The Experience Economist - Americas Edition 2025

THE EXPERIENCE ECONOMIST AMERICAS EDITION 2025

The Experience Economist is a brand-new series of industry publications from Leisure Development Partners (LDP), the leading firm in visitor attractions economics and strategy. Investment shifts and emerging opportunities

untapped markets. That’s not to say there aren’t opportunities out there (Houston, anyone?) and visitation at major parks is just one metric – there are many other attraction types available, making waves and driving the experience economy. The feature graphic on the next page examines key markets in the Americas (10 countries with markets large enough to assess economic impact including Dominican Republic, The Bahamas, Guatemala, USA, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina & Chile), comparing relative population sizes, incomes, theme park and waterpark visitation levels, attractions spend per capita, economic impact, jobs created, and future growth. The results give insights into the relative stages of development of each region and what this implies for the opportunities within. 336m annual theme park and waterpark visits 384 amusement/theme park & waterpark visits per 1,000 residents In mature markets such as the U.S. and Canada, there is a continued focus on enhancing existing assets, while also driving innovation with new parks, experiences and concepts.

About Leisure Development Partners (LDP) Leisure Development Partners (LDP) is the global leader in visitor attraction economics and strategy, delivering data-driven insights that empower developers, operators, and investors to create successful, sustainable attractions anchored real estate. With a proven track record in 80+ countries and over 1,000 projects, LDP provides trusted, bankable analysis across theme parks, waterparks, family entertainment centers, cultural attractions, and mixed-use destinations. Our expertise ensures clients make informed decisions that maximize visitation, revenue, and long-term growth. Our Core Services: • Market & Feasibility Studies - Evaluating demand, competitive positioning, and financial viability • Enhancement Strategy - Unlocking the potential of existing business, expanding, finding efficiencies through benchmarking • Economic Impact Assessments - Quantifying how attractions drive local economies and tourism • Strategic Planning & Business Modelling - Optimizing financial forecasts and operational strategies • Consumer & Competitive Insights - Identifying trends, visitor behaviours, and industry benchmarks • Development Advisory - Guiding investment decisions with expert intelligence • Due Diligence - Valuation insight, upside identification and business planning for buyers Backed by decades of experience, LDP’s insights shape the future of the global attractions industry - helping clients unlock opportunities, minimize risks, and create unforgettable experiences.

Dark Universe, Epic Universe

This series explores the volume, value, and impact of the global theme park and visitor attractions industry, providing expert analysis and insights into the forces shaping the market. This third edition of The Experience Economist offers an exploration of the Americas, uncovering key trends, investment shifts, and emerging opportunities across the region. Spanning a vast and diverse geography, the Americas encompass both mature markets and those still in early stages of attractions development. Each presents its own mix of challenges and growth potential - dynamics we unpack throughout this edition. Diverse maturity across region The Americas present diverse and evolving opportunities across the attractions industry. In

mature markets such as the U.S. and Canada, there is a continued focus on enhancing existing assets, while also driving innovation with new parks, experiences and concepts. Mexico and countries in Central and South America remain high opportunity areas for new attraction development given the size of their markets, but the investment needs to be balanced with income and spending levels. At LDP, our experience across a wide range of markets enables us to apply a global perspective while remaining sensitive to local dynamics, helping clients make informed, market- appropriate development decisions. Between 2010 and 2023, the top 20 theme parks in the Americas grew by an average of 1.2 percent, just below Europe (1.3 percent) and economic powerhouse Asia (3.3 percent). The lower rate of growth is expected in more mature areas, and the U.S. is incredibly mature in terms of theme park development, with very few

