A Very Honest Conversation With The NEW Alton Towers Divisional Director
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- čas přidán 4. 05. 2023
- 2023 has seen Bianca Sammut appointed as the new Divisional Director of Alton Towers. In this exclusive video, I chat with Bianca about her background in the theme park industry, along with the current status of the Alton Towers Resort. This includes talking about ride availability, presentation across the resort, food & beverage and many more different subjects. We also talk about the temporary rides, events and much more!
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Big respect to Bianca for taking the time out and owning her answers despite only being there for 3 months 🙌🏼
It was a great conversation
@@ThemeParkWorldwide it was
Appreciate being able to get this talk with her Shawn!
Unfortunately I feel like we were given pretty PR answers. I understand that she won't be able to give many specifics because nothing is for definite, but we're still none the wiser about whether the Retro Squad will actually be leaving at some point, or what rough ballpark ideas they have for future events (if any).
Her answers didn't give me much faith, but her experience does. I hope that's just because her lips have to be sealed regarding their plans, and not that they don't have any.
Yeah I was going to comment the same, it was great that Bianca agreed to do this but we still don't know what we didn't know already. Why is the Sky Ride and Hex not open? She could have at least gone into a bit of detail with that. Well done though. I always enjoy your content.
Agree, Bianca gave very generic responses throughout this, however I can also see her enthusiasm/passion for the future as well as concern over the criticisms provided by Shawn.
That alone makes me feel Alton Towers is in very good hands, we just need to be more patient as I also felt she did provide great perspective with just how much goes into the maintenance of a resort of this scale.
absolutely agree. all she kept really saying is shes passionate about the park and going forward etc not actually giving direct down to earth real answers
@@ObsessiveGeek Yeah wasn't expecting anything more than PR answers, but the fact that they've done this interview at least 'subtly' acknowledges the criticisms levelled at the park
Totally agree, very defensive and sounds like they're going to continue down the same path with everything she was questioned on. Don't know how anybody is feeling positive after that.
They must have watched the latest TPW videos and heard Shawn roast the park 🤣
😂😂
they've sent the PR team out in force to save face hahaha
She is a master of the ABC of press deflection: acknowledge, bridge and continue which may well of helped her on her way to her role.
Credit to her for taking the time to chat to you though and good questions Shawn. Understand pressing is a challenge when your getting an opportunity like this
I think the interview highlights how some of the poor decisions by the park over the last 4/5 years now have finally caught up with them. It will take them another 3/4 years to get back to being a world class park again.
I agreed with most of Bianca's points, considering she is very high up the chain, she tried her best to answer Shawn's questions without being negative towards her employer. The one point I really dont agree on is they're willing to spend money on the Horizon project, yet that £10-15 million should be spent on basic maintenance and permanent themed flat rides. From speaking with family and friends, the resort looks untidy and needs general TLC. They so far behind the likes of Europa Park in terms of presentation, it's becoming embarrassing. I hope Bianca can address the glaring problems and make the park world class again.
I agree, Alton Towers is the best we have? Its bloody shocking. Can we even class it as a Theme park at this point?
This was professional and very different from the normal content but is amazing. Hopes that the park will grow with Bianca at the helm she seems to really know her stuff
Thank you
Can I just say, I have been watching this channel for i’d say over 6 months now and I always watch the Alton towers videos as it’s my local park too and really enjoy them. However Shawn this video is another level of professionalism, the way you carry yourself, your knowledge and your conversation is so on point 🎢
Thank you very much!
Innit totally agree
Kudos to Charlotte for walking backwards for nearly 30 mins! Interesting interview (and nice to hear that Aussie accent haha)
Charlotte did a great job!
@@ThemeParkWorldwide She Did
This is the comment I was looking for 😂
I was watching just worrying about Charlotte tripping up
Props to the camera operator for doing a backwards walk for 20+ minutes. I hope there was someone guiding them.
There are 4 things Alton Towers is seriously lacking.
