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View Full Version : Hersheypark Celebrates a Record-Breaking Centennial Season



Nate
10-31-2007, 02:21 PM
received this press release today and I thought I would pass it along.


(Hershey, PA) —Hersheypark, which opened in 1907 as a picnic and pleasure grounds for the Milton S. Hershey’s employees and residents of his factory town, has evolved into a world-class theme park. In honor of the Park’s Centennial celebration this year, guests were introduced to The Boardwalk at Hersheypark, an 8.5-acre water-play area that pays tribute to the legendary beaches and boardwalks of the Northeast. The success of the Boardwalk was one of the factors that Park officials credit for a record number of visitors to the Park during its anniversary year.
Hersheypark experienced double-digit attendance increases during its 2007 season, a rarity in the amusement industry.
The Park has always valued guest feedback and for that reason retained Delta Market Research, Inc. to survey visitors this year. The company conducted 1,800 telephone surveys that were made within seven days of a guest’s visit to the Park.
The findings were overwhelming. Of guests surveyed, 97 percent rated Hersheypark “clean,” 96 percent rated it “family-oriented,” and 96 percent labeled the Park “fun.” It was clear from the research that guests think of Hersheyparkas a clean, safe and family-oriented atmosphere that also offers plenty of excitement.
In addition, 8 out of 10 guests surveyed described Hersheypark as a great value for the money.
The research also indicated that the Park’s marketing efforts during its Centennial season drove attendance. In fact, 50 percent of the guests surveyed hadn’t been to the Park in three years but were inspired to visit during the Centennial celebration.
“The 2007 success of Hersheyparkdemonstrates, in fact, that the perfect marriage of product offering and infrastructure, consistently high standards in all areas of operation, and a well-executed marketing position creates not only an outstanding guest experience, but also promises to create a loyal audience of returning guests,” said Bob Norman of Delta Market Research. “While other theme parks are looking for ways to increase attendance, Hersheypark will be looking at ways of making the guest experience even better.”
The Delta report comes on the heels of an August ranking from TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel community, which rated Hersheypark the No. 1 amusement park in the United States outside of Orlando. These rankings were based ontraveler popularity and assessments by TripAdvisor editors.
As always, the Park will use all of this feedback to continue to refine its offerings and create the best possible guest experience. For example, because guests have consistently asked for more water rides and more roller coasters, Hersheyparkopened the Boardwalk this year, and the 2008 season will bring the Park’s 11th roller coaster, Fahrenheit. A vertical lift inverted loop coaster, Fahrenheit is scheduled to debut on May 24, 2008. The 2008 season will open on May 4.
For additional information, please call 1-800-HERSHEY or log onto www.Hersheypark.com (http://www.hersheypark.com/).

The Storm Runner
10-31-2007, 05:12 PM
I think we Hersheypark-goers saw this coming. ;) It was very crowded this year than I have ever seen. A lot of days it went into the backup parking lot by the Giant Center! Someone said that they got 3-4 thousand more people than they had expected...per day.

On opening day, some guy with a pen pilot asked me for my name and phone number. Yet, I never got a call... :(

Michael
10-31-2007, 05:38 PM
On opening day, some guy with a pen pilot asked me for my name and phone number. Yet, I never got a call... :(

Normally those are the people known as "petafiles" :p

j/k j/k

I'm glad to see Hershey doing so well. And equally glad to know that should even get better with the addition of Farenheit :cool:

Thrill Reconnoiter
10-31-2007, 05:50 PM
^It's pedophile, but still hillarious. Say Nick, did he look anything like this (http://img.jokeroo.com/pictures/michaeljackson-pedophile.jpg)?


I'm not surprised that Hershey is still going strong a century later. Candy is the ultimate infatuation.
In addition, 8 out of 10 guests surveyed described Hersheypark as a great value for the money. This is definitely one of the strong points in Hershey. If you can catch one of the promotions, you're in the gates for under $40! If they continue onwards in this fashion, and don't increase admission at the rate of other parks, Hershey will be easily be around another century.

zburns999
10-31-2007, 09:53 PM
[quote=Ryan Sickles;2756.Say Nick, did he look anything like this (http://img.jokeroo.com/pictures/michaeljackson-pedophile.jpg)?[/quote]

Nope. This was him...
http://www.blogadilla.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/mclovin1.jpg

Seriously though. I think that this is obviously a great thing for Hershey. Their marketing campaigns have proved to be working well, and their investment in the Boardwalk has deffinitely payed off (I'm sure they would've went full scale if they could have forseen its popularity). However, I know this sounds selfish, but I think I'll miss the good old days of riding Sooperdooperlooper in the front seat of an empty train at night, or laying in the grass in the nice, quiet area by Lightning Racer. It appears those days at Hershey are over. Enter a new era of family-friendly crowdedness. While I may not necessarily like the direction HersheyPark is heading, I'm sure they do. After all, they know where the money is.