Workshop Agenda

Thursday, February 28

8:00-9:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast Buffet

9:00-9:15 Introductions & Overview

Lodging, Recreation & Entertainment Concepts Are Merging

9:15-9:45 Hotel Waterpark Resort Industry Outlook & Trends
Ballroom A
Profiles and growth trends for hotel waterpark resorts in North America.
Jeff Coy, JLC Hospitality Consulting, Cave Creek AZ
Bill Haralson, William L Haralson & Associates, Alto NM

9:45-10:30 Understanding the Hotel Waterpark Resort Development Process
Ballroom A
Bob Nagel, Architectural Design Consultants, Lake Delton WI

10:30-10:45 Break

Design Case Studies: Hotel Waterpark Resorts

10:45-11:30
Breakout 1: Hotel Waterparks As Part of Mixed Use Resort Destinations
Ballroom A
Almost every new resort development has multiple components --- lodging, condos, conference centers, indoor & outdoor waterparks, retail and a variety of recreation & entertainment facilities. Why are these developers building resort destinations? What’s the benefit of mixed-use developments? Understand the importance of brand. Learn about the costs and cross impact of components. Hear from the design-build firm that worked with Famous Dave on KeyLime Cove and Todd Nelson on Kalahari. Hear the behind-the-scenes story. What were the lessons learned and pitfalls avoided?
Greg Callin, Planning Design Build Inc, Madison WI
Breakout 2: What Can Waterpark Resort Developers Learn From Theme Parks About Creating the Guest Experience and Increasing Revenue?
Guava-Tamarind Rooms
What is it about theme parks, such as Disney World, that draw tourists from around the world who are happy to stand in long lines for a single ride experience lasting less than five minutes? Theme parks are masters of designing the guest experience --- before designing and engineering facilities. Creating the guest experience means building brand value --- the emotional response that guests attach to a product or property. Waterpark resort operators can use the same approach to improve satisfaction, increase length of stay and capture higher guest spending. Learn from those who have done it.
Don Weber, The Weber Group, Sellersburg IN

Economic Feasibility

11:30-12:00 How to Analyze the Market & Determine Economic Feasibility
Ballroom A
Learn why it is important to evaluate the economy, markets, sites, supply and demand for lodging, recreation & entertainment, national to local trends, design concepts, naming/branding issues, management, marketing, revenues, expenses, cash flows and total project costs. Learn how the feasibility report protects the developer, guides his designer and provides assurance to investors and lenders.
Jeff Coy, JLC Hospitality Consulting, Cave Creek, AZ
Bill Haralson, William L Haralson & Associates, Alto NM

12:00-1:30 Lunch & Speaker on the Thrill of the Chase
Indigo Bay
A luncheon buffet will be provided by our sponsors. Our featured luncheon speaker is Kalahari Resort owner Todd Nelson and his design-development-management team. Todd Nelson has accomplished a lot in his young career. How does he do it? Is it brains, unlimited energy or the loyal dedication of the people who work for him? Hear about the “Thrill of the Chase” in his own words.
Todd Nelson, Kalahari Resort & Convention Center, Sandusky OH

Designing New Mixed-Use Resort Destination Projects

1:30-2:15 New Hotel Waterparks Are Indoor-Outdoor Combinations
Ballroom A
Indoor-outdoor facilities are the future for capturing year round entertainment dollars. No more blaming poor profits on the weather. Learn about retractable roofs, walls and floors for large venues like stadiums, arenas and hotel waterpark resorts.
Bart Riberich, Uni-Systems LLC, Minneapolis MN