252k total employment impact US$53bn total economic impact

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Comparing the metrics

Canada

41.1m $56,093 286 $49 $1.0bn 8,816 -1.4% $

USA

340.1m $75,494 828 $104 $48.7bn 211,236 1.8% $

The Bahamas

$ 408,000 $33,047 5,907 $126 $488m 1,808 0.9%

California

39.4m $92,187 1,612 $131

$13.8bn 47,673 2.6%

Florida

$ 23.4m $63,599 3,917 $145 $22.0bn 68,663 1.2%

Dominican Republic

10.8m $25,645 111

$72 $139m 900 4.1%

Mexico

$64 $1.3bn 9,800 0.6% $

Brazil

132.3m $22,059 99

$39 $862m 9,930 3.0% $

212.6m $19,594 62

Guatemala

$12 $74m 2,897 2.2% $

17.9m $13,044 216

Colombia

52.7m $18,909 106 $20 $189m 4,170 0.8% $

Key

Chile

$18 $49m 1,238 2.0% $

Resident population, 2024

20m $29,697 82

Gross domestic product per Capita Total theme park and waterpark visits per 1,000 residents Average theme park and waterpark spend per head

Argentina

47.1m $25,744 40

$23 $75m 1,401

-2.7%

Sources: 1. Population = United States Census Bureau 2. GDP per capita = Bureau of Economic Analysis: U.S. Department of Commerce

Estimated theme park and waterpark economic impact (monetary $)

3. TP & WP Visits Per 1,000 Residents = LDP database 4 . Average TP & WP spend per head = LDP database

Estimated theme park and waterpark employment impact (jobs)

5. Eco TP nomic Impact =LDP database for park spend estimates and OECD for respective multipliers 6. Employment Impact = LDP database for park employee estimates and OECD for respective multipliers 7. LDP database for park employee estimates and OECD for respective multipliers

Forecast annual GDP growth

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is also the global leader of indoor waterpark hotels and resorts; Great Wolf Lodge recently opened its 23rd location in Connecticut, with another 10 resorts planned or under consideration. Kalahari Resorts is currently constructing it’s fifth resort in Virginia, with a planned 2026 opening of the 175,000 square foot indoor waterpark and 900 guest rooms. The U.S. continues to make strides in the competitive socializing and immersive experiences sector, quickly catching up to the U.K. and rest of Europe, who established the trend. Albatross recently opened in New Jersey – a 50,000 square foot luxury bowling attraction, and AREA15 in Las Vegas is currently underway with a second expansion project, adding 20 acres of additional entertainment. Netflix House is opening inside the mega King of Prussia Mall (Philadelphia market) before the end of the year, a first of its kind for the entertainment giant to be closely followed by with locations in Dallas and Las Vegas. We continue to see significant opportunities and interest for smaller scale attractions in retail settings, mixed use projects and downtowns. The largest challenge for the industry in this market continues to be political and economic uncertainty. In the U.S., tariffs imposed on imports from international suppliers are creating financial difficulties for attractions owners and developers, who are delaying or cancelling projects. International visitors are choosing to staycate or venture to non-

U.S. destinations for leisure trips, due to political sentiment, higher visa fees and the pullback of direct seat capacity on flights. Canada tourism to the U.S. is expected to be down by 21 percent by the end of 2025 (Tourism Economics). Cultural institutions in the U.S., many having just reached pre-pandemic attendance levels in 2024 and armed with plans for renovations and expansions, are now facing a new set of challenges due to federal funding cuts and the current government shutdown. Despite these challenges, we continue to see developer and operator interest along cultural and commercial veins, with new attraction concepts across the country and recent LDP projects in New York, Las Vegas, Nashville, Dallas, and Orlando. The U.S. continues to make strides in the competitive socializing and immersive experiences sector, quickly catching up to the U.K. and rest of Europe, who established the trend.

