United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Merlin Entertainments says outlook is positive following profit rise
Alton Towers’ owner Merlin Entertainments says its outlook for this year is ‘positive’ after seeing a 6.2% rise in 2018 earnings.
The world’s second largest visitor attractions operator, which also runs Legoland, Sea Life, Madame Tussauds, the London Eye and the London Dungeons, made underlying pre-tax earnings of £494 million in 2018, up from £474 million a year earlier.
Visitor numbers were up 1.4% to 67 million while revenue increased almost 6% to £1.7 billion.
Merlin said trading in 2019 had been in line with expectations. "Our 2019 outlook is positive and unchanged," it said.
The group plans to open a new Legoland in New York in 2020 and has an agreement to open one in Korea by 2022.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel