Episode 26:  How marketing, sales, and trade show strategies are evolving for a post-pandemic amusement industry

Guests:  
Sara Seay, Vice President of Administration, Sales & Marketing, Premier Rides

Chloe Hausfeld, Director of Marketing & Business Development, JRA

Katrina Verweel, Tradeshow & Events Manager, WhiteWater

Dennis Speigel welcomes three very important guests who discuss industry-related marketing strategies and sales tactics that have been impacted by the events of the last 20 months. These very special guests are Sara Seay (Vice President of Administration, Sales & Marketing for Premier Rides), Chloe Hausfeld (Director of Marketing & Business Development with JRA Design group), and Katrina Verweel, Tradeshow & Events Manager for WhiteWater West. These three very talented and experienced women join Dennis for an insightful conversation about how marketing and sales efforts have changed and how such programs are impacted moving into the future, as well as how trade shows and expos have been impacted and what trends can be expected in the years to come.

EPISODE 14: Two respected South/Latin America leaders discuss the positives and negatives of 2020’s impact on the leisure industry and share their forecast for the future.

Guests: Marcelo Gutglas and Gerardo Arteaga Jr.

EPISODE 13: A perspective on product changes, consumer expectations, and safety in the amusement and waterpark industry

Guest: Franceen Gonzales - Chief Experience Officer with Whitewater West Industries

EPISODE 11: A look into the global attractions industry in Europe and the Middle East, with unique insight from the supplier side

Guest: Jeroen Nijpels - Owner & Managing Director of JNELC

EPISODE 10: The foundations of successful Food and Beverage programs and what the incoming chair of IAAPA envisions for the future

Guest: Ken Whiting, President of Whiting’s Foods

Episode 9: How “Give Kids the World Village”, a non-profit organization, makes dreams come true with the support of generous donors, community partners, and volunteers, as well as with IAAPA support

Guest: Ms. Pamela Landwirth, President & CEO - Give Kids the World

Episode 8: How our leisure industry historically rebounds after significant setbacks; an industry leader’s look at the current status of amusement and theme park operations.

Guest: Richard A. Zimmerman, President & CEO of Cedar Fair

Episode 7: The Leisure and Attractions Industry in England and in Europe, a short and long term outlook on the road to recovery

Guest: Amanda Thompson OBE, Managing Director of Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Episode 6: "How the European Attractions Market has taken steps to address 2020 challenges and seize opportunities for the short and long term……from both an operator and manufacturer perspective."

Guest: Roland Mack, Managing Director at Europa-Park

Episode 5: "Covid has changed our world and created challenges for all of us. Are there opportunities within this environment? Any key learnings from our experiences?"

Guest: Jane Cooper, President & Chief Operating Officer - Herschend Family Entertainment (HFE)

Episode 4: The Mexican/Latin American Attractions Industry Outlook, Current Status and Short-Long Term Forecast

Guest: Rene Aziz, CEO & President of Grupo Divertido 

Episode 3: Global Water Park Changes, Challenges, and Trends

Guest: Rick Hunter, Chairman and CEO, Proslide Technology, Inc.

Episode 2: Attraction Design Challenges in a New Operating Era

Guest: Keith James, Owner & CEO, JRA

Episode 1: How Covid-19 is Impacting Vendors & Suppliers

Guest: Jim Seay, President & Owner, Premier Rides

The ups and downs of the theme park and amusement industry can sometimes be hard to navigate, but the outcome is great reward, fun, and seeing smiles on people’s faces! Dennis Speigel, the Founder & CEO of International Theme Park Services (ITPS), has loved and served the amusement, theme park, and leisure industry for more than 50 years. He started as a ticket taker at age 13 and never looked back. His firm, ITPS, has been involved with over 500 projects in 50 countries. To his friends and collaborators, Dennis is often known as “Mr. Theme Park”. During each ITPS “I’M4FUN” podcast, Dennis engages with industry colleagues in a fun, entertaining, and motivating way. If you are an operator, supplier, or developer, no matter where you are in the world, you know first-hand about struggles, challenges, failures, and successes. You are not alone. Through honest, candid, and topical conversations with industry leaders and peers from around the globe, Dennis dives into behind-the-scenes stories and uncovers insights that speak to every aspect of the industry we all love. If you love the industry and all it stands for, come join Dennis in this illuminating journey.

The ITPS “I’M4FUN” ITPS podcast covers all important sectors of our industry, including theme parks, waterparks, family entertainment centers, zoos, aquariums, museums, technology, leadership and management, sponsors, human resources, design, successes and failures, financial concerns, safety issues, operational aspects, manufacturing and services, and much more.

Audio Podcasts available on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Radio Public, Overcast and more.