The fundamentals

International arrivals to U.S., monthly Y-o-Y change, 2025

Canada Total All Countries

AREA15, Las Vegas

-2%

this momentum, they will open Universal Kids Park in Texas in 2026, focused on families with young children. The new, family-focused destination will extend the brand’s reach to younger audiences, with a more intimate, family-first model of play. In California, Disneyland celebrated its 70th anniversary in July, offering enhanced experiences at both Disneyland Park and California Adventure. Universal and Disney have very high average ticket pricing, around $150, compared to the regional parks throughout the rest of the country where this average ticket price is $58, though this doesn’t seem to be affecting demand, at least not yet. 2025 marked a year of mergers and consolidation, starting with Six Flags and Cedar Fair, followed by Merlin and LEGOLAND (see Expert Insights). The U.S.

United States The United States is the attractions industry hub of economic activity for the Americas, representing the most developed market, and an estimated 55 percent of the total economic impact within the Americas. The majority of that comes from mega markets Orlando, Florida and Southern California where visits to the major parks account for almost 41 percent of total park visits in the U.S. A wealthy market, U.S. residents are hungry for entertainment and developers and operators are happy to deliver. Universal’s new Epic Universe demonstrates the vast demand for attractions of this type from both domestic and international visitors in an already very competitive market. Building upon

-6%

-7%

-8%

-9%

-12%

-16%

-20%

-23%

-26%

-31%

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Source: Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration

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THE EXPERIENCE ECONOMIST: AMERICAS EDITION 2025 | © LDP 7

Canada Compared to its southern neighbour, Canada presents a more modest profile in terms of population size, income levels, and overall leisure spend propensity. This is reflected in visitation metrics: theme and waterpark attendance per 1,000 residents is approximately one-third that of the United States. Yet, while the U.S. sets the benchmark for attraction visitation, Canada boasts a rich tapestry of natural and cultural tourism assets, alongside a mature and diverse leisure and entertainment landscape. Visitation data should be interpreted with nuance. Canada’s climate naturally limits the viability of outdoor waterparks, and only Toronto and Montréal possess the population density to sustain large-scale theme parks – namely Canada’s Wonderland and La Ronde. Outside these hubs, and perhaps Vancouver, lower population density has not hindered the development of compelling attractions. In fact, it has encouraged innovation in indoor and immersive formats. Recent work by LDP for Ontario’s Ministry of Tourism and Travel Alberta has spotlighted vibrant attractions markets in Toronto, Niagara Falls, Québec City, Calgary, Opened in August 2025 at Niagara Parks’ Table Rock Centre, Niagara Takes Flight represents a landmark in the evolution of Canada’s visitor economy – and a signal of how legacy destinations are embracing next-generation storytelling to remain relevant in the changing market. Led creatively by former Disney Imagineer Rick Rothschild, the $25 million attraction brings the flying-theatre format – long a staple of major U.S. resorts – to Ontario for the first time. Through a 17-metre domed screen, motion gondolas and precision-programmed sensory effects, visitors can experience Niagara Falls like never before, with a soaring journey along the Niagara River corridor, from Lake Ontario to the brink of Horseshoe Falls. For the Niagara Parks Commission, which funded the project through its own operating revenues, Niagara Takes Flight reflects a strategic pivot toward high-impact, year-round experiences that diversify visitation and extend length of stay. It complements the region’s natural heritage with an immersive, weather-independent draw - strengthening the local tourism economy and supporting the Commission’s long-term sustainability mandate. From an industry perspective, the attraction captures several defining trends: the rise of Featured project: Niagara takes flight

and Edmonton. However, these studies also revealed significant gaps and untapped potential across these regions. Opportunities include indoor theme parks, waterpark hotels, immersive experiences, and competitive socializing venues - formats well-suited to Canada’s climate and urban footprint. With several provinces, notably Alberta, pursuing ambitious tourism growth strategies, there is momentum to establish a network of location-based entertainment destinations that drive visitation across both urban and rural geographies. The current political climate has introduced short- term shifts in travel dynamics. Domestic tourism is on the rise, outbound travel to the U.S. has dipped, while inbound U.S. visitation to Canada has increased. These trends may rebalance over time as bilateral relations stabilise. Noteworthy recent and upcoming projects include Niagara Takes Flight (see separate box-out), the under-construction Therme Canada at Ontario Place, and Alpine Fury – a launch coaster featuring nine inversions – at Canada’s Wonderland. authentic narrative-based design, integration of advanced motion and media technology, and a focus on cultural inclusion. Featuring Indigenous storytelling by Turtle Clan artist Sara General and narration by filmmaker James Cameron, the experience weaves regional identity with cutting- edge immersion. As a case study, Niagara Takes Flight demonstrates how established destinations can evolve through investment in innovation, interpretation and visitor engagement - reaffirming Canada’s position within the global attractions landscape as a market increasingly defined by storytelling, technology, and purpose.

