Delegates welcome return of AALARA conference with enthusiasm

Returning as an in-person event, the Australian Amusement, Leisure and Recreation Association’s Conference and Trade Show has brought delegates together over three days, with social events and a program that plots a positive course for the future of the industry.

Returning to the Gold Coast and being held at the Sea World Resort Conference Centre from Monday 16th to Wednesday 18th May, ‘AALARA’ has attracted more than 250 attendees who have learnt from industry leaders and innovators and shared their experiences of survival through the COVID-19 pandemic and their expectations moving forward.

Dominating conference proceedings, the issue of the current insurance crisis impacting the industry was considered at an invite-only Forum on the Monday of the conference and during an introduction to the conference on Tuesday morning.

AALARA President Shane McGrath updated delegates on the Association’s strategy to continue to move for the creation of an industry-owned Discretionary Mutual Fund (DMF) for the attractions industry in the wake of the Federal Government’s recent decision that it is not willing to support an industry DMF.

The conference also saw an industry safety session with the newly formed AALARA Operation of Inflatables Sub Committee reporting on its activities and potential developments in the licencing and registration of landborne inflatable devices.

With the event being AALARA’s first multi-day conference since 2019, there has been an energy surrounding the Conference, summed up by keynote speaker Michael Croaker, Village Roadshow Theme Parks’ Head of Entertainment.

Croaker told Australasian Leisure Management “I think it's terrific to the conference back.

“After that two year break you can feel that there's an energy here because people have been separated from each other's company for so long.

“I found when I was doing the keynote here, that the energy in the room was really focused and strong. And then talking with people afterward made me get a real good sense that there's been a desire and a need for people to find their tribe and community again.

“You can't underestimate the power of community and first person contact so for me, that's been the great success of AALARA this year.”

The AALARA Conference also welcomed Ken Whiting, Chairman of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), AALARA’s fraternal organisation who explained the rise of his business, Whiting’s Foods and its operations on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in California, USA.

In a keynote presentation, Whiting also shared global and IAAPA perspective on the recovery and resurgence of the global attractions industry.

At the Association’s AGM, a special resolution saw Shane McGrath voted to remain in post as AALARA President for an additional year to continue his leadership role in advocating for a DMF.

As proposer and AALARA Board member Greg Yong advised “Shane has been the figurehead of our campaign and it is important for AALARA that he continue in his role.”

The AGM also saw new board elected, with Matt George, General Manager, Jamberoo Action Park; Chelsea Mannix, Chief People Officer at Funlab; and Ros Pullen, General Manager, Raging Waters Sydney becoming Directors of AALARA.

The new directors replaced outgoing postholders Greg O’Neill, Phil Durkin and James Kemp.

Images: Speakers at the AALARA Aquatics Panel (top from left): Matt George, General Manager, Jamberoo Action Park; Nathan Klassen, Operations Manager, Wet’n’Wild Gold Coast and Warner Bros. Movie World; and Ros Pullen, General Manager, Raging Waters Sydney; Ardent Leisure Theme Parks Chief Executive Grey Yong welcomes AALARA delegates to Dreamworld (middle) and Nigel Benton Publisher Australasian Leisure Management with Sea World's Sponge Bob and Patrick (below).