These are:
1. Flat Rides
2. Water Rides
3. Consistent & Immersive Theming
4. Healthy Food Options
Amen to this comment
Can’t argue with this…
All agreed; I'd like to add 'animal friendly' to the healthy food options (there's a lot of great vegan food that's not particularly healthy) 😉
@@ThelemicMagickVegan food isn’t very plant friendly though is it, deforestation is a huge problem as well and greatly impacts the animals that live in these places.
Just call it Vegan rather than attempting to take some moral high ground.
The problem is the huge production and wastage of food, not what the food is made from!
@@ObsessiveGeek Most of the deforestation is caused by soy farms; this soy isn't used to feed humans but animals, which consume up to sixteen times more.
Get your facts straight.
Amazing stuff Shawn but your poker face during the discussion on Festival of Thrills was incredible... "It's been a great success"... aha
This was such an interesting change of pace for this channel and I loved it so much!
Thank you
This is great to see, having transparency with customers and talking about smaller subjects which will normally not be discussed despite their importance is great to hear. Thanks Shawn for getting in tough with the divisional director, I hope this transparency continues.
Thank you
This video is why TPWW is head and shoulders above the rest. Great interview, felt natural and thanks so much for having the courage to ask some tough questions. Really appreciated this discussion and the honest, open (as possible) answers. 👍
I know TPW is often knocked for various reasons but it's things like this that for me makes TPW may favourite channel its informative and often very funny and entertaining
Thank you
I really believe someone like Shawn would be a great creative director for the park, we've seen companies like gymshark work with creators/influencers to help give customers an overall better experience
I think Shaun, like many of us would put too much money into the small details right away. Create a great park that ultimately doesnt pay for itself, then get increasingly frustrated that we can't actualise our visions. This is why business orientated people are in those seats, because they aren't blinded by the want and need of a casual or even hard core park go-er, but knows how to make the park financially viable so to keep it open, alive and well.
It might be all well and good to say "We need a good ride to keep people coming" But Alton towers has multiple world class coasters and people still feel as though its lacking and how can one justify spending hundreds of thousands on pointless buildings around these rides for immersion? So what? Need more flat rides then? I guess thats all they can really do, create a new flat ride that people havent seen multiple times before, invest in good theming and continue to invest in creating an experience for that ride.
IMO Alton Towers might have reached its peak and unless incredibly amounts of investment into theming and better rides that really wow you nothing is going to bring it back to its "World Class" view. Other eu parks have set that bar too high - Which is currently higher than our building permits allow.
Thank you so much
100% Bianca would be silly not to appoint you Shawn as an independent consultant, her job rides on it!!
@@scotttimbrell8632 a creative director wouldn’t make the big decisions that involve budget, he would be used as a form of consultant that can take on board feedback to try improve the park
What an incredible job you did of that interview. So professional. Highlighted areas of concern but still gave Bianca plenty of opportunity to answer your questions. Really enjoyed it. Well done!
They were never going to give u a honest answer in response(no company would). You can tell this was to realy try and save face after your honest and accurate view of the state of the park
This is such a great video Shawn. Really hope to see more content like this in the future as well. And even though Bianca obviously couldn’t answer the questions as openly as she’d probably like to, it’s a breath of fresh air to see someone so high up take the time to address these issues. The way she spoke about the park gave me confidence that she does really care, and that the team really care. My last trip to Alton a month or so ago was really shoddy due to the terrible availability, smiler down, galactica down, spinball down. I would say Thorpe is the number 1 in the UK right now. However, this interview has given me hope that they are aware of the problems and we’ll see alton soon rise back to the top.
Great video again Shawn! Thanks for all the content you and Charlotte make!
This was an excellent interview. Really appreciate the effort you both put into bringing us content like this. Getting the perspective of the people who are running parks is always super interesting. If you can bring us more content like this in the future that would be wonderful
Well done Charlotte for waking backwards for all that time and being able to keep the camera steady.
