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Figment!
04-24-2007, 11:58 AM
Bits Beyond the Berms
4/23/07 - 4/29/07



4/23/07
~Amusement Parks Have Arrived To India (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1267267&postcount=2)
~End to Adventure Park USA Woes (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1267284&postcount=3)
~Williams Grove Amusement Park Winds Down Fun (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1267299&postcount=5)
~Penang, Thailand May Get Theme Park (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1267312&postcount=6)


4/24/07
~Milton Hershey’s Amusement Park Turns 100 (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1267292&postcount=4)
~Arizona Water Park to Offer Scuba Lagoon, Wave Pool (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1267321&postcount=7)
~Gaylord National Resort Set To Open April 25, 2008 (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1267325&postcount=8)


4/25/07
~Phase II Announced for Trump Ocean Resort Baja, Mexico (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1270690&postcount=13)


4/26/07
~Six Flags Anticipates Higher 1Q Revenue (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1270652&postcount=10)
~MGM Mirage to Invest $160M in $700M "M Resort" (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1270696&postcount=14)
~Hard Rock Hotel San Diego to Open Fall 2007 (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1270735&postcount=17)


4/27/07
~Steel Venom to Move to Dorney Park? (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1270647&postcount=9)
~Bollywood to Open First Theme Park (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1270664&postcount=11)
~Orlando Sun Resort Joins The Lexington Collection (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1270679&postcount=12)
~St. Regis Bal Harbour Project (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1270719&postcount=15) Is On (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1270719&postcount=15)
~Halifax Marriott Harbourfront $14M Renovation Plan (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1270728&postcount=16)

4/28/07
~Water Works, Ohio Zoning Saga Continues (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1272075&postcount=18)
~Christmas-Themed Hotel Coming to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1272081&postcount=19)

4/29/07
~Wild West World Theme Park Opens Soon (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1273352&postcount=21)
~French Amusement Park Accident Injures 24 (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1273342&postcount=20)
~Universal Park Brings on Monsters (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1273359&postcount=22)

Figment!
04-24-2007, 12:01 PM
Hi-tech, Adrenaline-Rushing Amusement Parks Have Arrived




VISHAKHA TALREJA
INDIA TIMES
APRIL 23, 2007

NEW DELHI: Just imagine riding a wheel which both rotates and revolves 360 degrees at a speed of 14 rpm (revolutions per minute) with laser fireworks lighting up the sky. It may not seem pretty quick if you compare to a fast car, but it will give you all the fun you want without spinning your head. And this along with multi-media game parlours, exotic theme parks, out-of-the-world rides could soon be part of high-tech amusement parks in India.

These are very different from the routine merry-go-rounds and giant wheels. High-tech amusement parks could be theme parks with different zones, long elevated mono rails for travelling within the parks, laser shows, interactive TV and to top it all the thrilling computer-controlled rides that you might have seen in a Hollywood blockbuster.

You won’t have to fly to Disneyland to experience adrenaline-rushing joy rides or fun-filled games. The Rs 3,000-crore amusement park industry in India will soon offer the same experience at home.

To begin with you have Noida Entertainment City (NEC) being developed by International Recreation Parks (IRPPL) in a 50:50 joint venture with Unitech, scheduled to open next year. The amusement park spread over 150 acre will be a theme park for which the company has tied up with Cartoon Network.

“The park can accommodate about 1.8 million people. The destination park is targeted at not only locals but tourists as well therefore we have designed it on international lines meeting the standards of Disneyland and the likes,” says Rakesh Babbar, managing director, International Recreation Parks.

While this amusement park can accommodate 1.8 million people at same time, the footfall for the popular Delhi-based amusement park Appu Ghar is only 1.2 million annually.

The new amusement parks are trying to ensure that people get a good experience not just from the rides, but also the overall packaging is attractive. To enable this, NEC has roped in MVA, a Hong Kong-based company as a traffic consultant. While Canada-based Forrec is its design consultant, Cini Little, a California based company is its F&B consultant. Also the water management will be done by Europool, a Glasgow, UK, company.

It’s not just fun-filled rides but laser and firework shows and other multimedia games which will attract people to the amusement park. A 60-meter high spectacular tower will have feature lighting display. ECA2 is NEC’s multimedia sourcing company — the company which created Athens Olympics opening ceremony and musical fountains of Sentosa in Singapore.

Another amusement park Adventure Island currently under development by IRPPL is located in Rohini (Delhi). The company has tied up with POGO channel for this park. One of the main attractions of the park will be interactive TV being sponsored by the POGO channel.

In Chandigarh, another amusement park is being developed by Unitech. “The 73 acre amusement park will not only have 45 thrilling rides, but will also have a wax museum on the lines of Madame Tussands,” said a Unitech spokesperson.
Importing the rides can cost almost 10 times of what sourcing them from India costs, say experts. Hence, the large outlays on such projects. For NEC, the rides have been sourced from various international companies such as Italy-based Zamperla and Moser and Switzerland-based Intamin.

The rides rotate and revolve 360 degrees at the same time. While the high thrill rides have a speed of 14 rpm even the mild ones take 12 revolutions per minute. Fast and furious. How safe are these hi-tech rides? Well if international certification is any indicator then the amusement parks being developed by IRPPL will adhere to German safety standards called DIN (Deutsches Institut Für Normung).

On the other had there are some blueprints that seek to blend spirituality with technology in an amusing ambiance. ISCKON is planning two amusement parks, one in Vrindavan and another in Bangalore. The investment for the parks will be around Rs 1,000 crore and Rs 350 crore, respectively. The theme of the parks will revolve around Krishna’s stories.

The amusement parks are riding not just high on technology but big bucks as well. The first phase of NEC will cost Rs 1,400 crore. The investment in the Rohini Adventure Island will be about Rs 300 crore. Unitech will be investing over Rs 500 crore in its Chandigarh project.

The amusement park industry has been growing at 25% per annum over the last five years, according to industry estimates. There are around 150 parks in India, with 10-15 coming up over the next few years. It’s time to gear up for the next generation of amusement parks now.

Figment!
04-24-2007, 12:17 PM
End to Park's Woes in Sight




By Nancy Hernandez | Staff
Frederick News-Post
April 23, 2007

NEW MARKET -- After several bumpy months of disputes with the county and private companies, Adventure Park U.S.A. may be close to coasting to a resolution.Adventure Park and the Town of New Market have reached a settlement with two private companies that were trying to block the town from annexing the 24-acre amusement park, said Larry Stottlemyer, Adventure Park's founder and managing director. And the park recently got approval from the state to operate a roller coaster that Frederick County contends was built illegally.

The park's annexation and roller coaster woes began in September. That month, a lawsuit was filed in Frederick County Circuit Court on behalf of two companies -- Intercoastal Industrial Park Limited Partnership, which owns 26 lots in the 204-acre industrial park off Baldwin Road that houses Adventure Park U.S.A., and Intercoastal Industrial Center Owners Association Inc., a business owners association.The companies asked the court to prevent annexation, arguing that such a move would prevent them from selling the remaining lots.

Despite the lawsuit, the New Market town council voted unanimously in November to annex the park. Circuit Court Judge John Tisdale ruled in favor of Intercoastal in January and voided the annexation. The town appealed several weeks later.

New Market Mayor Winslow Burhans III said Monday the town anticipates receiving between $120,000 and $140,000 annually in amusement taxes if the annexation goes through. Should a water park be added in the future, he anticipates the town could receive as much as $200,000.

He declined to comment on the status of the appeal and whether an agreement had been reached.

Stottlemyer said he anticipates the appeal will be dismissed because Adventure Park and New Market have reached a tentative agreement with Intercoastal.

He declined to discuss specifics of the agreement, but said Intercoastal wanted protection that the town wouldn't try to annex other properties in the industrial park in the future. The settlement did not involve any money, other than legal fees, he said.
The Miles & Stockbridge attorneys representing Intercoastal could not be reached for comment Monday.

Stottlemyer said he hopes paperwork to finalize the agreement will be completed by the first week of May. With an agreement in place, the town should be able to annex the park.

"This is good news for everybody," he said. "Everybody can go on with their lives."
Annexation would also solve the park's conflicts with Frederick County about its roller coaster because New Market would assume zoning jurisdiction for the park.
The roller coaster was first operated from 1976 to 2005 at various parks, including Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va., Stottlemyer said.

