H&LA News

Hotel & Leisure Advisors has been hired to prepare a feasibility analysis concerning the development of a hotel on the grounds of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.  The study is analyzing the existing supply and demand of the northern Columbus market as well as the potential for a themed resort style hotel on the zoo grounds. To read the article from the Columbus Dispatch describing the study, click here. 

David J. Sangree was named one of Aquatics International Magazine's "Power 25." Aquatics International publishes an annual list of professionals it deems the 25 most powerful people in the aquatics industry.
To read the article honoring Mr. Sangree click here.

David J. Sangree, MAI, CPA, ISHC was a featured speaker at the World Waterpark Association Conference which was held October 26-30, 2008 in Las Vegas. He spoke about indoor waterpark resorts and the opportunities for new development. View a PDF of Mr. Sangree's presentation.

Eric B. Hansen, AIA ISHC, Director of Development Services, was a featured speaker at the 2008 OH&LA Annual Conference. The conference was titled "Lodging Innovation, Opening New Doors" and was held in Cincinnati on November 23-24, 2008. Mr. Hansen's presentation explored industry trends and innovations, and identified their value propositions and market differentiation characteristics. Here is a PowerPoint of Mr. Hansen's presentation.

H&LA was ranked the 10th largest hotel consulting firm on Hotel & Motel Management's 2008 Top Hotel Consultants Survey based on firm revenue in 2007. This ranking was out of 25 and appeared in the April, 2008 issue of Hotel Motel Management. To see a complete list of all the ranked firms click here.

David J. Sangree and Kalahari Resort President Todd Nelson were featured on CNBC in a story entitled "Water Wave of Profits" which highlighted the recent expansion of the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio. This feature focused on how waterpark resorts are one of the fastest growing segments in the multi-billion dollar vacation industry.
View the CNBC segment.

David J. Sangree was featured on Good Morning America on Saturday, June 23, 2007, in a segment about the growing popularity of waterpark resorts across the United States.  Mr. Sangree noted that waterpark resorts are extremely competitive with one another and that within the last five years there have been tremendous improvements in their technology and attractions.  You can view the Good Morning America segment entitled “Water Park Wars” at
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3309256.

The Appraisal Institute has appointed David Sangree to the editorial review board for the Appraisal Journal.

Waterpark Resort News

The Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, opened a $15 million, 108,000 square foot indoor family entertainment center in December of 2008. The new indoor theme park addition is located between the main hotel and Damon's Restaurant. It includes: a six-story Ferris wheel, 24 bowling lanes, go-karts for kids and adults, a carousel, laser tag, three play areas including two inflatable play areas, an arcade, a ropes course, indoor mini golf, two golf simulators, a sports bar, and a dance floor. The indoor theme park offers an all-day adult admission for $19.95 or attractions can be purchased individually. http://www.kalahariresorts.com/

The Wilderness at the Smokies Resort is the second phase of an extensive development in Sevierville, Tennessee. The first phase involved the development of a 234-room hotel attached to the Sevierville Event Center which included an outdoor waterpark. The second phase is located across the street from the Event Center hotel and includes 470 condominium hotel units and a 52,000 square foot indoor waterpark. The Wilderness opened the indoor waterpark in December 2008 with all the hotel rooms coming online in 2009. The resort restricts the usage of the indoor waterpark to the resort guests, the guests of the Wilderness Event Center Hotel located across the street, and the adjoining Wyndham timeshare owners when completed. www.wildernessatthesmokies.com/

CoCo Key Waterparks are now opened at 10 locations with the latest opening in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Other locations include indoor waterpark additions at: Cherry Valley Lodge, Newark, Ohio; Sheraton, Arlington Heights, Illinois; Best Western Clocktower, Rockford, Illinois; the Sheraton Ferncroft, Danvers, Massachusetts; Holiday Inn, Omaha, Nebraska; Sheraton and Fairfield Inn, Sharonville, Ohio; Holiday Inn, Waterbury, Connecticut; Marriott Hotel, Mount Laurel, New Jersey; and the Sheraton Hotel, Kansas City, Missouri.

Great Wolf Lodge opened its newest property in Concord, North Carolina, outside of Charlotte in April of 2009. The property offers 402 rooms and an 81,000 square foot indoor waterpark. The indoor waterpark is the largest resort, by square footage of indoor waterpark area, in the Southeastern United States. This is the 12th property managed by Great Wolf Resorts. www.greatwolf.com/concord

Indoor waterpark resorts, while still popular attractions, are beginning to face tough challenges in the wake of the economic downturn of 2008 and 2009. Three indoor waterpark resorts closed in the fall of 2008 due to financial challenges. These properties include the Maui Sands Resort in Sandusky, Ohio; Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan; and Three Bears Lodge in Warrens, Wisconsin. All three properties are currently working through bankruptcy court and hope to reopen in 2009. The challenges faced by these properties and others indicate the need for strong management and marketing for an indoor waterpark resort. Properties need to plan well for financing and financial issues.

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We Offer

• Full-service MAI commercial real estate appraisals
• Insightful feasibility and impact analysis
• Property condition assessment
• Expertise with hotels, outdoor and indoor waterparks, amusement parks, resorts, conference and convention centers, golf courses, ski resorts, restaurants and other leisure real estate
• Qualified, licensed, registered experts

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