The Resort Status

I was just looking at full time job opportunities on the merlin careers website, and found this at thorpe park:

Head of PR

in their description:

'Taking responsibility for directing, developing and delivering THORPE PARK’s long-term PR strategy, you’ll play a crucial part in our transition from a Theme Park to a full-on Resort. '

So, they are obviously definitely looking to transform the park. WHy are Merlin trying to make all their parks resorts? So with Alton Towers I can understand it getting there, its a fairly large area park, with two hotels, waterpark and golf course, but I am still undecided as to whether Alton can be determined as a resort, I just don't really see enough stuff to do at the park for more than one day, unless your repeating rides. Saying that the entertainment is improving.

Thorpe Park on the other hand I just cannot see it ever being a 'resort'. OK, so they could build hotels, a nightlife complex and waterpark possibly (if that was in their development plans), but the park area is just too small to be a resort. I see the place as just a one - day visit theme park, and I think it always will be in my eyes. They have so many things they currently need to improve on at the park from everything from extreme downtime to customer service, I just think for the time being they are heading the wrong direction. I believe they need to expand as a theme park (or thrill park) destination, and stay away from the resort status. But then again, what makes somewhere a resort?

However, what do you think they could do to become a resort status? Do you believe it is feasible?

SubGuru said:

WHy are Merlin trying to make all their parks resorts?

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Money. Plain and simple, if you can extend a visit, it's money in the bank.

They're all viable as resorts, if they go for the right market. Thorpe could provide a UK alternative to malaga etc. for young people, if they set it at the right price, with the right marketable assets.

They also use it a method of deflecting complaints over traffic, but I would like to see a properly themed hotel at Thorpe Park.

It's that far away for me I would actually consider using it.

THORPE PARK, needs to update it's in park infrastructure first. The park's expanded to the point where there's so many guests in such a confined area, it needs more space to breathe and I'm not sure that a resort will allow this to happen.

Johno said:

SubGuru said:

WHy are Merlin trying to make all their parks resorts?

Click to expand...

Money. Plain and simple, if you can extend a visit, it's money in the bank.

They're all viable as resorts, if they go for the right market. Thorpe could provide a UK alternative to malaga etc. for young people, if they set it at the right price, with the right marketable assets.

Click to expand...

I do understand the economics behind it all, it was mainly a rhetorical question.

Thomas said:

THORPE PARK, needs to update it's in park infrastructure first. The park's expanded to the point where there's so many guests in such a confined area, it needs more space to breathe and I'm not sure that a resort will allow this to happen.

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I completely agree with this. The park infrastructure just can't cope with the number of people coming now, and this really needs to be looked at first I think.

I just think Merlin need to concentrate on one major thing at a time.

In Merlin's eyes (and those of the GP), resort = hotel next to the theme park. Whilst Towers is the only real UK park who could class themselves as a resort (loosely) it won't stop Merlin using the term... Particularly when it simply means 'hotel' to most people.

Quote from dictionary:

"a place to which people frequently or generally go for relaxation or pleasure, especially one providing rest and recreation facilities for vacationers"

So technicaly, anywhere with attractions & somewhere to sleep is a restort. So thorpe park is already a resort with this mad MSC* hotel.

But then isn't that merlin just being cheeky getting some extra punters?




MSC = Merlin Shipping Container. I suggest this is used as a new tst phrase.