Hey Thrill Seekers,
Happy New Year and welcome to 2015! Do you know what this means? Regular readers will know that every year in December I contact some “faces” in the travel industry and put them through an intensive interview some might say interrogation… to find out how they did in the year and what we might expect for 2015.
As always I’ll start with one of our own, the CEO of Orlando Attraction Tickets.
Name: Gavin Boswell
Who do you work for?: Orlando Attraction Tickets
What’s been the highlight of the year (2014) for your company?: There have been quite a few highlights in 2014. We’ve managed to stand out in a very crowded marketplace using innovation, great branding and by offering excellent customer service. We smashed all previous sales and revenue records and we did it all with a smile.
What’s been the highlight of the year (2014) for you?: Well my highlight starts with a low light, I was very kindly invited to the VIP opening of Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando. As you can imagine I was really excited. A few days before I was due to fly I hurt my back picking up a towel! No it wasn’t because it was too heavy! I was at an awkward angle… My story and I’m sticking to it.
Anyway I was very disappointed to miss the trip, especially when I heard and saw how amazing it was. The Universal guys mentioned there might be a possibility to get out there later in the year but they thought it might be unlikely. Then out of the blue in September I got the call I’d secretly been hoping for, there was a planned trip and after some very sweet talking Universal had managed to get me on the trip. I wasn’t disappointed Diagon Alley, the Hogwarts Express and fire breathing Dragon! How can that not be highlight?
Make a 2015 prediction…: I think 2015 might be tricky. All the signs seem to point towards a very strong U.S. Dollar and this will see prices rise within the industry. For Orlando Attraction Tickets we’ll be looking at ways of diversifying our offerings and perhaps enter other markets.
Best Theme Park ride/attraction of 2014? Falcon’s Fury, a one trick pony but what a trick!
Best Theme Park/attraction food of 2014?: Butterbeer, I know its the marmite of theme park food but its an iconic beverage!
Best Theme Park/attraction tip?: When you ride Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts get a seat at the back, you’ll see much more than if riding at the front.
Best kept secret in Florida?: Not sure its a secret but the Hurricanes served in Pat O’Briens at Universal CityWalk are something all adults should try…
A great start to our series of interviews and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Gavin for taking the time to speak to me yet again. I promise if you ever need a towel picking up again I’m your man… actually that sounds very wrong.
Smiles included…
Jamie
