Keith James was in Saltlake City airport when he got a phone call that made him break down and cry. But don’t worry – it was good news. Bob Ward was ringing to tell him he’d been awarded the themed entertainment industry’s most prestigious accolade, the Buzz Price Thea Award for a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements.
Months later, on 2 April, 700 people attended the Thea Gala Awards ceremony at Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, where James picked up his award. For many, he’s one of the founding fathers of the modern themed entertainment industry.
James, CEO of Jack Rouse Associates and 45-year industry veteran, has worked with everyone from Coca-Cola to Jack Daniels, Ferrari to Hershey’s, Crayola to Lego, Warner Bros to Universal Studios and Six Flags – but he is nothing if not humble.
“I learned early on you need to surround yourself with good people, the best people you can. Receiving an award like this has always been the furthest thing from my mind because the success is due to all the thousands of people I have worked with – not me,” he says.
James was introduced to Jack Rouse in the 1970s. As well as teaching him to ride a motorbike, Rouse opened his eyes to the world of themed entertainment and the two went on to work together for TAFT Broadcasting.
“I just needed a summer job to pay for college, and that’s how this whole thing started,” James says. “Back then, there was hardly even an industry. It’s grown up beneath me and I’ve been very lucky to have the experiences and friendships that I have had.”
He returned to work with Rouse in 1992, becoming JRA’s owner in a 2008 buyout.
Most of his time now is spent travelling from site to site in countries across the globe. Nine and half million air miles later, James shares his best piece of advice: “Always say yes. Whatever you’re asked to do, say yes, even if you don’t have a clue how you’re going to do it. You can panic and figure it out later.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2016 issue 2
Promotional feature: IDEATTACK
IDEATTACK’s new project in Hainan, China,
introduces the storytelling elements of a
theme park to the oceanarium concept
Science Museums: Shaping Tomorrow
Brazil’s Museum of Tomorrow uses
constantly updating, real-time digital
collection to communicate with visitors.
We met members of the team
Promotional feature: EAS
This year, the Euro Attractions Show is
coming to the Spanish city of Barcelona
Disney Special: Shanghai Disney: The Best Yet?
As Disney opens its first resort in mainland
China, our special feature examines its
business model, its potential impact and
the modernisation of the Disney castle park
New Openings: Space Inversion
A new contemporary museum district
in the Netherlands – Museumplein
Limburg – features a science centre,
a design museum and an inverted
planetarium. We take a closer look
Promotional feature: Polin
Polin’s patented technologies, extensive R&D and creative flair have made it one of the world’s leading waterpark design and manufacturing companies
Waterparks: Taking the Plunge
Waterpark suppliers constantly develop
their product offers. We dive into the
world of waterpark R&D to find out more
Zoos & Aquariums: The Long Game
UK safari park Longleat is undertaking a
decade-long upgrade that starts by going
back to its roots. As the attraction turns
50, CEO Bob Montgomery explains how
he’s bridging the past and the future
Keith James was in Saltlake City airport when he got a phone call that made him break down and cry. But don’t worry – it was good news. Bob Ward was ringing to tell him he’d been awarded the themed entertainment industry’s most prestigious accolade, the Buzz Price Thea Award for a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements.
Months later, on 2 April, 700 people attended the Thea Gala Awards ceremony at Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, where James picked up his award. For many, he’s one of the founding fathers of the modern themed entertainment industry.
James, CEO of Jack Rouse Associates and 45-year industry veteran, has worked with everyone from Coca-Cola to Jack Daniels, Ferrari to Hershey’s, Crayola to Lego, Warner Bros to Universal Studios and Six Flags – but he is nothing if not humble.
“I learned early on you need to surround yourself with good people, the best people you can. Receiving an award like this has always been the furthest thing from my mind because the success is due to all the thousands of people I have worked with – not me,” he says.
James was introduced to Jack Rouse in the 1970s. As well as teaching him to ride a motorbike, Rouse opened his eyes to the world of themed entertainment and the two went on to work together for TAFT Broadcasting.
“I just needed a summer job to pay for college, and that’s how this whole thing started,” James says. “Back then, there was hardly even an industry. It’s grown up beneath me and I’ve been very lucky to have the experiences and friendships that I have had.”
He returned to work with Rouse in 1992, becoming JRA’s owner in a 2008 buyout.
Most of his time now is spent travelling from site to site in countries across the globe. Nine and half million air miles later, James shares his best piece of advice: “Always say yes. Whatever you’re asked to do, say yes, even if you don’t have a clue how you’re going to do it. You can panic and figure it out later.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2016 issue 2
Promotional feature: IDEATTACK
IDEATTACK’s new project in Hainan, China,
introduces the storytelling elements of a
theme park to the oceanarium concept
Science Museums: Shaping Tomorrow
Brazil’s Museum of Tomorrow uses
constantly updating, real-time digital
collection to communicate with visitors.
We met members of the team
Promotional feature: EAS
This year, the Euro Attractions Show is
coming to the Spanish city of Barcelona
Disney Special: Shanghai Disney: The Best Yet?
As Disney opens its first resort in mainland
China, our special feature examines its
business model, its potential impact and
the modernisation of the Disney castle park
New Openings: Space Inversion
A new contemporary museum district
in the Netherlands – Museumplein
Limburg – features a science centre,
a design museum and an inverted
planetarium. We take a closer look
Promotional feature: Polin
Polin’s patented technologies, extensive R&D and creative flair have made it one of the world’s leading waterpark design and manufacturing companies
Waterparks: Taking the Plunge
Waterpark suppliers constantly develop
their product offers. We dive into the
world of waterpark R&D to find out more
Zoos & Aquariums: The Long Game
UK safari park Longleat is undertaking a
decade-long upgrade that starts by going
back to its roots. As the attraction turns
50, CEO Bob Montgomery explains how
he’s bridging the past and the future
OMA has completed a major transformation of New York's New Museum, creating a larger
cultural campus that combines expanded exhibition spaces with learning, performance,
hospitality and public programming.
A US$50 million (£44.2 million, €51.2 million) transformation of Chicago's historic McCormick
Mansion has created a new destination that combines live magic, immersive theatre, dining and
private membership under one roof.
The Montana Historical Society has officially celebrated the opening of its new Montana
Heritage
Center, a US$107 million (£79 million, €92 million) destination that combines immersive
storytelling with cutting-edge audiovisual technology to bring the sta
San Antonio Zoo has reported a US$283 million economic impact for 2025, following a decade-
long transformation programme that has seen almost US$200 million invested into the Texas
attraction.
Plans for the AU$180 million redevelopment of Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville, Australia, are
progressing, with the project set to transform the attraction into a global centre for reef
education and conservation.
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Disney has reaffirmed its commitment to investing US$30 billion in its US parks and cruise
business by 2033, using new America250 celebrations to underline the role its attractions play
in supporting jobs, tourism and economic growth.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
+ More news
COMPANY PROFILES
IDEATTACK IDEATTACK is a full-service planning and
design company with headquarters in
Los Angeles. [more...]
Simworx Ltd The company was initially established
in 1997. Terry Monkton and Andrew
Roberts are the key stakeh [more...]
Holovis Holovis is a privately owned company
established in 2004 by CEO Stuart
Hetherington. [more...]
TechnoAlpin Indoor TechnoAlpin is the world leader for snowmaking systems. With the Indoor snow division, TechnoAlpin c [more...]