Adventure Park, along I-70, bought the 1,500-foot track, called the Wild Cat, from Williams Grove Amusement Park in Mechanicsburg, Pa. and refurbished it.
In September, Frederick County cited the park for disobeying an order to stop building the roughly 40-foot roller coaster. The park never got approval from the county to construct the roller coaster in the first place, said Larry Smith, zoning administrator for Frederick County's planning division.
The order to stop building was an attempt to give the park time to comply with county laws, he said. Because roller coasters aren't addressed in Frederick County zoning laws, the park should have obtained a text amendment and gone through a site plan review.

Adventure Park did receive site plan approval in January 2003, but Smith contends a roller coaster, unlike other rides, was not identified on that plan.

Stottlemyer said the roller coaster has been built on a spot the county approved for future rides.

Amusement parks often replace rides that are no longer popular with new attractions, Stottlemyer said. He believes it would be a burden on his business to have to seek site plan review and ask for a variance every time he wants to add a new ride.

Under New Market's authority, he would not be required to follow the same process, Burhans said. The town created zoning that permits amusement park rides, although the state would have to approve operation of each ride.

The Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation inspected the roller coaster and approved its operation March 30, Stottlemyer said. The permit is good for one year and inspectors will check the ride annually.

Stottlemyer believes the roller coaster will benefit Frederick County through increased tourism.

As far as he is aware, Frederick County is now the only place in Maryland where people can ride a roller coaster without having to pay an entrance fee into parks, such as Six Flags America in Bowie.

"Granted they have more than one roller coaster, but here you can walk into Adventure Park, flop down $4 and have a great ride," Stottlemyer said.

He estimates a couple of thousand people have enjoyed the one and a half-minute ride since the coaster opened April 1.

"Everybody loves it," Stottlemyer said.

Figment!
04-24-2007, 12:21 PM
Milton Hershey’s Utopian Amusement Park Turns 100





By Christine Gibson
American Heritage Press
April 24, 2007

For many decades, wooden crossbeams and undulating tracks rose above the tree-lined streets of Hershey, Pennsylvania, like an epic statue of some serpentine hero. To the people in the tidy homes below, the Ferris wheel spokes and wafting carousel music were a part of everyday life. But like the smokestacks of the nearby chocolate factory, Hershey’s amusement park, born 100 years ago today, was the embodiment of an ideal—that one’s personal wealth is best spent helping those around one—and was also a monument to the man who built it, Milton S. Hershey.

Although log flumes and kiddie rides might seem no more than simple fun now, when Hershey Park first opened, on April 24, 1907—with little more than a bandstand and a pavilion interrupting its shady groves—amusement parks were, like model towns, a tantalizing glimpse at a hopeful future, in which technology and human ingenuity promised to erase civilization’s ills. Hershey believed wholeheartedly in that vision, and he put it to the test when he built his attractive, luxurious company town in the dairy fields of Pennsylvania. He made sure his workers had safe homes, decent transportation, and, no less important, a source of wholesome amusement.

Hershey had planned the park as a refuge for his workers, but the publicity surrounding his model community quickly lured a steady stream of tourists. The revenue from more than 100,000 visitors a year allowed Hershey Park to double in size by the 1920s.

Revelers’ nickels and quarters (together with the $7.7 million per year Hershey made selling building lots in town) financed a free zoo, a convention hall, a dance pavilion, and, on the town’s twentieth anniversary in 1923, its first roller coaster, the Wild Cat. As shrinking work weeks and rising wages gave Americans more leisure time and disposable income, roller coasters proved the perfect outlet for the thrill-hungry, speed-loving 1920s.

The Depression spelled an abrupt death for many amusement parks, but Hershey funded a building campaign in the 1930s to employ more than 600 men. In addition to erecting a community center, an opulent 1,900-seat theater, and a $2 million 190-room hotel, the workers updated the park with a fun house, a water flume, a penny arcade, and a new roller coaster. By 1940, the town of Hershey was welcoming 2 million visitors a year.
Hershey Park’s success notwithstanding, the 1940s represented the nadir of the American amusement park industry. Of the 2,000 parks operating in 1920, 1,750 had shut down by 1940. The postwar years, however, brought America new prosperity and a bumper crop of children to entertain. It was a lucrative nexus, one that a veteran Hollywood mogul was wise enough to exploit. In 1955 in an orange grove in Anaheim, California, Disneyland opened its gates and, with runaway success, redrew the blueprint for American amusement parks. Over the next two decades, its imitators—Busch Gardens, Six Flags, Great Adventure—would flourish across the country. No longer bounded by city streets, the new, corporate-owned theme parks sprang up along highways, unreachable by city subway or tram line. High walls isolated them from their surroundings, and visitors bought admission rather than paying a fee per ride. Unlike the earlier generation’s attempts to vent the pressures of urban life, these parks attempted to block out the realities of the city altogether. Inside, they presented a meticulously controlled fantasy world, an exotic location here, a bygone era there, an action movie elsewhere.

Although attendance at Hershey Park continued to rise after the war—from 37,000 visitors in 1946 to 740,000 in 1968—the increasingly worn attractions came to seem old-fashioned compared with those at the new theme parks. Some of its features, like a four-pool swimming complex, were prohibitively expensive to maintain, and the park was having trouble simply accommodating the growing crowds. In the 1970s Hershey Estates, which represented the founder’s non-chocolate enterprises (Hershey himself died in October 1945), remodeled the park into a Disney-style theme park, with new rides and landscaping—and an admission fee. A chainlink fence now separated the newly renamed Hersheypark from the rest of the town.

The decision rankled the park’s original beneficiaries, the residents of Hershey. For nearly 70 years, they had enjoyed afternoons rowing on the creek and evenings dancing to bands, all free of charge. Now they felt edged out in favor of tourists and profit. “Milton Hershey was a man of great principle,” a longtime Hershey denizen remarked. “He built this town for a purpose, not for a bottom line. But the company can’t see that.”

From a financial standpoint, of course, the new approach worked. New rides and theatrical productions brought in new business. In 2006, 2,690,000 people visited Hersheypark, the seventeenth-most popular park in America (Disney owns 6 of the top 16; 3 more are in Orlando, home of Walt Disney World). In the century since the town’s founding, a host of changes have altered—some would say endangered—Hershey’s original vision. The company declared the lavish community center an employees-only corporate office in 1980; in 2002 board members of the Milton Hershey School Trust planned to sell their $10 billion controlling interest in Hershey Foods Corporation, stock that has made the town’s residential school for underprivileged children richer than several Ivy League universities. The outcry in Hershey was so overwhelming that in the end the board voted against the sale. If anything, the controversies surrounding each of these events inspired the town’s 13,000 residents to remember the principles their community was founded on. “What would Mr. Hershey do?” remains the local refrain, only occasionally answered, as on a 2002 yard sign, by “Wait ’til Mr. Hershey finds out.”

Figment!
04-24-2007, 12:25 PM
Amusement Park Winds Down Fun



BY LARA BRENCKLE | Dillsburg Bureau
The Patriot-News
April 23, 2007

Though the owners of the Williams Grove Amusement Park are open to the possibility of selling to another park operator, they are planning to auction the park's rides this summer.

"Everything in the park is for sale," Justin Loh, the park's former manager, said last week.

That includes the 140-year-old carousel, one of the park's best-known attractions.

Alan Kreitzer said he plans to run some of the rides, including the carousel, during the flea market he operates in the park on Sundays. Kreitzer, of Silver Spring Twp., is leasing the property with an option to buy.
"The park's value is more as a park than as a flea market. We wouldn't have any problem selling it to Alan, if the price is right," Loh said.

Loh said offers have come in well below landowner Morgan Hughes' $2 million asking price.

Hughes has turned his attention to upgrading the Williams Grove Speedway, Loh said.
The park was closed for the 2006 season. The only rides running this summer will be those Kreitzer operates during his Sunday flea market, Loh said.

Figment!
04-24-2007, 12:36 PM
Penang May Have Theme Park


By NIK KHUSAIRI IBRAHIM
The Star
April 23, 2007

PENANG: Penang may soon have a theme park, complete with a roller coaster and other fun rides similar to those in Genting High-lands.

State Tourism Development and Environment Committee chairman Teng Chang Yeow said the state had endorsed a proposal by a Japanese company to set up the theme park on a 3.2ha site near the Auto City in Juru.
He said the company had expressed interest in setting up the park on the privately owned land due to its accessible location.

