BALPPA celebrates its 90th anniversary with a special Skip the Queue podcast series featuring leaders from UK attractions.
At BALPPA, we are marking our 90th anniversary with a special series of the Skip the Queue podcast, celebrating the people, stories and ideas that have shaped the UK attractions industry.
Produced by Merac, Skip the Queue brings together leading voices from across the visitor attractions sector for open conversations about the realities of running, developing and supporting attractions. For our anniversary year, the podcast is giving us an opportunity to look back at the history of BALPPA while also exploring the future of the sector we represent.
The 10-part BALPPA 90 series is hosted by attractions industry veteran Andy Povey, alongside co-host Laura Baxter. Across the episodes, they speak with long-standing BALPPA members and senior figures from some of the UK’s best-known parks and attractions.
Industry Voices Across The Series
The series opens with Paul Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of BALPPA, who discusses our 90-year history, the development of the attractions sector and the challenges and opportunities facing operators today.
Further episodes feature a strong line-up of industry leaders, including Marc Miller, Managing Director of Stockvale Group and Adventure Island; Gary Smart, Chairman of Harbour Park; Julie Dalton, Managing Director of Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts; Eddie Kemsley, Senior Executive and Director at Dreamland Margate; and Anna Warnecke, CEO of Kynren.
Together, these conversations offer insight into the people and decisions behind a wide range of visitor destinations. They explore leadership, operations, visitor experience, technology, innovation, heritage and the long-term development of attractions in the UK.
For us, this anniversary is not only about recognising a milestone for the association. It is also about celebrating the members and teams who keep the industry moving forward.
Sharing The Stories Behind The Attractions
Attractions are built around memorable experiences, but those experiences depend on people. Operators, managers, creative teams, engineers, seasonal staff, commercial teams and suppliers all play a role in bringing sites to life for visitors.
Through the BALPPA 90 series, we wanted to create space for those stories. The podcast format allows guests to speak in depth about their experiences, the decisions that have shaped their businesses and the pressures they face in a changing market.
The discussions also reflect how much the sector has developed over the past nine decades. Today’s attractions industry is shaped by changing visitor expectations, rising operational costs, workforce challenges, digital systems, sustainability priorities and the need to keep experiences fresh while protecting heritage and identity.
By bringing these topics into conversation with leaders from across the industry, we hope the series provides useful perspective for members, partners and anyone with an interest in the future of UK attractions.
Produced In Partnership With Skip The Queue
Working with Skip the Queue has allowed us to bring this anniversary series to life in a format designed specifically for the visitor attractions industry. Produced by Merac, the podcast already explores the businesses, technology and ideas shaping the sector.
Merac’s work in ticketing, admissions and guest journey technology gives the series a natural connection to the operational realities discussed by guests. The result is a set of conversations that are both reflective and practical.
The first episode, featuring Paul Kelly, is available now, with further episodes being released throughout the BALPPA 90 series. Listeners can find the series through Skip the Queue, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
As we celebrate 90 years of BALPPA, we are proud to share these conversations and to recognise the people who continue to support, lead and develop the UK attractions industry.