2:15-3:00
Breakout 1: Structures & Enclosures for Indoor Waterparks
Ballroom A
Outdoor adventure sports are coming indoors and under cover. Using new high-tech structures and enclosures, outdoor attractions can let in the light and keep out the weather. Here are four systems --- (1) Thin shell concrete domes
(2) open-air aluminum-glass structures and
(3) Texlon transparent membranes --- that have been used to bring outdoor waterparks indoors.
Bill Haralson, Moderator
Dan South, Dome Technology, Idaho Falls ID
Dave Bolwerk, Open-Aire Systems, Toronto ON
Ken Ellis, Foiltec-Texlon, Cohoes NY
Breakout 2: Adventure Sports are Coming Together in Mixed-Used Resort Projects
Guava- Tamarind Rooms
There's an indoor-outdoor facility for every adventure sport imaginable --- indoor snow domes, outdoor summer snow skiing, skateboarding, waveboarding, wakeboarding, surfboarding, flowboarding, riverboarding, skateboarding, cable water skiing, river rafting, whitewater kayaking, rock climbing and ropes courses. Every outdoor sport has an indoor version coming soon to a resort near you.
Jeff Coy, Moderator
Michael Williams, Liquid Design, Charlotte NC
Scott Shipley, Recreation Engineering & Planning, Boulder CO
Dieter Sturm, All Season Extreme/SnowFlex, Lake Geneva WI

3:00-3:45
Breakout 1: Will a Standalone Indoor Waterpark Work Everywhere --- or just in Anchorage?
Owner Spotlight
Ballroom A
Standalone indoor waterparks (not attached to a hotel) were owned by municipalities and did not make money. There were no commercially-viable standalone indoor waterparks --- until H2Oasis in Anchorage, Alaska. So why did owner Dennis Prendeville decide to go against the current? Did he make it work? Is it profitable? Is he considering adding a hotel? Hear the real story in his own words.
Dennis Prendeville, H2Oasis, Anchorage AK
Breakout 2: New Wave Technology for Surf Parks
Guava- Tamarind Rooms
Learn about the giant waves produced at Mt Olympus Water Theme Park in Wisconsin Dells. Discover the new wave technology that has surfers excited. See what’s on the drawing board for Arizona. This is leading edge stuff to consider for your next project.
Andrew Mowatt, Whitewater West Industries, Vancouver BC
Ken Ellis, Aquatic Development Group, Cohoes NY

3:45-4:00 Break

4:00-5:00
Breakout 1: How to Select Slides & Play Structures for Your Indoor Waterpark?
Ballroom A
Choosing the water play equipment for your indoor waterpark is one of the most important decisions you can make. It you take the time to do it right, you score a financial success. Your attractions will look good, appeal to the right age group and offer sufficient capacity at the right price. Do it wrong and your project could fall short. Learn how to select the right slides and play equipment.
Andrew Mowatt, Whitewater West Industries, Vancouver BC
Jeff Janovich, ProSlide, Ottawa, Canada
Bruce Dalan, Water Fun Products by Amusement Leisure Worldwide, Calgary AB
Doug Pagel, SCS Interactive, Denver CO
Bart Deeg, Westwind Leisure Group, Edmonton AB
Breakout 2: Whitewater Riverparks Are Here --- Natural Vs Man-Made Facilities
Guava-Tamarind Rooms
Kayaking and whitewater rafting are very popular sports. Understand the evolution of whitewater facilities from river diversions and in-stream modifications to Whitewater Riverparks and Olympic Whitewater Stadiums. Learn about the US National Whitewater Center in Charlotte NC. Understand what is being done to integrate whitewater sports with both indoor and outdoor waterparks.
Michael Williams, Liquid Designs, Charlotte NC
Scott Shipley, Recreation Engineering Planning, Boulder CO
Jeff Wise, US National Whitewater Center, Charlotte NC

5:00-6:00 VIP Tour of Kalahari Resort
Todd Nelson and his team will organize us into several special interest tours --- rooms, food & beverage, waterpark, pump room, back office.

6:00-9:00 All-Out Top Notch Thursday Night Reception & Mixer
Indigo Bay
Time for workshop attendees, speakers and sponsors to relax and talk --- just outside our meeting room. Thanks to our sponsors, we have a host bar, hot hors d’oeuvres and three hours to get to know each other and discuss projects. No need to go to dinner. It’s all right here. Enjoy!