Clark Kirby explains his drive to ‘challenge everything’ within Village Roadshow Theme Parks

May 22, 2019

Clark Kirby, Chief Executive and Executive Chairman of Village Roadshow Theme Parks, has explained how he has “challenged everything” within the Gold Coast-based theme park business since taking on his role in April 2017.

Speaking at the Australian Amusement, Leisure and Recreation Association (AALARA) 2019 Conference on the Gold Coast yesterday, Kirby advised that with the Village Roadshow Theme Parks business facing major challenges, not only relating to the aftermath of the October 2016 Dreamworld fatalities, he set about a range of changes with the operations of Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World, Wet‘n’Wild Gold Coast, Australian Outback Spectacular, Paradise Country and its overseas operations.

Advising that the business is going through a period of “constant evolution”, Kirby explained that the

Village Roadshow Theme Parks had adopted a strategy that addressed premiumisation of the brand, creating a voice, pricing, rebuild the parks identity, planning capital investment, key relationship management and optimising the efficiency of the core business.

Having also provided an engaging account of the evolution of Village Roadshow, advised how premiumisation of the brand had involved creating a single pass using the Village Roadshow brand across all of its attractions for the first time under the banner 'Australia's best theme parks'.

More to to follow ...

Image: Clark Kirby speaking at the AALARA 2019 Conference yesterday. Courtesy of AALARA.

22nd May 2019 - Shane McGrath takes on AALARA Presidency at successful conference

20th May 2019 - Village Roadshow’s Gold Coast theme parks boosted by recent visitor numbers

19th May 2019 - AALARA 2019 conference to highlight a sector ready for safety-based resurgence

17th May 2019 - New safety rules for Queensland theme parks and attractions now in force

22nd February 2019 - Village Roadshow report rising earnings and record-breaking January period for theme parks while writing off Dreamworld as competition

23rd August 2018 - Village Roadshow blames Commonwealth Games and Dreamworld deaths for disappointing results

30th July 2018 - Clark Kirby outlines vision for Topgolf’s Australian expansion

2nd July 2018 - Village Roadshow sells Wet’n'Wild Sydney to Spanish attractions operator

18th May 2018 - Historic levels of growth in global theme park industry in 2017

29th November 2017 - Village Roadshow moves away from low cost theme park passes

7th April 2017 - Village Roadshow changes see Clark Kirby appointed Theme Parks division Chief Executive

14th March 2017 - Village Roadshow Theme Parks highlights safety and maintenance systems

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