Las Palm company announced plans to develop the Adventure World Abu Dhabi park to be constructed on the basis of the theme concept of the Adventure World Warsaw, only adjusted to match the local culture and history. The announcement was made at a press conference on 15 December 2011 in Warsaw.
Las Palm also recapitulated the last six months of work on Adventure World Warsaw in Poland. The Executive Managing Director, Steven Shaiken, and the Chief Financial Officer,
Ewa Woroszył, were appointed for AWW. The Company has already expended over EUR 11 M on works related to park development.
Before commencement of the construction of the Adventure World Warsaw fun park, Las Palm company states that they are completing all required decisions and permits. The first challenge pertains to land secured by the investor. “Owing to the enormous commitment of mayor Grzegorz Benedykciński, we are expecting the decision changing the land status from agricultural to development one to be issued in February next year,” said Peter Mulder, the CEO of Las Palm, during the meeting with journalists. “This issue is central for adoption, followed by entry into force, of the local area development plan.” Las Palm envisages that when those formal issues are settled, the construction permit will be obtained already in June, allowing for commencement of earthworks within the development area in July 2012.
In September 2011 the project team was joined by Steven Shaiken appointed to the position of the Executive Managing Director at the Adventure World Warsaw. Sheiken has over 40-years of experience in destination branded entertainment arena, gained in such international company groups as Universal Parks&Resorts or Royal Caribbean International, as well as in Starwood and Hilton hotel chains. As a Vice President at Universal Parks&Resorts in the period 1999-2005 he was responsible for the parks in Orlando and in Japan, which jointly generate revenues of over one billion USD annually.
Shaiken will be responsible for such matters as e.g. coordination of project and product works, as well as creation of such organisational structures central for park’s future as recruitment of product, human resources or revenue management directors. “My roots are in Poland, my grand-grand parents and grand-parents were born in Białystok, so I consider my participation in such a grand project related to Poland as an exceptional honour and an extremely inspiring professional challenge. In two years time, when we open the park, we will begin a new chapter in the history of this country,” Shaiken said during the conference.
The Adventure World Warsaw team was also joined by Ewa Woroszył, who has been the Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Dubai for many years. On 12th December she was appointed to the position of the CFO of Adventure World Warsaw. Woroszył has more than 10 years of post qualification experience in managerial level and advised the greatest media groups as well as for companies in hotel and consumer product sector in the Middle East region. During her career in PwC she led teams for the firm’s priority clients and helped them through high growth phases and related issues (including restructuring, merger, acquisitions, disposals, risk and compliance issues).
Regarding development of the Adventure World Abu Dhabi park in the United Arab Emirates: “The park will be developed in parallel to the investment in Poland, but the Adventure World Warsaw will be the first of them to be opened,” Peter Jan Mulder said at the press conference. “The concept of a family park, which we created jointly with our partners – Jora Vision, AGS, Imtech, Vekoma – has a huge potential. In Abu-Dhabi it will be supplemented with elements of local culture and history, boosting the economy and existing tourism of Abu Dhabi, creating new jobs, and attracting even more tourists each year,” he added.
Similarly to the Grodzisk park, the Adventure World Abu Dhabi will be composed of five theme islands with 25 attractions, an entertainment area with cinemas, restaurants and shops, plus hotels and an aquapark. This is going to be the largest family theme park in the Middle East. “Currently we are at the stage of securing the land with the area of approximately 80 ha. We have encountered full resolve on the part of Abu-Dhabi to carry the investment into effect,” Mulder said.