Americas News of the Year: Epic Universe opens in Orlando Opened in May of this year, Universal’s Epic Universe is the operators’ fourth park in Orlando and marks the first major theme park to open in the United States in 24 years. Set on a 750- acre development, the park alone encompasses around 110 acres and features five immersive themed worlds: Dark Universe, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic and the Celestial Park entry point. With an estimated cost of $7 billion, it represents the largest investment in Universal attractions since 2011 and the company’s most technologically advanced park to date – combining next generation ride systems, large-scale animatronics, dynamic projection mapping, and seamlessly integrated digital interactivity to delivery deeply immersive storytelling environments.

And the impact is significant – the parent company, Universal Destinations & Experiences, reported that revenue for its theme park segment rose 19 percent in the second quarter of 2025, with the new park already driving higher per- capita spends and attendances across the entire Universal Orlando Resort. The effects extend well beyond Universal itself: Epic Universe is projected to generate $2 billion in economic impact for the state of Florida in its first year of operation, alongside an estimated $13 million in Tourist Development Tax contributions resulting from increased visitor volumes, according to Comcast. Orlando is the largest theme park cluster in the world and a fascinating showcase of destination making. New parks, while initially cannibalizing some others, have managed to massively grow the market over time and extend tourists’ length of stay – thus recovering from short-to-medium term hits in attendance and fueling wider tourism to the state.

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tourism. Key draws include surf destinations, volcanic landscapes, and colonial towns. For leisure developers, this growth signals opportunities in coastal resorts, eco- tourism, and urban leisure, targeting both international visitors and domestic travellers. Costa Rica and Panama continue to lead in eco- adventure and sustainable tourism, underpinned by their rich natural assets, safety, and political stability. While both countries see strong international visitor growth, domestic tourists remain a key component of the leisure market, with Costa Rica’s domestic travel spending accounting for 31.0 percent of total internal spending in 2023. As visitor volumes increase, managing environmental impact remains a central policy priority, particularly in Costa Rica, where sustainability is core to its tourism brand. Beyond nature-based attractions, urban and commercial leisure experiences are expanding, though Costa Rica’s supply of smaller-scale commercial attractions remains relatively undeveloped, presenting opportunities for repeatable, resident-driven attractions such as FECs, adventure, or indoor play. Central America is experiencing strong international tourism growth (see chart below), underpinned by improved infrastructure, marketing, and rich natural and cultural assets. Across the region, domestic visitors are increasingly important, with rising middle classes and disposable incomes driving demand for local leisure experiences. The region presents a dual opportunity: serving the growing international market while building vibrant leisure experiences for local populations.

Central America Central America presents a diverse and evolving landscape for the attractions and leisure industry, shaped by both growing international tourism and increasingly active domestic markets. Economies vary widely in size, stability and tourism maturity, which means that opportunities differ in scale and risk across the region. Guatemala, the region’s most populous country, is a standout market for large-scale parks, dominated by IRTRA, a unique operator partly funded through private employee contributions. IRTRA runs four major parks, including its flagship resort in Retalhuleu featuring two theme parks, a waterpark and on-site hotels that drive overnight stays and multi-day visitation. Affordable pricing and continued reinvestment have made IRTRA a national institution, attracting millions of Guatemalans annually. In Guatemala City, rising disposable incomes are fuelling smaller-scale entertainment within malls - premium cinemas, bowling alleys, trampoline parks and FECs - reflecting an expanding middle class. El Salvador is now the region’s fastest-growing international tourist market, welcoming around 3.2 million visitors in 2024, a remarkable 28 percent increase on 2023. The country’s improving safety, expanded infrastructure, and proactive marketing have positioned it as an increasingly attractive destination for adventure, nature and culture-based