“The theme park will have 28 different attractions, some of them similar to the ones we have in Genting,” Teng elaborated.
“The state government welcomes the idea of a theme park as it will be a new tourism product for the state. We gave our endorsement last week during the tourism product committee meeting.

“However, the company must seek approval from DOSH (Department of Occupational Safety and Health), the local authorities and the Customs Department. DOSH will be looking into the safety of the equipment.”
Teng was speaking to newsmen after jointly opening the Thai Songkran festival 2007 with Deputy Consul General of Thailand Wasin Dhamavasi at Queensbay Mall yes-terday. The two-week festival was jointly organised by Kenlink and Alila Star Enterprise.

Teng said the state government was willing to promote the Songkran Festival on a larger scale.

“The state has supported the Ja-panese Bon Odori events. Similarly, we will also support Thai traditio-nal festivals,” he said.
Alila Star managing director Sirinya Koram said many Thai people, especially those from South Thail-and would be attracted to visit Penang.

“South Thailand has many attractions but because of the unrest, it is becoming difficult for us to attract foreign tourists,” he said.

Figment!
04-24-2007, 12:47 PM
Water Park to Offer Scuba Lagoon, Wave Pool




Jason Massad
East ValleyTribune
April 24, 2007

The Scottsdale developers of a $250 million water park resort proposed at Mesa’s Riverview area revealed some details of the one-of-a-kind attraction at a neighborhood meeting Monday — an effort to gather support for a project likely headed to the November ballot.

A scuba lagoon featuring coral and depths up to 33 feet would be one of the venues at Waveyard, which also would feature a wave pool and a white-water river, plus an office, retail and residential complex with condominiums towering up to 10 stories.

An indoor aquatic center, a resort hotel and a spa-andwellness center would be other cornerstones of the project designed to attract tourists and day users to 125 acres at the Riverview area near the loops 101 and 202.

The project is unlike traditional water parks in the area, Ralph Pew, a land-use attorney for Waveyard, told the 35 attendees of the meeting at Whittier Elementary School. Nationally, Charlotte, N.C., and Maryland host the only other man-made white-water rivers like the one Waveyard wants to open in 2010.

“It’s frankly hard to grasp for those who haven’t seen it,” Pew said.

The park is estimated to use roughly the same amount of water annually as an 18-hole golf course, said Richard Mladick, one of Waveyard’s principal developers. That could equal about 100 million gallons to fill the water attractions and replenish them after evaporation and splash loss. Mesa would sell the park the water and can support the capacity, he said.

The project is expected to receive Mesa’s first official scrutiny May 8, when it goes to the Planning and Zoning Board. The property, now home to Riverview Golf Course and Riverview Park, would need to be changed from a public-use zone to a private commercial one.

If Mesa officials approve the changes and a development agreement with
Waveyard, the project could proceed to the November ballot.

The city offered a $20 million tax rebate to lure the development away from competing cities, triggering a vote on the project.

Residents at Monday’s meeting broached practical concerns. David Coats, 31, purchased a home a few months ago in the under-construction Villagio development, south of the project site near Eighth Street.

He queried Pew about the park’s large aquatic center location plotted on a rough map of the development. He worried how the project could affect his home’s resale value.

“Basically, am I going to lose money or make money on my home?” he asked.

Nicole Macias, 26, also lives in Villagio. A former resident of Ahwatukee Foothills, she said she moved to Mesa’s Riverview area partly for the convenience of living close to two freeways.

Preliminary traffic counts show the Waveyard project could draw 11,000 cars off Loop 202 and 9,000 cars off Loop 101 on the weekends. But Macias said it was difficult to gauge how the water park, plus the Mesa Riverview retail complex and Tempe Desert Marketplace, would affect overall traffic.

Macias said she worries, too, about property values but believes Mesa needs more recreational outlets. “A lot of their answers were that they were still figuring it out.”

Figment!
04-24-2007, 12:54 PM
Gaylord National Resort Set To Open April 25, 2008

Company Officials and Community Leaders Participate in Construction 'Topping Off' and Announce January 2008 Regional Hiring Event




Gaylord Hotels Press Release
April 24, 2007

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md./PRNewswire/ -- Only one year and counting! That's how long the Washington D.C. region will wait for the much-anticipated debut of the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, the largest convention resort on the Eastern Seaboard.

Today, Gaylord Hotels announced April 25, 2008 as the official grand opening date of its fourth property. When it opens, the 2,000-room resort will be the cornerstone of the 300-acre National Harbor waterfront development. The announcement signals the start of a countdown to the opening of this long- awaited destination, located along the Potomac River in Prince Georges County, Md., just eight miles south of the nation's capital.

"It's hard to believe this day has finally come," said John Caparella, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Gaylord Hotels. "We broke ground nearly two years ago, and today, we're able to see a clear finish line. I'm also looking forward to the positive impact this resort will have on the region. It's not only going to help drive economic growth, it will open up the Washington D.C. market to many of our convention customers who've never had the opportunity to meet here. We're very excited about that. It's something meeting planners have been requesting for years."

During a dramatic "Topping Off" ceremony, a 15-foot-tall Gaylord Hotels signature "G" logo was raised to the top of the hotel, commemorating the fact that construction has reached the highest point of the project. Now standing at 20 stories tall, the Gaylord National Resort towers over the National Harbor complex and offers stunning views of the river, nearby Old Town Alexandria and Washington D.C.

Construction of the resort is on schedule and has reached a critical point. Over the next few weeks, workers will begin installing the 50-ton, 240- foot steel trusses that will stretch from one side of the resort to the other, creating the framework for a spectacular glass-enclosed atrium. When complete, the atrium will cover more than 1.5-acres of lush, indoor tropical gardens - a signature feature of all Gaylord properties. To date, more than 1.8 million man hours have been worked on the project.

Gaylord also announced plans for a mass Grand Hire event in January 2008. During this event, Gaylord plans to draw from the surrounding region and hire more than 1,500 STARS (Gaylord "speak" for employees) to staff the resort. When fully operational in April 2008, the resort will employ more than 2,000 STARS working in full-time, part-time and on-call positions. Those interested in employment at Gaylord National Resort should visit gaylordcareers.com for more information.

About Gaylord National

Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center provides world-class convention and leisure-focused amenities - all in one place. It is located along the banks of the Potomac River, less than eight miles south of the nation's capital, in National Harbor, Md., a new 300-acre waterfront destination offering world-class dining, retail and entertainment venues in Prince Georges County, Md. The Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center is the largest convention resort on the Eastern Seaboard, offering 2,000 guest rooms, including 108 lavish suites; more than 470,000 square feet of convention, meeting, exhibit and pre-function space; acclaimed restaurants; Relache(TM) Spa; and a soaring 18-story, 1.5-acre glass-covered atrium. For more information, visit gaylordnational.com.

About Gaylord Hotels

Gaylord Hotels(TM) is a pioneer in the hotel and convention industry with a collection of four upscale, meetings- focused resorts found near Nashville, Tennessee; Orlando, Florida; Dallas, Texas; and Washington, D.C. Every Gaylord property celebrates the geographical heritage of the destination in which it is located with regional themes and attractions designed exclusively for that resort. The company's hallmark - "everything in one place" - provides meeting attendees and leisure travelers with convenient onsite access to award-winning dining options, quality spa and fitness facilities, top-notch entertainment, on-site shopping and resort activities. Gaylord Hotels is owned and operated by Gaylord Entertainment, a leading hospitality and entertainment company based in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information, visit gaylordhotels.com.

Figment!
04-27-2007, 09:19 AM
Will it be Steel Venom at Dorney Park?



The Morning Call
April 27, 2007


Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom is getting a new roller coaster for the 2008 season, and amusement-park fans think they know which one it is.

Last week, the South Whitehall park got township approval for minor zoning changes that will allow it to build a coaster. The ride would be 184 feet tall and would be powered by a linear induction motor, a type of motor used in rapid-transit trains and conveyor belts as well as amusement rides.

Representatives of Dorney and Dorney's parent company, Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., declined to comment Monday.

But coaster buffs believe they already know the scoop. A theory making the rounds of fan-operated Web sites such as Screamscape.com and DorneyOnline.com says Cedar Fair is going to move a coaster called Steel Venom to Dorney from Geauga Lake, a Cleveland-area park. Cedar Fair bought Geauga Lake from rival park operator Six Flags in 2004.

