 |
|
|
 |
08 Jul 2019
Europe's first Lego waterpark coming to Italy's Gardaland
BY
Tom Anstey
|
The waterpark is scheduled to open by the end of next year
Gardaland has announced plans to open Europe's first Lego-branded waterpark, with the multi-million dollar development set to open its doors in 2020. Aimed at families with children aged two to twelve, the new addition to the Italian theme park and resort will be the first Lego waterpark inside a theme park not entirely Lego branded.
"The Lego brand is renowned globally and will undoubtedly contribute to strengthening Gardaland Resort’s position as a major European tourist destination, as well as confirming it as a top player for family entertainment", said Gardaland CEO, Aldo Maria Vigevani.
The news follows the recent £4.8bn (€5.35bn, USS$6.1bn) acquisition of Gardaland's parent company – Merlin Entertainments – which is in part owned by the Kirk Kristiansen family who also own the Lego brand.
As part of a consortium known as Bidco, the family (operating as Kirkibi) now owns 50 per cent of Merlin, with Blackstone Core Equity Partners and Canadian pension fund CPPIB jointly owning the other half of the company.
Merlin's partnership with Lego dates back to July 2005, when Blackstone acquired the Legoland theme parks portfolio from Kirkbi in a £259m deal which included four sites – in Germany, UK, Denmark and US – and a 176-bedroom Legoland hotel adjacent to the theme park in the Danish town of Billund. The recent acquisition brings these properties, and other Lego attraction developments, back under the Kirkbi umbrella.
"This is great news", said Paolo Lazzarin, general manager of Lego Italia," commenting on the development plans. "We're really proud and I’m certain that the waterpark will fill the young and adult builders who passionately follow Lego with joy."
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Connect with
World Leisure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| News headlines |
|
|
 |
 |
|
25 Apr 2024
Kerzner International has signed deals to operate two new Siro recovery hotels in Mexico and Saudi Arabia, following the launch of the inaugural Siro
.... more>> |
|
|
|
 |
|
24 Apr 2024
The US spa industry is continuing its upward trajectory, achieving an unprecedented milestone with a record-breaking revenue of US$21.3 billion in
.... more>> |
|
|
|
 |
|
24 Apr 2024
Short-term incentives to exercise, such as using daily reminders, rewards or games, can lead to sustained increases in activity, according to new
.... more>> |
|
|
|
 |
|
24 Apr 2024
Spa and wellness veteran Shannon Malave has been named spa director at iconic US spa destination Mohonk Mountain House. Based in New York’s verdant
.... more>> |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| Company profile |
|
Perfect Gym Solutions S.A.
Perfect Gym is a global software provider specialising in fitness and recreation facility management solutions. Trusted by over 1,500+ sites across 55+ countries, our scalable platform caters to a diverse array of businesses.
View full profile>> |
|
| Catalogue gallery |
|
|
| Featured Supplier |
|
 |
|
|
|
in this issue
• Virgin gets right to wipe out rent arrears
• Fitness industry mourns passing of Jan Spaticchia
• STA offers mindfulness resources
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| World Leisure jobs |
 |
Party Leader
Salary: Competitive
Location: Gainsborough
Company: Everyone Active
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Diary dates |
|
| Powered
by leisurediary.com |
 |
|
|
|
|