Vidanta World, Cirque de Soleil LUDŌ

Mexico is a family-focused customer base and not surprisingly has a well-developed FEC offering, including Kidzania and Zero Latency. Mexico is still gaining momentum with competitive socializing and immersive entertainment, where we see significant opportunities for established operators with or without intellectual property. The new Tren Maya railway system, a significant infrastructure project for the leisure industry in Mexico, is aiming to connect tourist destinations along the southern states coastline with lesser-known sites inland, including historic Mayan sites. These new links are intended to redistribute tourist flows that are currently concentrated on the coast, and to encourage the development of a region that has historically been neglected by the state. The new railway may also boost attendance at existing parks and attractions, allowing for easier and faster travel for residents and tourists.

Mexico Mexico is second in terms of economic impact within the Americas. It boasts a large and young resident market, though with more modest incomes and leisure spending, compared to the U.S. and Canada. The theme park and waterpark market is established with domestic visitor driven parks Six Flags Mexico and Parque Acuático El Rollo, and with the Xcaret Group parks and resorts catering to international tourists in the Yucatán Peninsula. Pricing across the offering varies between the two groups, with the domestic visitor driven parks much lower, and the tourist focused parks much higher and along U.S. levels. Two new resorts, both with planned theme and waterparks are also underway. Vidanta World’s “Bon” in Nuevo Vallarta, promising the world’s first luxury theme park, with 25 rides, restaurants, shopping and live shows, including the LUDŌ dinner show by Cirque du Soleil. Puerto Fantasía Resort is also under construction, located in the Cancun market, and is planned to include a theme and waterpark. The closed La Feria Chapultepec theme park in Mexico City reopened in 2024 as Aztlán Parque Urbano, an amusement park offering a variety of family friendly rides and entertainment.

Central America’s growing international tourist market

ARRIVALS 2024 ARRIVALS 2024

GROWTH VS 2023 GROWTH VS 2023

3 . 2 M 3 . 0 M 2 . 8 M 2 . 8 M 2 . 6 M 1 . 3 M 3 . 2 M 3 . 0 M 2 . 8 M 2 . 8 M 2 . 6 M 1 . 3 M

D O D O

E L S A L V A E L S A L V A

2 8 % 1 5 % 1 7 % 1 1 % 2 8 % 1 5 % 1 7 % 1 1 %

G U A T EMA L A HONDU R A S C O S T A R I N I C A R A GU A P ANAMA C O S T A R I N I C A R A GU A P ANAMA G U A T EMA L A HONDU R A S

Mexico is second in terms of economic impact within the Americas.

C A C A

8% 8% 8% 8%

Source: : WTTC

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THE EXPERIENCE ECONOMIST: AMERICAS EDITION 2025 | © LDP 11

focused Parque Arvorar in Aquiraz. The former is currently under construction, and scheduled to open in 2027, with an anticipated annual attendance of 3.0 million visitors. Parque Arvorar opened in June 2025, adding to Beach Park’s popular destination waterpark and resorts. Beyond Brazil, theme and waterparks in Colombia, Argentina, and Chile also contribute to the region’s attraction economy. These parks primarily serve resident populations in key urban markets such as Bogotá, Buenos Aires, and Santiago, focusing on domestic leisure demand. At present, there is a notable lack of global IPs (intellectual properties) within South America’s theme park sector. This gap presents a significant opportunity, particularly given the concentration of younger age cohorts throughout the region. The market has seen success with homegrown IPs centred around local cultural icons and history, providing strong theming at existing attractions. Industry conversations indicate growing interest in balancing local and international IPs in future projects, potentially through the development of new themed lands, specific ride additions, and attraction expansions.