Steel Venom is a U-shaped ride in which riders go up and down tall towers, on each side. Riders sit strapped into open seats, not closed cars. The ride reaches a top speed of 70 miles per hour, according to online roller coaster databases.

Figment!
04-27-2007, 09:21 AM
Six Flags Anticipates Higher 1Q Revenue




Associated Press
April 26, 2007

NEW YORK -- Theme park operator Six Flags Inc. said Thursday that its first-quarter revenue increased about 19 percent to $50.8 million compared with the prior-year period.The company reported revenue of $42.7 million a year ago.

Attendance grew 6 percent versus the previous year despite fewer park operating days. First-quarter results typically represent approximately 5 percent or less of Six Flags' full-year attendance.

Figment!
04-27-2007, 09:29 AM
Bollywood to Have its First Theme Park in Mumbai




By Krittivas Mukherjee
Reuters
April 27, 2007


MUMBAI (Reuters) - A Bollywood theme park is being built in Mumbai along the lines of Hollywood studio parks, allowing fans to go behind the scenes of the world's biggest cinema industry in terms of viewers.

Percept Holdings, a media and entertainment company, is constructing the theme park at an initial cost of $100 million in a sign of the growing taste for merchandising in an industry evolving from family firms to Hollywood-style companies.

"Bollywood is what the Indian masses turn to for entertainment," said Shailendra Singh, a top official of Percept Holdings which is building the park in Mumbai, India's cinema and entertainment capital.

"Bollywood accounts for over 40 percent of the total revenues of the overall Indian film industry, but there is no organised format or means to consume this experience."
The theme park, due to open in 2008, will have Bollywood cafes, a hall of fame, museums, Bollywood rides, sets, shoot visits and simulator experiences.

Despite being so prolific -- Bollywood makes more than 800 films a year -- the industry's revenues stand at half of what the Walt Disney studio made in box office revenues in 2006.

But studios and analysts say the industry is aiming at following Hollywood with "media convergence" -- the buzzword for plastering products across an array of media such as television, the Internet, video games and mobile phones -- to raise revenues.

Revenues from India's film industry, valued at about $1.75 billion in 2006, are forecast to nearly double to $3.4 billion by 2010, according to estimates by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Figment!
04-27-2007, 09:38 AM
1000-Room Orlando Sun Resort Joins The Lexington Collection
History Being Recreated at Former Hyatt Resort with Long Heritage in Orlando



The Lexington Collection By Vantage
April 25, 2007

Cleveland, OH | The Lexington Collection is proud to announce the addition of the legendary Orlando Sun Resort as the newest member of its growing brand.

Originally built in 1972 as the Hyatt Resort, the property was one of the first hotels to welcome visitors of the then newly-opened Disney World.

The 1000-room hotel, situated on 77 acres of prime real estate – only one-mile from Walt Disney World’s main entrance and minutes from SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Orlando, Gatorland, Old Town and many premier shopping and dining venues, will re-open to the public in May.

Poised to rival the three and four-star hotels in the world’s top vacation destination, amenities and services at the newly-renovated Orlando Sun Resort by Lexington include 22 meeting rooms with 60,000 square feet of meeting space, four grand pools with separate children’s wading pools, world-class banquet services, two restaurants, a sports bar, a high energy club with a deejay station, a state-of-the-art fitness center, extraordinarily proportioned rooms, concierge service, a breathtaking grand foyer, four lush tropical courtyards, landscaped gardens and an extensive service staff. Exquisite details abound throughout the resort that has recently undergone multimillion dollar renovations, including a half million dollars in landscaping alone.

Each room features luxurious 300-thread count bedding, feather pillows, extended room service menus, coffee and tea service and free wireless service.
The Orlando Sun Resort by Lexington ranks as the third largest meeting venue in the Kissimmee/Osceola County region and is the hotel with the second most rooms in the area.

“We are thrilled the Orlando Sun Resort put their trust and business with the Lexington Collection brand above all other hotel franchises,” said Steve Belmonte, President, CEO and Partner of Vantage Hospitality’s Lexington Collection. “This amazing property with incredible convention space was highly sought-after, with many of our competitors vying to be affiliated with this resort. I’m proud our branding and stellar reputation put us in the forefront.”

“It made smart business sense for us to go with Lexington,” Abdel Zourari, the property’s general manager said. “The Lexington’s championed business model allows us to be in business for ourselves, not by ourselves and does away with the complex and often complicated franchise terms and restrictions. We’re excited to have joined a brand that empowers us to choose the amenities based on our market demands and where we have a voice and a vote. I’m looking forward to tapping into the exceptional operations and reservations resources The Lexington Collection has available.”

“The impact the re-opening of the Orlando Sun Resort by Lexington will have on the Kissimmee and Orlando economy is tremendous,” said Bill Parker, Vice President of Operations for Senate Hospitality, the managing company of the property. “The reintroduction of the 60,000 square feet convention center in addition to the 1000-room hotel will bring back thousands of meeting planners, convention attendees and their families to the area, not to mention its significance in the local job market.”
“The Orlando Sun Resort by Lexington is recreating history,” cited Belmonte. “The revered property has a rich heritage in Orlando and we’re bringing it back to its grandeur roots with a unique, modern flair.”

About the Lexington Collection

The Lexington Collection hotel chain premiered to the public in 2006 and has been charting a new course in the hospitality industry since then. The Lexington brand is available to three and four star hotels and offers hotel owners four distinct products - hotels, suites, villas and resorts, and plazas. In addition, the Lexington Collection provides owners with short-term contracts, a low monthly fee, a choice in their amenities and services, all part of Lexington’s freestyle lodging model.

As The Lexington Collection- an innovative and affordable alternative to franchising - continues to make a major impact in the industry, additional major announcements on strategic and operational developments will be made.

Figment!
04-27-2007, 09:49 AM
Donald J. Trump and Irongate Announce Spa Tower, Phase II of Trump Ocean Resort Baja, Mexico
Next Phase to feature 182 Luxury Hotel-Condominiums Combining Spa Relaxation with Oceanfront Real Estate Ownership




S&P Destination Properties Press Release
April 25, 2007

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following the success of the Lobby Tower at Trump Ocean Resort, Trump Organization CEO Donald J. Trump and Irongate principals Jason Grosfeld and Adam Fisher have announced their next real estate release: Spa Tower at Trump Ocean Resort. North Baja's first luxury hotel-condominium resort will bring an unprecedented level of design excellence and service to the North Baja peninsula.

"After setting a one-day real estate sales record for Mexico at $122 million in December 2006, we have created the second tower at Trump Ocean Resort," said Donald Trump. "The Spa Tower will bring an unprecedented spa experience to the West Coast of Mexico and exceed all expectations of luxury real estate ownership."Located just 30 minutes from downtown San Diego, Trump Ocean Resort's Spa Tower will be an authentic real estate offering unlike any other in Mexico. Owners will become part of an experience designed to rejuvenate the body and soul through the use of natural materials, with organic furnishings and fabrics that provide a feeling of serenity. Spa Tower suites will feature an assortment of materials and colors borrowed from the natural environment, including a soft color palette, quartz, glass and pebble tiles; stone, and the incorporation of native plant motifs in the overall design and fabrics.

Spa Tower owners will be steps away from the luxurious spa featuring massages, sea salt wraps, facials, manicures/pedicures and custom Mexican treatments used historically by ancient cultures. The ocean view spa will also feature a floating stone bridge over water ponds, a spa boutique, a relaxation room, unique women's and men's locker rooms, women's and men's outdoor warm soaking pools, a meditation garden, steam cave, and a therapeutic outdoor Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall.

Developed as a partnership between The Trump Organization and Irongate, a Los Angeles-based real estate development and investment company, Spa Tower follows on the sales success of the property's initial record setting offering in December when more than $122 million in resort real estate was sold in one day.

Prices for studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom hotel-condominiums start in the mid-$300,000's. For more information about Trump Ocean Resort Baja, visit trump-baja.com. Contact Brendan Mann at 866-858-8736.

About the Trump Organization

Donald J. Trump is the very definition of the American success story. In 1980, he established The Trump Organization as the umbrella company for all of his real estate development and other corporate affiliates. He has continually set new standards of excellence while expanding his interests in luxury residential real estate, world-class hotels, office buildings, championship golf clubs, gaming, merchandising and entertainment.

