Thorpe Park trip

Second year students from International Tourism Management and International Tourism Management BA(Hons) embarked on yet another exciting field trip – this time to Thorpe Park. The purpose of the trip was to gain an insight into how theme parks are run as part of Theme Park Simulation work for a Management in Action module.

Arriving at Thorpe Park there was time to look around the park and experience some of the rides before the work began.

The students had role played as CEOs, Finance Managers, Marketing Managers, Ride Operators and as HR team managers in preparation for the trip. The simulation included news and results that each team might have to face in real life and issues that they may have to act upon. The trip added extra information such as how theme parks are run and an insight into how busy, and sometimes quiet, they could become.

A talk from the park’s Marketing Director and his assistant informed the students about Thorpe Park’s target markets, their rides, how they market and the strategies they use, new ride launches and some of their future plans and goals. The students were able to ask questions and advice for their own theme park simulation. Following the talk there were group work activities and brainstorming.

The students were offered Fast Track passes as a token of compensation for a delayed start to their talk – a good insight into how to deal with delays and maintaining good customer satisfaction.

The Theme Park Simulation will continue with an Annual General Meeting where critical and analytical discussions of each group’s theme park performances will take place. Shareholders will also be role played during the meeting.

Student Bernadette Aquino said of the trip: “The meeting was very helpful for us. Not only that we could get answers to some of our questions about theme parks, but the meeting also gave us loads of information and increased our knowledge in running theme parks.

“Being at the theme park itself also made us observe and learn; whether it be with reference to customer service, ride operations or team work.

“It was not only an academic trip; we had time to enjoy ourselves and have fun on some of the rides and attractions, even with the rainy weather, which was a bonus.”