South America Brazil stands as the primary driver of industry impacts within South America, recording 13.2 million visits across 19 major theme and waterparks. Despite these impressive figures, the market is relatively underdeveloped when compared to the country’s population. With only 62 visits per 1,000 residents, there is considerable scope for growth via increased visitation and new attraction development. Existing parks in Brazil tend to perform well, attracting high volumes of multi-generational family visits. Destination parks, in particular, achieve longer lengths of stay and higher guest spend, predominantly among domestic tourists. Nevertheless, the region faces substantial challenges that hinder development, including lower household income levels, political instability, unreliable economies and tariffs, all of which present significant obstacles for developers seeking to launch new projects. Two notable new entrants to Brazil’s attractions landscape is Parque de Cacau (“chocolate park”) in the municipality of Itu, São Paulo and well- established Beach Park’s new animal and adventure

Cococay, Bahamas

Caribbean The Bahamas is the economic impact driver for attractions among the Caribbean islands, with Aquaventure at Atlantis Paradise Island and Baha Bay Waterpark totalling 70 percent of theme and waterpark visits in the region, and the highest spends per capita in the Americas. The Dominican Republic also contributes to the region’s experience economy, with numerous themed adventure and waterparks, focused on both residents and tourists. Access to the islands and low resident populations and incomes create challenges for attraction development in this region. In addition, attractions also compete directly with resort amenities; it’s difficult to pull guests away from the all-inclusive offering onsite at many of the properties. Despite these obstacles, we do see ongoing developer interest in the region and expect that to continue. In May 2025, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico announced a $2.0 million tourism alliance, “The Caribbean is Us,” to create multi-destination travel packages and target markets in the U.S. and Europe. Pedernales-Cabo Rojo project, in the Dominican Republic, is a luxury and eco- tourism project featuring new resorts, an international airport and a cruise port aimed at transforming the largely untouched southern region of the country. In addition, cruise ship companies in the region continue to expand their attraction offering onboard and beyond, enhancing guests experience. Norwegian cruise lines is building Great Tides Waterpark on its private island Great Stirrup Cay, with plans to open in 2026. This builds upon Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day in CoCoCay waterpark (Little Stirrup Cay, 2019).

Theme & waterpark visits per 1,000 residents, selected markets

Comparing GDP per capita across the region

$80,000

$70,000

$50,000

$40,000

$30,000

$20,000

$10,000

Source: LDP Database

Source: IMF World Economic Outlook

LDP recent project mix

Atlantic Park Surf in Virginia Beach is the newest U.S. addition to the artificial wave global family, and Wavegarden’s 12th project to open.

24% Resorts, clusters and mixed use

21% FECs, indoor parks & play

19% Theme parks

Kathleen LaClair shares industry insights Expert view

6% Museum & gallery, science centre

5% Sports entertainment

5% Viewing attractions

comes the typical challenges - the company closed Six Flags America in Maryland at the end of its season, as part of a long-term strategic plans and initiated a reduction in workforce, as operations are centralized. Along a similar path, LEGO recently acquired all LEGO Discovery Centres and LEGOLAND Discovery Centres from Merlin Entertainment, as Merlin refocuses on immersive temporary and touring attractions. Surf park mania Atlantic Park Surf in Virginia Beach is the newest U.S. addition to the artificial wave global family, and Wavegarden’s 12th project to open. A leading designer of artificial surf parks, the company has another 10 projects under construction and 45 in planning, across four continents. And that’s just one company. Wave Pool Mag estimates that there are 200 projects in some stage of planning or development globally. Interest and participation in surfing is trending, due in part to the inclusion and coverage of the sport in the last two summer Olympics. On a recent visit to Dreamworks Waterpark at American Dream in New Jersey, LDP learned that their indoor wave pool is open for surfing lessons after hours and sessions typically sell out. In addition to serving as a practice facility for more experienced surfers, beginners are using the artificial waves to “save face” and get a leg up prior to surfing the real deal, on upcoming vacations. Artificial lagoons On a visually related note, we also continue to see significant interest in and development of, artificial lagoons. Recently featured on CBS Sunday Morning, artificial lagoons are becoming increasingly popular in developments, with hundreds of projects in planning stages, under construction or opened, globally. The largest developer of this attraction is