In addition to being one of the largest developers and property managers in New York, Mr. Trump is currently building residential, hotel and golf club projects in Waikiki, Las Vegas, Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami Beach, Los Angeles, Atlanta, the Caribbean, Westchester, N.Y., Bedminster, N.J. and Dubai, UAE. He also continues to be active with numerous literary pursuits, charitable organizations and his worldwide number one hit reality television show, The Apprentice.

About Irongate

Irongate is an integrated real estate development and investment company. The Los Angeles-based company blends entrepreneurial creativity, financial discipline, and environmental and cultural sensitivity to each of its development projects. Irongate believes in creating value by being thoroughly immersed in all aspects of its projects from inception through realization, including design and architecture. This philosophy has produced a track record of success for its partners and affiliates. Irongate currently invests in five asset classes: residential, office, retail, industrial and land.

About S&P Destination Properties

S&P Destination Properties is a world leader in the resort and luxury real estate business. The company specializes in the envisioning, design, marketing and sale of the world's finest real estate. The S&P brand promise is better real estate, better experiences. The vision of S&P is to bring the finest real estate on earth to those that appreciate the irreplaceable experiences that only come with ownership.

Figment!
04-27-2007, 09:52 AM
MGM Mirage to Invest $160M in $700M M Resort



By Tonie Auer | Southwest Correspondent
Commercial Property News
April 26, 2007

MGM Mirage plans to sink $160 million into a development partnership for the 80-acre mixed-use development The M Resort in Las Vegas. The cost of just the first phase of The M Resort is $700 million, excluding land.

The M Resort is currently being developed by Anthony Marnell III. The project is located on the southeast corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and St. Rose Parkway, approximately 10 miles south of Bellagio. The resort will be developed in multiple phases, with the first phase located on approximately 40 acres consisting of a resort, spa and casino. The development will include an outdoor canyon pool and entertainment venue, a top-of-the-tower ultra lounge and a convention center.

MGM Mirage committed to the financing in the form of a subordinated convertible note, which matures eight years from its effective date with certain conditions. MGM Mirage has the right to convert the note into a 50 percent equity interest in The M Resort after 18 months of the note's issuance, if not repaid.

The first phase of the development program will consist of approximately 400 rooms and suites, a 100,000 square foot casino, various culinary experiences in multiple venues and settings, a 70,000 square foot events center capable of hosting events for up to 1,000 guests, a luxurious resort spa as well as various entertainment elements.

Site work on the project has already begun. Construction work is scheduled to begin over the upcoming weeks and The M Resort is anticipated to debut in mid-2009. Future phases are being designed to include mixed-use development on the remaining 40 acres.

MGM Mirage, one of the world's leading hotel and gaming companies, owns and operates 19 properties located in Nevada, Mississippi and Michigan, and has investments in three other properties in Nevada, New Jersey and Illinois. The company has entered into an agreement to sell its Colorado Belle and Edgewater properties located in Laughlin, Nev.

The company has new developments under construction in Nevada, Michigan and Macau S.A.R. CityCenter is a multi-billion dollar mixed-use urban development in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip; a new MGM Grand hotel and casino complex is being built in downtown Detroit; and the Company has a 50 perecent interest in MGM Grand Macau, a hotel-casino resort currently under construction in Macau S.A.R.

Marnell founded M Resorts along with Raymond J. Shapiro in 2005. Marnell is the chairman, CEO and majority owner of M Resorts. Marnell has retained the services of Marnell Architecture and Marnell Corrao Associates to design and construct The M Resort.

Marnell partnered with Sher Gaming to own and operate the Saddle West Hotel and Casino in Pahrump, Nev. (pictured), entered into a purchase agreement to buy the Colorado Belle and Edgewater hotel and casinos in Laughlin, Nev., which is scheduled to close during the second quarter, subject to regulatory approvals.

CPN reported April 20, that the size of MGM Mirage’s CityCenter project on the Las Vegas Strip has grown by 670,000 square feet and construction costs are now estimated at $7.4 billion, excluding land costs and approximately $200 million in preopening expenses. MGM Mirage plans to buy several parcels of land for a total of $575 million on the North Strip near its Circus Circus property, which combined with other properties gives the company a new 78-acre site for future development. With the new land purchases, MGM Mirage’s position as the largest landholder on the Las Vegas Strip has grown even larger. The company now controls about 865 acres on the Strip, about 3 miles worth of Strip-front property, not including The M Resorts partnership.

Figment!
04-27-2007, 10:05 AM
After Delay, St. Regis Deal Is On


Starwood Hotels gave the OK to the St. Regis Bal Harbour. The huge Sheraton there now will be demolished in the fall. Its five-star replacement should open by 2012.




BY DOUGLAS HANKS
Miami Herald
April 27, 2007

After months of delay, the owner of the Sheraton Bal Harbour announced Thursday it would demolish the hotel to make way for a luxury St. Regis resort -- a project expected to generate more than $1 billion in condominium sales.

The decision by Starwood Hotels and Resorts ends months of uncertainty over the oceanfront project, as the New York company wrestled with building a massive condominium complex in South Florida's cooling real estate market. And it means demolishing one of the region's largest hotels to make way for a smaller but far more luxurious one, catering to five-star travelers.
''It's a fabulous location, and it's going to be a tremendous project,'' Starwood CEO Bruce Duncan said.

Though the project was announced in the spring of 2005, Starwood delayed starting it because of rising construction costs and a depressed market for luxury condominiums.
Late last year, Starwood executives told analysts they still had not made a final decision -- despite launching an aggressive sales campaign that has already generated contracts and reservations on about a third of the resort's nearly 300 condominiums.

''Starwood was telling me the whole time: We have a deal,'' said Alicia Cervera LaMadrid, the top sales executive for the Related Group, Starwood's partner in the St. Regis venture. ``They paid the broker commissions in November. Talk about putting your money where your mouth is.''
The 645-room Sheraton Bal Harbour -- designed by Morris Lapidus and opened in 1956 as the Americana -- will be replaced by three towers standing 27 stories tall. They will house 268 condominiums selling for between $1.8 million and $5.8 million; 219 hotel rooms; and 24 luxury time-share units known as fractionals.

Starwood issued an official lay-off notice this week for its 648 workers. The Sheraton Bal Harbour will close July 1 and be demolished this fall, Starwood said. The new St. Regis is scheduled to open in May 2011.

Initially all rooms in the St. Regis were to be sold off as condo-hotel units, which owners could have rented out. But with the condo-hotel market soft and hotel rates soaring, Starwood and Related opted to retain ownership of most of the rooms.
Related Chairman Jorge Perez said the oceanfront location, Bal Harbour's ritzy reputation, and the four-year construction schedule will tide the project through the real estate slowdown.

''I would say the Florida market should be stabilizing in a year and a half to two years,'' Perez said. ``I think in Year Three, you're going to see greater demand and lesser product. And nothing that is like this.''

Figment!
04-27-2007, 10:09 AM
Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Completes Major Phase of $14M Renovation Plan
Halifax's premier waterfront hotel, Halifax Marriott Harbourfront, has even more to offer business and leisure travelers thanks to the completion of the latest phase of its five-year, $14 million renovation plan.



Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Press Release
April 27, 2007

Halifax, Nova Scotia, CANADA (PRWEB) -- Halifax's premier waterfront hotel, Halifax Marriott Harbourfront, has even more to offer business and leisure travelers thanks to the completion of the latest phase of its five-year, $14 million renovation plan. The Halifax casino hotel is located on the sparkling waterfront, connected to the exciting Casino Nova Scotia and situated in the heart of downtown.

"Halifax Marriott Harbourfront is the city's premier hotel, and we're investing heavily to ensure that we continue to offer the highest level of service, comfort and amenities that today's traveler wants and the Marriott brand represents," says Leah Leslie, Director of Sales & Marketing at the Nova Scotia hotel.

The most recent renovation phase saw 180 guest rooms completely remodeled and redecorated creating a stylishly modern, yet warm and comfortable environment. All rooms feature Marriott's exclusive Revive bed and bedding that provide the ultimate in comfort. 300-count Egyptian cotton linens and a down mattress pad ensure that guests enjoy a wonderful night's sleep every night.

Bathroom upgrades include new countertops, curved shower curtain rods that offer guests an extra five inches of freedom, and another Marriott exclusive - the Rain Forest showerhead, which simulates a natural rainfall for a relaxing and therapeutic experience.

