Offers HHA Member Benefits
The location and dates for the 2010 Halloween and Attractions Show.

Foundations Entertainment University is an educational seminar held at locations around the country that offers a blueprint for success, growth and profit in the entertainment industry. The seminar covers topics such as feasibility costs, games and attractions, financing, design, operations, food and beverage and more.