Las Vegas, NV, USA — Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas has solidified its management team with the additions of Chris Hicks as revenue manager and Matthew Watts as resale manager. Both bring extensive operations, ticketing, concessions, retail and systems experience in the water park and amusement industry and large-scale operations to the $50 million Las Vegas water park with more than 25 slides and attractions.
Hicks’ success as admissions manager at sister park Wet ‘n’ Wild Phoenix led to his promotion and position at Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas. He previously served as operations supervisor at two Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. parks, California’s Great America in Santa Clara and Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio; and attractions operations area manager for Hard Rock Park (later Freestyle Music Park) in Myrtle Beach, So. Carolina.
At Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas, Hicks will oversee ticket sales and the front gate, including guest services, season pass processing, and rentals for cabanas, tubes and lockers. He also will configure, set up and maintain ticketing software systems, serve as the IT liaison to Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas parent, Village Roadshow Limited/Village Roadshow Theme Parks, and supervise office staff and group sales ticket sales, fulfillment and accounts receivables.
An Ohio native, Hicks graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from The Ohio State University in Columbus.
Watts was concessions manager at Dallas’ American Airlines Center for the Levy Restaurants operation, retail supervisor at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Ill., near Chicago, and guest arrival area manager at Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach.
At Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas, he will develop and implement a food and beverage program that will feature both premium selections and traditional theme park fare, including specialized treats. In addition, Watts will manage retail operations for the property with a focus on beach attire and souvenir merchandise.
Watts graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in business and marketing from The Ohio State University and is also an Ohio native.
