Leisure Media Issue 3 2009 - Leisure Opportunities

NEWSWorld LeisureExpanded Anchorage Museum opensThe US$106m (£64m, 74.4m euro)expansion of the 170,000sq ft (15,793sqm) Anchorage Museum at theRasmuson Center in Alaska has openedits doors to the public.The revamp, designed by DavidChipperfield Architects, includes a newglass-fronted façade and entrance facingdowntown Anchorage. Among thefeatures of the new building are a café,shop and two extra floors (80,000sq ft,7,432sq m) of exhibition space.A venue at the heart of the existingbuilding was retained to continue providinga space for arts, music and culturalevents, but there has also beenthe addition of a science discovery centreand a Young Learners DiscoveryGallery with touchable objects andhands-on learning opportunities.The museum was designed by David Chipperfield ArchitectsThe museum also houses a new530sq ft planetarium and the 100,000sqft (9,290sq m) Smithsonian ArcticStudies Center, exhibiting 600 NativeAlaskan artifacts from the SmithsonianInstitution’s National Museum ofNatural History and National Museumof the American Indian.Boutique spa at Oon Kloof opensAn intimate new spa has opened aspart of the O on Kloof hotel in CapeTown, South Africa.The spa has one treatment room andone therapist, but treatments are alsooffered in the eight guest bedrooms.Designed by local architects AntonDe Kock and Graham Koch, who werealso in charge of the renovation of thehotel, the brands at O’Spa have beensupplied by Logica, while treatmentsuse SpaRitual and Theravine products.The signature treatment is an Africanbody Butter Massage, which combinesvarious massage techniquesThe spa boasts one large treatment roomwith a deeply moisturising body butter,infused with essential oils. All treatmentswill focus on local produce whereverpossible, while other therapiesinclude facials and massages.Terminator Salvationcoaster unveiledSix Flags Magic Mountain inValencia, California, has kickstartedits summer season withthe launch of a new US$10m(£6m, 6.9m) rollercoaster, calledTerminator Salvation: The Ride.Based on the latest additionto the Terminator film series,the coaster, designed by GreatCoasters Int., is inspired by themovie’s post-apocalyptic setting.It features synchronised onboardaudio, a loading station fly-through,two tunnels and fire and fog effects,as well as the 2,850ft track’s fivehills and six banked turns.CNL acquires Hawaiian WatersCNL Lifestyle Properties has acquiredHawaiian Waters Adventure Park inKapolei, on the island of Oahu, US, froma subsidiary of the Village Roadshow.Although now owned by the US realestate investment trust, operation ofthe 29-acre waterpark has been leasedback to the Australian global entertainmentcompany.As part of the deal, VillageRoadshow will continue to operate thesite and will rebrand the park as Wet‘n’ Wild Hawaii.“This transaction is a homerun forboth sides,” said Byron Carlock, CEOof CNL. We were looking for a vibrantoperating partner with which to growour portfolio of properties. HawaiianWaters is exactly the kind of qualityattraction we look for, where familiescan make lasting memories.”Graham Burke, managing director ofVillage Roadshow, added: “CNL is theperfect partner for us as we grow ourhighly successful water park businessin the United States.Rides at the park include a Tornado slide6 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digitalISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009