A dedicated podcast series has been launched to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers & Attractions (BALPPA).
Produced by ticketing solutions provider Merac, the special release on Skip the Queue gathers experienced operators and sector leaders to examine how the UK visitor attractions industry has developed over the decades and where it is headed next.
Hosted by attractions industry veteran Andy Povey alongside co-host Laura Baxter, the 10-part series will focus on the operational realities, decisions, and personal stories behind running major UK destinations. The opening episode features Paul Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of BALPPA, who discusses the organisation’s 90-year history, the evolving sector environment, and upcoming opportunities and challenges for operators.
Subsequent episodes feature interviews with a range of long-standing BALPPA members and executive leaders from well-known parks and attractions. The featured guest line-up includes Marc Miller, Managing Director of Adventure Island and its parent company Stockvale Group; Gary Smart, Chairman of Harbour Park; Julie Dalton, Managing Director of Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts; Eddie Kemsley, Senior Executive / Director at Dreamland Margate; and Anna Warnecke, CEO of Kynren.
Sector insights and operational topics
Across the series, conversations address core industry themes including leadership, operations, visitor experience, innovation, technology, heritage, and future planning. The episodes provide insight into the management decisions and practical approaches behind some of the UK’s most established visitor destinations.
Speaking about the anniversary project, Paul Kelly explained the motivation behind the series:
“We wanted to mark BALPPA’s 90th anniversary by doing something that really celebrates our members and the people behind our industry. Attractions are built around experiences, but behind every great attraction are the people who make it happen.
“Working with Skip the Queue has given us the opportunity to sit down with some of those people, hear their stories and talk openly about the opportunities and challenges facing our sector. We hope the series gives listeners a real insight into the people behind the attractions, how our industry has evolved and where we might be heading next.”
Production and distribution
Co-host Laura Baxter commented on the experience of interviewing leaders across the trade body’s membership:
“It has been a real pleasure working with BALPPA on this special series and getting the chance to sit down with the people behind some of the UK’s best-known attractions.
“What’s been particularly fascinating is hearing the stories behind the attractions, the challenges, the decisions, the passion and the people that keep everything moving. We’re delighted with the line-up and excited to share these conversations with the wider industry. There are some brilliant stories in this series, and we hope people enjoy listening to them as much as we enjoyed making them.”
Skip the Queue explores the people, businesses, technology, and ideas shaping the visitor attractions sector. It is produced by Merac, a ticketing solutions company that supports visitor attractions with ticketing, admissions, and guest journey management.
The first episode featuring BALPPA’s Paul Kelly is available now, with new episodes releasing soon. The podcast can be streamed via skipthequeue.fm, as well as streaming platforms Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