Executives and business travelers staying at the hotel in Halifax will find redesigned work centres in each room that include ergonomic chairs, and in some rooms, the new "Desk that Works," which can be easily converted into a number of configurations.

"The upgrades and improvements are not limited to in-room," Leslie said. "New corridor carpets, brighter hallway lighting and new furnishings in our lobby were also added during the renovation."

Marriott Hotels is an international chain, but guests at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront hotel are treated to a uniquely Maritime flavour. Nova Scotian artwork hangs throughout the hotel and framed black & white photos of the Maritimes are displayed in the guest rooms.

A 1600-square-foot state-of-the art fitness centre that rivals many gyms has also been added. The facility is for the exclusive use of hotel guests and offers 24-hour access. The centre features the latest LifeFitness™ equipment including weight training machines, free weights, five treadmills, two stationary bikes and four elliptical machines. Treadmills are equipped with individual television monitors complete with complimentary headsets.

"Our new fitness centre design is a Marriott prototype that will soon be rolled out to our hotels across North America," said Leslie. "Since its opening in early March the response from guests has been extremely positive. We were excited to be able to offer it to our guests here at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront hotel first."

Guests who prefer to work out in the privacy of their own room can take advantage of other pieces of fitness equipment including the Body Wedge 21™, the Body Rev™ and Michael Sena's Traveling Trainer™, that can be delivered on request, directly to the guest's room.

A new Starbucks location adjacent to the South entrance of the hotel will also open this spring, offering guests another comfortable spot to socialize, relax or grab their favorite beverage on the way to a business meeting.

The next phase of the Nova Scotia casino hotel improvements will begin in November of 2007 and see the completion of the remaining guest rooms as well as other upgrades.

The new additions along with existing amenities including Interlude Spa, meeting and banquet facilities, 44 North Restaurant, 63 West Lounge and The Fife & Drum pub are helping build and grow the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront's reputation as the premiere business hotel in Halifax.

About the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront

The luxurious, waterfront Halifax hotel is connected to the excitement of Casino Nova Scotia and situated in the heart of downtown. The extraordinary Nova Scotia hotel is steps away from the city's top attractions, including the Business District and World Trade & Convention Center. This AAA 4-Diamond hotel in Halifax, Nova Scotia features luxurious accommodations and an abundance of upscale amenities. Relax your body and restore your energy at the 5,000 sq. ft. Interlude Spa, providing a variety of refreshing and invigorating treatments. Indulge in exquisite fine dining at 44 North Restaurant highlighted by spectacular views of Halifax Harbour, or enjoy the lively atmosphere of Fife & Drum restaurant. Experience a premier Nova Scotia hotel at Halifax Marriott Harbourfront. For more information or to make a reservation, call (800) 943-6760, or visit halifaxmarriott.com.

Figment!
04-27-2007, 10:15 AM
Hard Rock Hotel San Diego to Open in Renowned Gaslamp Quarter
Guests to experience a distinctive four-star, luxury environment combined with a unique rock vibe.





Hard Rock International Press Release
April 26, 2007

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) -- This fall, San Diego will officially rock as Hard Rock Hotel San Diego opens its doors to offer guests the ultimate rock star experience: luxurious style and substance with a unique rock vibe. Hard Rock Hotel San Diego will open at the entrance to the city’s renowned Gaslamp Quarter; boasting an upscale, contemporary design, signature restaurants, sophisticated nightlife, exceptional customer service and, of course, the distinctive thread running through all Hard Rock properties -- rock ‘n’ roll.

The 12-story, 315,000-square-foot property will feature 420 suites, including 17 Rock Star Suites, a stunning lobby lounge and rooftop pool bar created by Rande Gerber, Nobu restaurant by celebrated chef Nobu Matsuhisa, a fourth floor urban garden overlooking the Gaslamp Quarter, 40,000 square feet of unique indoor/outdoor meeting space, a retro coffee shop and a luxurious spa.

“What really stood out for me about Hard Rock Hotel San Diego was the city itself, the Hard Rock brand and the opportunity to work with what is destined to be the hottest hotel in the country,” said General Manager Robert Todak. “Every guest will receive true rock-star treatment and services when staying at the property.”

Hard Rock Hotel San Diego will cater to both business and leisure travelers, with contemporary styled suites packed with amenities designed to surpass every expectation. Breaking with the standards of conventional design, the suites feature stunning cantilevered furniture, halo-illuminated beds that create a sense of floating, 300-thread count cotton linens, state-of-the-art lighting, green-room inspired refreshment centers and sensually-styled bathrooms with ceiling-mounted rain showers. Technology pulses through the rooms with integrated video and sound systems, including a home-theatre entertainment center with 42” LCD high-definition televisions with jack pack that connects a variety of electronic devices, WiFi Internet access and a laptop safe.

“We are thrilled to bring Hard Rock Hotel to San Diego,” says Trevor Horwell, Vice President of Hard Rock Hotels. “This property will deliver our guests cutting-edge design, high-octane nightlife and luxury services and amenities against the backdrop of one of the world’s most exciting cities.”
Guests opting for an ultra-VIP experience can choose to stay in one of 17 custom-designed Rock Star Suites that take the chic urban loft idea to a new level -- matte leather couches, vibrantly colored fur pillows, dark ebony floors and hand-woven custom rugs. Each suite will be unique; one suite planned for the top floor of the hotel will feature a fire pit and deck seating for 20, while another boasts 270-degree views of the San Diego Bay and an outdoor hot tub.

One extraordinary Rock Star Suite will be designed by the Grammy Award-winning Black Eyed Peas. The band -- will.i.am, Fergie, apl.de.ap and Taboo – will collaborate on the design for the suite, which will reflect each member’s individual style and unique personality. In designing the Black Eyed Peas Suite, the group will hand select everything from the furniture to the bed linens. It will also reflect the band members’ personal touches, such as a video greeting from will.i.am for guests staying in the suite, where he’ll suggest everything from his favorite haunts in the historic Gaslamp Quarter to choice tunes stashed in his personal music collection.

Hard Rock Hotel San Diego takes relaxation to a new level with a world-class spa and fitness center. Guests will have the option of customizing their pampering routines with treatments, such as the Champagne Cocktail Body Soak, Amped-Up Sugar Scrub or 4-Diamond Body Detox from the Rock Spa menu. Additionally, the hotel’s personalized concierge service will reflect the brand’s core mantra -- Love All, Serve All -- providing unique, extraordinary service 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week.

Hard Rock Hotel San Diego’s bar venues will embody rock ‘n’ roll attitude and impulsive energy day and night with a chic lobby lounge and rooftop pool bar designed by Rande Gerber. Created in conjunction with design daredevil Michael Czysz, both venues are destined to become San Diego’s hallmark hotspots where sophistication and sensuality merge to create an electrifying atmosphere in the city’s hippest location. In typical Rande Gerber fashion, the two are sure to attract the city’s fashionistas and movers and shakers with a seductive combination of all-out glamour and scintillating ambience.
"Hard Rock Hotel San Diego is one of our most exciting projects to date," said Rande Gerber, Founder of Midnight Oil Company and After Midnight Company. "The design of the bar and rooftop pool bar will incorporate the energy, passion and originality of San Diego's lifestyle with a rich cutting edge design. As with all of our properties, we will create a unique ambience that will play host to an eclectic crowd and offer an international mix of music, as well as a few surprises. When I look at this city, it feels like Miami did years ago with the vitality and anticipation to take off. It's exciting to be part of a city with such spirit and people who are ready to shake it up a bit."

With a reputation for innovation, quality and creativity, Nobu is the ideal choice as the featured restaurant at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego. Having pioneered nouveau Japanese cuisine across the globe, Nobu Matsuhisa tapped the Hard Rock property to be his seventeenth location. With offerings such as Yellowtail with Jalapeno, Tiradito Nobu Style, Lobster with Wasabi Pepper Sauce and Black Cod with Miso, sushi lovers and A-listers will be vying for reservations at this see-and-be-seen destination. Guests will have the option of dining in the main dining room, in the private dining room, or at the sushi bar.