4% Immersive

4% Waterparks

4% Heritage

3% Wildlife, nature and botanic

3% Event venue or show

2% Workplace brand centre or hall of fame

69%

Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

23% 5% 3%

As specialists in economic forecasting and strategy for visitor attractions, LDP’s project portfolio serves as a reliable gauge of where developers are focusing their attention. Given that no single source tracks all experience economy projects, our workflow provides a strong proxy for industry priorities. Dollywood is a regional park standout Featured on the cover, the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee are home to Dollywood, the award- winning theme park co-owned by Herschend and country music icon Dolly Parton. Dollywood has a long history and impressive multi-generational visitor base which drives regional tourism and is a major contributor to the region’s economy. The destination resort also includes a waterpark, the DreamMore Resort and Spa and recently opened Heartsong Resort. IAAPA inducted Dolly Parton into the Hall of

Fame this year, citing her vision, investment, and heart for her community, which helped the park and resort grow into a globally recognized destination. Dollywood Parks and Resorts anchors the attraction dense area of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, which is also home to the Titanic Museum, The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, a Ripley’s Aquarium, the Anakeesta adventure park, and countless smaller attractions. Consolidations and acquisitions The merger of Cedar Fair and Six Flags earlier this year continues a trend of consolidation in more mature markets and strengthens the company’s U.S. regional dominance. With a now combined 42 regional theme and waterparks across the Americas, the portfolio will likely see attendance close to 50.0 million this year, and the new Six Flags Entertainment Corporation will take fifth place in terms of major global operators, and third in the U.S. However, with it

Feasibility

Enhancement Strategy/other Due Diligence

Crystal Lagoons, whose initial projects were part of larger residential real estate developments, serving as an amenity for residents and driving water view premiums for the developer. The company’s new era, the public access lagoon (PAL) features the lagoon as the central feature of larger retail- dining-entertainment developments. The lagoons are relatively inexpensive to build and can be easily scaled to fit urban and more rural project sites, though they typically range between 3 and 10 acres, but can be much larger. Artificial lagoons serve as an elevated amenity that draws a wide range of development and user types, offering a beautiful view, a great backdrop for special events, relaxing beaches, and recreational activities.

Meet our experts Leadership team

Michael Collins Senior Partner michael@leisuredevelopment.co.uk

Yael Coifman Senior Partner yael@leisuredevelopment.co.uk

Natalia Bakhlina Partner natalia@leisuredevelopment.co.uk

Kathleen LaClair Partner LDP Americas kathleen@leisuredevelopment.co.uk

James Kennard Partner james@leisuredevelopment.co.uk

Sam Davey Senior Associate sam@leisuredevelopment.co.uk

Frea Nunn Marketing & Operations Manager frea@leisuredevelopment.co.uk

Isabel Gross Associate isabel@leisuredevelopment.co.uk

Megan Hiatt Associate megan@leisuredevelopment.co.uk

Unlock your next chapter in visitor attractions At Leisure Development Partners (LDP), we help developers, operators, and investors turn bold ideas into successful destinations. Whether you’re exploring new concepts, optimizing an existing attraction, or looking to drive economic and tourism impact, LDP delivers the strategic insights and data-driven intelligence you need to make informed decisions. Let’s talk about your next project. leisuredevelopment.co.uk

Special thanks to our research contributors Joshua Hawksley, Thomas Deedman

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