Our biggest competition is screens at home, says theme park boss
Summary
The head of Merlin Entertainments, Fiona Eastwood, states that their main competition comes from people choosing to stay at home on their devices. She discusses how the company is dealing with economic challenges and the importance of seasonal events like Halloween in boosting profits. Merlin plans to attract visitors by partnering with popular brands for new attractions.Key Facts
- Merlin Entertainments sees screens at home as their biggest competitor.
- Fiona Eastwood highlights the role of seasonal attractions like Halloween in increasing profits.
- The company's revenue in the last year was slightly over £2 billion but had an operating loss of £132 million.
- Merlin attracted around 63 million visitors in 2024.
- The company is investing £85 million in immersive experiences featuring popular brands like Minecraft.
- New themed attractions will include a Bluey ride and a PAW Patrol land in 2025.
- Fiona Eastwood supports reducing VAT in hospitality from 20% to 12.5% to boost growth.
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