Key EMEA Findings from the 2024 Global Analysis of the Impact of Water Park Equipment on Hotels & Resorts

In 2021, WhiteWater collaborated with Hotel & Leisure Advisors (HLA) on a report exploring the correlation between aquatic amenities and revenue in hotels and resorts. Over the past year, the team updated the data to determine if the correlation remained. Here are some of the biggest takeaways from Europe and the Middle East from the 2024 report.

Creating Differentiation at Amadria Park

In 2012, Solaris Beach Resort—now Amadria Park—in Croatia embarked on a mission to distinguish itself from neighbouring properties by introducing aquatic amenities. This strategic move proved successful, prompting the resort to further enhance its offerings by incorporating additional attractions in 2024. Ivan Mrva, the resort’s Director of Sales and Marketing, shared with HLA that the property saw an increase in water park attendance, with nearly 10,000 more visitors recorded from 2022 to 2023. Using the profits from the first installment of the park to fund part two, the resort’s vision is to establish a distinct brand identity on a broader scale, leveraging its water park. By introducing attractions ahead of its competitors, Amadria Park stated it earned a favourable reputation and a positive return on investment, cementing its status as a market leader in Croatia.

Raising Average Daily Rate (ADR) at Center Parcs

Center Parcs, a prominent name in European hospitality, operates over six locations in the UK and Ireland, offering an array of leisure amenities and accommodation options. Renowned for its immersive natural environments and family-friendly indoor water parks, Center Parcs caters to families seeking relaxation and recreation. Delving into the company’s annual financial report and comparing it to STR data, HLA identified that the six Center Parcs properties outperformed hotels in the United Kingdom on average in 2022 and 2023. With significantly higher occupancy rates and ADR levels, Center Parcs commanded an ADR over $40 USD more than other UK properties, reaching an impressive $192 per night compared to the industry average of $151 in 2023.

Increasing Occupancy Rates at Atlantis Dubai

Atlantis Dubai boasts two renowned resorts – The Palm and The Royal – situated on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Guests staying at either property enjoy complimentary access to Aquaventure Waterpark, which welcomed approximately 1.8 million visitors in 2023. In an interview with Sascha Triemer, Vice President of Marine & Waterpark at Atlantis, HLA found that the primary motivations behind establishing a water park at Atlantis were to boost revenue and enhance guest satisfaction. Triemer shared that this strategic move led to the property’s higher occupancy rates, increased visitor spending, and a competitive edge over rival hotels and resorts in the region.

Get the Industry-First Study on Aquatic Amenities in Hotels and Resorts

This is just a small peek into the data uncovered by WhiteWater and HLA in the Global Analysis of the Impact of Water Park Equipment on Hotels & Resorts, 2024 edition.

Operators can get the hard data to justify their investment by downloading the full report at: www.whitewaterwest.com/en/hotels.