“Hard Rock Hotel San Diego is a natural next step for Nobu,” said Nobu Matsuhisa. “We’ve been in Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Las Vegas for about eight years and the brand is so strong worldwide. I also live in Los Angeles and I love coming to San Diego, so when I saw the location, I was in. The hotel and the city itself have such a dynamic, fresh energy and is the perfect setting for us to provide exceptional food and service in an atmosphere that is stylish and comfortable.”
Featuring a classic American style with a contemporary twist, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego’s coffee shop will showcase iconic furniture and textures alongside the latest in high tech elements. When night falls, the coffee shop will show its modern flair, with a focus on the circular bar and outdoor patio. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner weekdays and non-stop on weekends, the coffee shop will undoubtedly become San Diego’s favorite breakfast-anytime spot. Signature menu items will include LA sticky buns, burgers, chopped Cobb salad and chicken pot pies to enjoy while dining at the restaurant or to order from the convenient grab-n-go counter.

Enlisting the talents of renowned architect Graham Downes, who is based in San Diego, the interiors of Hard Rock Hotel San Diego will exude an atmosphere that is sensual and unpredictable. Famous for his cutting-edge contemporary design and envelope-pushing creations, Downes’ vision will guarantee visually impressive spaces, utilizing a palette of bold colors and dramatic proportions to create an extraordinary sense of excitement and intrigue. The design team has infused layering and staging elements, especially transparencies, to build a heightened sense of anticipation and discovery throughout the hotel.

Guests will enter the hotel into a dynamic 40-foot lobby featuring custom-designed furniture and fixtures. The use of materials in the lobby and beyond is completely unique and designed to evoke any number of sensations, ultimately creating a new paradigm in hotel experiences. Leading on to a striking lobby bar, this space is ever-changing with a direct connection to the surrounding music and a constant energy that is skillfully orchestrated by the hotel’s Vibe Manager.

The landscaped rooftop pool deck at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego is effortlessly integrated into the hotel’s surroundings, providing a place for guests to relax in an atmosphere that transforms throughout the day. Elevated over the Gaslamp Quarter and adorned with a number of private cabanas, this area can evolve from an urban garden setting in the morning to a relaxing oasis in the afternoon to a vibrant people-watching party scene under the stars, creating a platform for spontaneous experiences at any given moment.

Also ideal for business meetings and events, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego houses 40,000-square feet of unique indoor/outdoor meeting, reception and conference space, which can be separated into individual areas. The hotel also boasts a spectacular 5,000-square-foot entertainment venue for concerts, celebrity DJs, movie premieres, corporate gigs and non/traditional weddings.

Hard Rock Hotel San Diego is located at the entrance to the historic Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego’s dining and entertainment district, across the street from the San Diego Convention Center and one block from PETCO Park. It is also centrally located with easy access to all major attractions including Coronado Island, SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo, and a short two miles from San Diego International Airport.

Figment!
04-28-2007, 04:26 PM
Water Works Park Zoning Change Recommended





By CATHARINE HADLEY |Staff writer
Newspaper Network of Central Ohio
April 28, 2007

For the second time this week, residents on both sides of the Water Works Park controversy spoke their minds at a city government meeting.

The Port Clinton Planning Commission held a public hearing Thursday afternoon to decide whether to recommend City Council change the zoning at the Water Works Park property. The meeting was held at Municipal Court, a larger venue than City Council chambers, where the commission met last month.

Most of the audience seats were full at Tuesday night's City Council meeting, which was held in the chambers. People who agreed and disagreed with Council's plans to further negotiations with the Puller Group to build an indoor water park, hotel and conference center on the property spoke at the meeting.

Many of those same people attended Thursday's public hearing.
"Our decision here today will go to the Port Clinton City Council," said Mayor Tom Brown at the beginning of the meeting. He reminded the crowd that only City Council can make the zoning change official.
The commission, which is appointed by the mayor, decided to recommend Council change the zoning for the area from Inter Governmental Open Space to Central Business, with a text amendment permitting public and private marinas to be a part for the property. The proposed change will affect the area west of Washington Street, east of Jefferson Street, north of Perry Street and south of the lakeshore.

Don Finke of Adams Street told the commission the lake view and recreational possibilities offered by the park are a value to the community. He said he didn't know if buildings could be constructed on the property and, if so, how expensive the construction might be. He also said he wondered what would happen at the proposed hotel during mayfly season.
"I feel that this is really a move to meet a timeline, rather than diligent thought," said Jon Rich of Washington Street.

"It is not a hurried-up process. ... I've been promoting a change in the zoning since December 2003," said Walt Wehenkel, regional planning director for Ottawa County and Planning Commission member.

Councilman John Folger told the commission he and other Port Clinton City Council Planning Committee members opted for the Central Business district zoning for the park because "we wanted to try to tie in as close as possible to the downtown area."
"I started to see this property as an underutilized asset that the city has," said Roger Smith of Marsh View Drive. "It's an opportunity for our downtown business district, for our business people," he said of the proposed development.

A downtown business owner said the Central Business designation would allow more diverse types of businesses than the Waterfront Business district would allow.
"It's not the mayflies that's causing the problem. It's the lack of customers," he said.

Rick Noderer of East Perry Street questioned why the commission might consider changing zoning for an area when no detailed plans have been proposed.
"What you have before you now is, at most, a concept," he said. He cautioned the commission against sending a message to the public that a government entity might have an easier time getting a zoning change approved than a private property owner would have.

Noderer also warned the commission against setting a precedent of changing zoning based on a concept, not details.
Wehenkel told Noderer that since December of 2005, the commission has not issued any changes in zoning. He said the group has heard requests for zoning variances and special uses during that time, and those requests do require more detail. He said once a zoning change is implemented, the owner can use the property for any "permitted use."

Commission member Deb St. Hilaire told Noderer zoning change requests are often based on "highest and best use." She gave an example of a person who owns a home on a busy street requesting the zoning be changed to commercial, so the owner might get a better price for the property once it is put on the market.

Patrolman Bruce Szilagya of the Port Clinton Police Department said he wanted to support the proposed zoning change.

"The bottom line is, we have got to get the city back on its feet," he said.
City Councilman Glenn Chapman said he didn't believe the entirety of the park should be sold.

"I know that I am a minority on Council, but I don't believe that I'm a minority in the community," he said.

Seventh Street resident Carolyn Pope said she is in favor of the project "to keep our kids here."

Betty Wharton, who lives on the 300 block of East Perry, said she wants to see a "true vote on the issue." She said because her residence would be affected by the proposed zoning change, "you might as well take my place and turn it into a hotel."
Steve Benko of Glendale Street said he grew up in the area, and many of his high school classmates have moved away. He cited "lack of economic development, lack of jobs" as the reason young people chose to live somewhere else.

"We need real solutions to these problems," he said.

Zoning Inspector Jenn Burris reminded the audience the commission's recommendations will go to Council for a vote. She said Council will hold another public hearing on the matter. Recreational possibilities offered by the park are a value to the community. He said he didn't know if buildings could be constructed on the property and, if so, how expensive the construction might be.

"I feel that this is really a move to meet a timeline, rather than diligent thought," said Jon Rich of Washington Street.

"It is not a hurried-up process. ... I've been promoting a change in the zoning since December 2003," said Walt Wehenkel, regional planning director for Ottawa County and Planning Commission member.
A downtown business owner said the Central Business designation would allow more diverse types of businesses than the Waterfront Business district would allow.
"It's not the mayflies that's causing the problem. It's the lack of customers," he said.

Rick Noderer of East Perry Street questioned why the commission might consider changing zoning for an area when no detailed plans have been proposed.
"What you have before you now is, at most, a concept," he said.

Noderer also warned the commission against setting a precedent of changing zoning based on a concept, not details.
Commission member Deb St. Hilaire told Noderer zoning change requests are often based on "highest and best use." She gave an example of a person who owns a home on a busy street requesting the zoning be changed to commercial, so the owner might get a better price for the property once it is put on the market.

Patrolman Bruce Szilagya of the Port Clinton Police Department said he wanted to support the proposed zoning change.

"The bottom line is, we have got to get the city back on its feet," he said.

City Councilman Glenn Chapman said he didn't believe the entirety of the park should be sold.

"I know that I am a minority on Council, but I don't believe that I'm a minority in the community," he said.

Steve Benko of Glendale Street said he grew up in the area, and many of his high school classmates have moved away.
Zoning Inspector Jenn Burris reminded the audience the commission's recommendations will go to Council for a vote.

