PARK BRIEFS My, How Far We’ve Come As the realities of the coronavirus pandemic began setting in during the latter half of March, there were many more questions than there were answers— but waiting around for the pandemic to end clearly wasn’t an option. So, several organizations responded by shifting focus to offer guidance and resources aimed at helping the aerial adventure industry weather the crisis. Experts began weighing in to provide the aerial adventure industry with guidance about initial impacts and response, and organizations created web pages to aggregate it all. With everyone cooped up at home, though, it was a confusing, frustrating, and often overwhelming time.
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In talking with operators and vendors in the industry, we at Adventure Park Insider (API) discovered there was a desire to hear what others in the aerial adventure industry were experiencing. Many were wondering how they could handle it all. Thus began the API Huddle—a facilitated online gathering of aerial adventure industry pros on Zoom. The first Huddle was a roundtable with various experts who discussed topics such as staff, communication, finance, and operations. More than 160 people took part. The following week’s Huddle turned to a wide-ranging question-storming session that addressed “adapting to the new normal.” This in turn spawned the Association for Challenge Course Technology’s (ACCT) “Think Tank” virtual gatherings to dive into more granular discussion in an effort to produce additional guidance for the industry. Learn more about these in “It Takes a Really Big Village” on p. 7. HUDDLES, WEBINARS, AND MORE The Huddles have continued on an almost weekly basis, covering topics such as marketing and sales, digital training,
The first Adventure Park Insider Huddle took place April 9, 2020, and gathered more than 160 operators, experts, and suppliers to discuss the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Panelists and the audience shared ideas and resources about topics such as staff, communication, finance, and operations. and opening in uncertain times, as well as a special Huddle with European operators who had already reopened and shared what they learned. Other organizations and suppliers offered online educational gatherings, too: Be A Better Guide, The Alliance Collaborative, Training Wheels, and more. Productive conversations through online platforms have proven to be not only useful, but also therapeutic. As time went by and things progressed, a flurry of useful resources and guidelines were produced by existing organizations, ad hoc groups, suppliers, and individuals from around the world to help provide clarity and direction as operators began considering next steps and, yes, reopening for business. By mid-April, several suppliers shared guidance for properly cleaning and disinfecting equipment, specifically to kill coronavirus—a primary concern for many operators in our high-touch industry. ACCT released “Someday we will reopen,” with a general overview of what operators should consider when planning to welcome guests back.
One of the first comprehensive reopening guides came from the Italian Adventure Parks Association in late April. Head Rush Technologies was one of the first suppliers to release guidance about reopening with its “Getting Started Again” resource. Soon thereafter, the International Association for Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) published a 36-page first edition of “COVID-19 Reopening Guidance” for the global attractions industry. The Alliance Collaborative then released its own 30-page “COVID-19 Reopening & Operation Strategies for Challenge Courses & Aerial Attractions” guide. In less than three months—from early March to late May—the global aerial adventure and attractions industry showed just how resourceful, creative, and collaborative it truly is. It’s remarkable how far we’ve come in such a short time: from the early days when safely welcoming staff and guests to our parks seemed unthinkable, to having the knowledge and guidance to offer a reasonably safe experience as parks around the world begin to reopen.
