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2020: Europa-Park General Discussion

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Press Release in full received by EuropaStreet at 9.05am this morning:

Dear Sirs and Madames,

We welcome the nationwide easing of the corona measures announced by the federal government on May 6th and the announcement of the opening dates in the official press release of the state government of Baden-Württemberg on May 7th. We have prepared intensively for the reopening of Europa-Park, the accommodation options and the catering trade in close consultation with the authorities. The protection and health of guests and employees has always been a top priority for Europa-Park.

The following opening dates apply:

From May 18, the hotel catering will gradually reopen

From May 29th, Europa-Park, the hotels and the camp resort / camping will reopen


When the park operation is reopened, targeted measures are taken to minimize the risk of infection:

Limiting the number of visitors with the help of day-based online ticketing

Compliance with safety distances (e.g. distance markings in waiting areas, restaurants, etc.)

Implementation of extended hygiene standards and processes (e.g. additional disinfection stations, regular cleaning and disinfection of surfaces, etc.)

Information and education of the guests about all measures before and during the visit

Introduction of new digital technologies in the area of queue management and keeping of distances (social distancing)

Contactless payment

Training of employees


We also warmly welcome our international guests to Europa-Park as soon as cross-border traffic to our neighboring countries is possible again.

We are optimistic about the start of the show and cinema program as well as the opening of the water world Rulantica.

More information will be communicated shortly online at www.europapark.de and via our social media channels.

Club Card holders should read www.europapark.club

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
 
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Understand this is a very recent announcement, so further details may come to light, but do we have clarity on what that means for hotel guests? I'm staying in August for 4 nights, my club card currently runs out 25th July, and I *assume* it'll be extended given previous communication (not yet updated one the clubcard website) and the FAQs suggest with a hotel reservation the visit restrictions do not apply.
The other 2 staying in my room will not have a club card, as they intended to renew just ahead of the stay, but now it seems will be unable. Will all hotel guests have access to the park throughout the stay? Will they be able to buy tickets at the hotel reception, or will they also have to do the pre-booking online (and risk no availability on the dates of the hotel stay?)
 
So for Clubcard holders, either:

- a refund proportionate to the number of days from the start of the restrictions to the card’s expiry, or

- an extension in validity equal to the number of days the park is closed or operatting with the proposed restrictions, but you can still visit one day a month during this time.

Seems fair if I’ve interpreted correctly. The only thing is, if you’re in the UK you probably can’t get to Germany. I just hope that the extension in validity roughly aligns with how long foreign visitors will be unable to access the park for.
 
Is the actual park opening on 29th May, or is it just the hotels?
 
Islander said:
If you take a look at the above post, the actual park opens 29th May. Hotel Catering starts ramping up from 18th May.
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Ah right; thanks for the clarification @Islander! For some reason, I thought it said "the Europa Park hotels and Camp Resort" as opposed to "Europa Park, the hotels and Camp Resort"!
 
An interview with Roland discussing the situation around Coronavirus measures, reopening, the workforce and finances. Park capacity is to be reduced to 15,000 guests per day (down from 60,000).
The park aren't in need of immediate financial assistance from government, however Roland wants to talk with ministers about temporary measures that could help them for investing again in the future.

How do you ride a roller coaster in Corona times? Until now, this was reserved for stock market prices. But adrenaline fans should be able to experience this again in the largest German amusement parks at the end of May: Europa-Park wants to open its doors on May 29 - because of the Corona crisis, which is two months late. In any case, Europa-Park boss Roland Mack has already tried out whether a mouth-nose protector holds in the roller coaster at all, because it is now a must in the rides: "With the Silverstar roller coaster, it works quite well," he says, "especially for one because at 150 kilometers an hour the wind blows in the face ".

Mack, 70, has experience with strong headwinds anyway after two years ago an area of what is the largest German amusement park with 5.7 million visitors a year burned down. Europa-Park got off lightly, he says. But now the corona pandemic. "It's a very strange feeling, such a situation was unimaginable," he says in view of the forced closure. There are certainly emergency scenarios, "but nobody thought of a shutdown like this". Even when the first amusement parks in China had to close, it was not foreseeable "that it could also affect us".

The Rulantica water park, which Mack had only opened in November, had to close in mid-March. "We called a crisis round, assigned tasks and made financial plans to ensure that liquidity did not drop." Among other things, the park operators had to send 2,000 employees into short-time work, postpone 2,000 employment contracts and put investments of 40 million euros on hold. "We increased the short-time work allowance for a three-month period by a voluntary seven-digit amount so that our employees can live adequately," says Mack - a gesture of solidarity with the region. He expects, including hotels and events, "to have lost almost EUR 100 million in sales so far". In addition, "that we can only start with half the force, more equity is broken".

The concept envisages a maximum of 15,000 visitors with internet bookings per day, in normal times the park holds 60,000. "First of all we try to drive with half of the employees and think about the number of visitors we can be responsible for," says Mack. "We don't want to become a new focus of infection." The health of employees and visitors is "above all other interests".

In addition to distance rules and the obligation to wear a mask in rides, covered areas, waiting areas, surfaces and handles are disinfected. Families should sit together in the rides, rows and seats may be kept free. "A test with our employees will show how this can best be implemented." With its own app for social distancing, Europa-Park wants to try to initiate a kind of competition among the guests in which the best distance keepers can also win something. "If the customer doesn't take part in the distance bidding, it will be difficult," says Mack.

By the way, he doesn't need a KfW loan "because we have excellent bank details". This Tuesday, however, he wants to talk to Economy Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) about the problems of medium-sized companies. "He now consumes equity and can then no longer make any investments later," fears Mack. He calls for tax write-off programs and investment surcharges. "If medium-sized companies have no more prospects, they cannot invest, so there is an absolute need for action."
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https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/nahaufnahme-abstand-in-der-achterbahn-1.4903925
 
I'm not surprised that finances are okay at the moment, but I am also not surprised that they are having to hold off on investments. I'd imagine part of the €40m on hold is the next major coaster, which is a real pity.
 
EP have just published an update to the guidelines.

Face masks will be mandatory in any enclosed or roofed areas in the park. Also there will be markers in the waiting lines so that people can Stand apart. Maximum 3 people in a group per marker.
 
Tickets for Europa Park went back on sale today for 2020. Nice to see they appear to be popular.

wsHYypk.jpg
 
Some tragic news from the Europa Park's French socials there won't be a traditional start of season video showing off everything that's new this year. They claim it is because the main things have been covered by EP Weekly and the Making Of Batavia series.
 
The offering of Hotel Kronsar will be expanded with a relaxation area, saunas, fire place lounge and a fitness area - due to be finished by the end of 2020.


And the new Europa Park song has receieved a music video featuring staff from the park.
 
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