Figment!
04-28-2007, 04:32 PM
Unique Christmas-Themed Hotel Coming to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee




The Inn at Christmas Place Press Release
April 28, 2007


Pigeon Forge, TN (PRWEB) -- Pigeon Forge's newest and most luxurious rising four-star hotel is coming to the Smoky Mountains with the arrival of The Inn at Christmas Place. The 145-room luxury hotel scheduled to open June of 2007 will present picturesque mountain-village architecture of the European Alps themed around the magic of Christmas. The hotel will be located directly across the Parkway from its namesake, The Incredible Christmas Place, now celebrating its 20th Anniversary.

The Inn at Christmas Place will feature European elegant interiors and select Christmas holiday decor. The Inn will feature the following:

Select Christmas Themed Rooms Available
Spectacular Mountain Views with Private Balconies
Outdoor Pool with a 95-foot Figure Eight Waterslide
Indoor Pool with a Large Hot Tub
Free In-Room High Speed Internet
2 & 3 Bedroom Suites
In-Room Fireplaces & Jacuzzis
In-Room Two-Person Whirlpools
Interior Corridors
Microwaves & Refrigerators in each room
Complimentary Breakfast with an Omelet Station
Health & Fitness Center
Business Center
Game Arcade
Convention & Group Facilities to accommodate up to 300 persons
Unscheduled appearances by Santa in the lobbyThe Inn at Christmas Place and The Incredible Christmas Place are owned by two generations of the Biggs family, Marian Biggs, President, and owner Keith Biggs, Karen (Biggs) Barnes and Kathy (Biggs) Rodriguez. The family began with a small gift shop in Pigeon Forge in 1978 that has grown into a 43,000 square foot multi-store shopping complex situated at Bell Tower Square in Pigeon Forge offering everything from Christmas ornaments and collectibles to designer home décor from Vera Bradley.

"The Inn is located in the center of everything in the Smokies. Great restaurants, wonderful shopping malls, and music theaters surround us. We are also just minutes away from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Dollywood and great golf courses," said Karl Thomas, general manager of The Inn at the Christmas Place.

"The Inn will have the charm and beauty of Christmas throughout the year in our interior design, but you can be sure that the holidays will be very special with incredible displays and lots of wonderful traditions for families to enjoy," added Thomas.

The Inn at Christmas Place is under construction at 119 Christmas Tree Lane right across the street from The Incredible Christmas Place and is scheduled to open June of 2007. For more information call (865) 453-0415 or (888) 465-9644.

Figment!
04-29-2007, 10:28 PM
French Amusement Park Accident Injures 24




Reuters
April 29, 2007

LILLE, France - Twenty four people were injured on Sunday in an accident on an amusement park ride in northern France, local officials said.

The ride, called the Parachut, is a sort of wheel that lifts the passengers into the air in several carriages then spins them around before lowering them slowly back down the ground again.

The machine had already lifted them into the air before several of the carriages suddenly dropped around 10 metres to the ground, said local official Roger Reuter.
The ride had not yet started spinning.

"It could have been much worse because it wasn't moving," Christian Erb, a doctor at the scene, said on TF1 television.

The exact cause of the accident in Tournehem-sur-la-Hem in the Pas-de-Calais department was not immediately known.

Figment!
04-29-2007, 10:34 PM
Wild West World Theme Park Opens Saturday



BY JILLIAN COHAN
The Wichita Eagle
April 29, 2007


In case you missed it, kids, Kansas is about to get its own theme park. When Wild West World opens on Saturday, thrill-seekers won't have to drive to Kansas City or Oklahoma City for cotton candy, bumper cars and crazy coasters. Wild West World's management is betting on a family-friendly layout, exhilarating rides and the cowboy mystique to make the $30 million park a regional destination.

But has the park -- not long ago an empty field four miles north of Wichita -- been transformed into a world of fun?

"What everyone can expect is the finest family attraction ever built in Kansas," owner Thomas Etheredge said during an interview at the park.

With 24 rides on 40 acres and a prime location just off I-135 in Park City, Wild West World is positioned to draw half a million visitors its first year, Etheredge said. The park has already sold about $2 million in advance season passes, he added.

Those season ticketholders have bought into Etheredge's vision, which includes a mock frontier-town boardwalk, four gazebos for live entertainment, 18 arcade games, 10 food stands and four sit-down restaurants. This summer, a Chinese acrobatic troupe will perform three times a day at the park, while a number of touring acts have booked Wild West World's Johnny Western Theatre for concerts in the fall.
As visitors wander through the park, they'll find thrill rides, family-oriented rides and kiddie rides grouped together in three sections, divided around a Chisholm Trail theme.

The first section, which includes rides such as the flip-action El Diablo and the spinning-seat Crazy Mouse Coaster, honors the Texas caballeros who were instrumental in starting the cattle drives along the historic trail.

The second, home to the Kanza Kanoe swinging barge and the Sidewinder spinning pendulum, is an homage to the Native Americans who used the trail as a hunting ground.

The third section, which houses the flagship Wagons Ho Ferris wheel and the sky-high Condor, pays tribute to Kansas cowboys.
"This cowboy thing is a great heritage and tourist draw, but beyond that, it's the fabric that makes us Kansans," Etheredge said. "We want kids to be proud of that heritage."

Yet for all its historical details, Wild West World ultimately is an entertainment destination, packed with rides, games, fast food and souvenirs. Etheredge knows that it won't take the place of a history lesson, but he hopes that by the end of a day at the park, the message will sink in.

Ten days before the opening, all of the rides were in place, if not running. Two larger attractions, the Prairie Plunge log flume and the Condor ride, won't be ready on opening day, said marketing director Ryan Cole. The rides are awaiting parts from overseas that have been delayed in customs.

In the Main Street shopping area, workers stocked the gift shops, erected signs and made sure the entrance and exit turnstiles were in place.

"I intend to have everything open that we can," Etheredge said, acknowledging that unpredictable weather had delayed some work on the park.

"My intention was two and a half years ago when we announced this project, and one and a half years ago when we broke ground, that we would be ready May 5," he said. "Dadgum it, we will open May 5."

Throughout the park, heaps of red earth lay next to newly excavated paths. Stray gusts of wind raised dust clouds, obscuring the Western paintings and mirrored mosaics that adorned the Round Up, a custom-made swing ride imported from Holland.

Etheredge said he has an army of contractors and a maintenance crew working nearly 16 hours a day to make sure the park will be ready.

"It looks a lot more unfinished than it is," he said, adding that once his crews have landscaped and paved the park, it will appear complete.

"Paving is like carpet," he said. "It hides a multitude of sins."

As he spoke about the future, Etheredge's eyes widened under the brim of his ten-gallon. Wild West World's current 40-acre footprint is just the start, he said. In coming years, he said, there will be an extreme roller coaster, a water park, circus acts and even more entertainment for families.

"Will it be everything the first day?" he asked, shrugging. "We'll grow into it.

"We will make this a tremendous asset to Wichita."

Figment!
04-29-2007, 10:39 PM
Universal Park Brings on Monsters




By Rick Bentley
The Fresno Bee
April 29, 2007

Universal Studios Hollywood is trying to scare up more visitors to the park with a new attraction that pays tribute to the film studio's horror history. If that isn't enough, the Southern California theme park is cranking up its VIP version of the tram studio tour ride to provide more hands-on activities.

First, the monsters.

Universal's most notorious movie creatures are featured in the "Universal's House of Horrors." The new attraction, located just inside the front gate, gives a nod to the likes of The Wolf Man, Frankenstein's Monster, The Mummy, the Phantom of the Opera and Mother Bates of "Psycho" infamy.
Guests encounter these figures as they travel the dark passages of a Gothic castle. The whole event takes place on Soundstage 13. Universal never has had a Soundstage 13 before because it was considered bad luck.

Ghoulish hosts aren't the only part of the attraction. Guests travel a corridor filled with movie props including: the original corduroy blazer worn by Anthony Perkins in "Psycho"; the Hannibal Lector mask from "Red Dragon"; the police uniform worn by Roy Scheider in "Jaws"; the books and necklaces from "Skeleton Key"; the original "Chucky" doll; and the Billy doll from "Dead Silence."

In the VIP Experience, guests, in groups of 15 or less, now get behind-the-scenes access to previously off-limits areas. The additional access allows guests to see the filmmaking process in its entirety, including sound stages and standing sets, post-production bays and craft support facilities.