Great video however I do feel like some questions were dodged or were explained rather vaguely. Obviously Bianca doesn't want to be ripping the company she works for to shreds i get that, it just would've been nicer to hear proper confirmation of what is going to happen. 😊
Really enjoyed this and the fact you were invited down to for this 1 to 1. I would love the question of opening times to have been addressed. It's sooo disappointing when you sometimes have 6 hour days and have to cram everything in and inevitably you physically can't do it. We need longer opening hours.
Really good chat Shawn, you tried to get the most out of Bianca but they were all very corporate responses. Doesn’t sound good for the retro squad.....I think we can say they’ll still be there next year.
Well he did suggest to her if the plan is to keep them in place (which sounds like it may be if they have been received positively overall) then to at least make them permanent themed additions as it’s the fun far design that’s the issue not the rides themselves.
@@ObsessiveGeek yeah but you can’t make a funfair ride a permanent themed attraction
Great video as always, it’s very interesting to hear someone who has a lot of experience in working in the theme park industry and hearing them speak about their passion. I know I’ve said this in videos before but if it wasn’t for this channel I wouldn’t be passionate about this industry. Since watching your first videos from IAAPA my passion for this industry took a different level. Shawn and Charlotte I want to say thank you for making me passionate about this amazing global industry
So glad you got to talk to her I knew they would hear back about your views Shawn.just hope she can turn things around cos alton towers is dear to my heart with many fond memories going every summer as a kid it's sad seeing it atm let's all fingers crossed things start going in right direction
I really hope they improve the food. I can stomach the increased costs but not the drop in quality. Thanks for doing this. She sounds like she is committed to improving things and has the experience to deliver.
This is a fantastic insight, Bianca seems like she's got a fantastic vision for the park. I can't see this season picking up much more but going into 2024, I think we'll see more of these things improve once she has an opportunity to put her stamp onto things. I just hope Merlin give her the chance (and the budget) to really help the park thrive
Thanks for this insight. I definitely think Alton should think about investing in a world class water ride, something the park is missing. I’d like to see them spend more on themes and create an immersive experience. You definitely have a point about the flat rides, they need to fit well into each land. I think the entrance needs to be a bit grander and spruced up.
Alton Towers Resort truly is a wonderful Theme Park & has been for at least 30 years or so.
Ever since i was a child i have always loved Alton Towers Theme Park and its fantastic rides such as The Smiler & Nemesis & The Original Haunted House from 1992 to 2003.
Great interview Shawn.
This woman Bianca certainly has a lot of experience in the Amusement Park industry which is exactly what Alton Towers definitely needs to carry on being the best theme park in United Kingdom.
Thank you Guys for taking the time to do this very interesting interview.
Absolutely great video has answered so many questions and has put a big smile on my face its so great to hear so many positive changes are on the way especially with the events eg. Scarefest after hearing what Bianca had to see I feel like a weights been lifted it seems like in the next few years Alton Towers is in good hands I look forward to see what changes come in the near future I hope if shes willing more videos like this will come in the future
She didn’t answer any questions ! It was all spin in my opinion.
It hardly answered anything 😂
Was a good watch but it seemed more like politician answers rather than just answering straight up.
It’s great to see all kinds of honest questions being asked.
She did answer as best she could. It’s nice to see that despite pointing out that families are interested in the retro-squad and certain events. She still understands that we expect what we pay for with this theme park.
With over a £60 entry fee now… There should really be some more permanent rides to accommodate for that.
I think theming goes along with this too. With a £60 entry fee, I’m expecting more than just the coasters.
It really should cover all areas of the experience.
This is awesome. Adore all the behind the scenes stuff. That team doesn’t get enough credit if you ask me.
Very good insights and loved the honesty. Maybe some answers were a little bit PR, but she can only say so much. Excellent video Shaun. More of this is possible please! 🤙🏻
Thank you
Thank you Shaun. One question i would have liked to have been asked would be about single rider queues and why they where removed (appart from the smiler). If they are passionate about throughput on rides please get them re-intoduced as i think they helped a lot. And if they dont what is the reason for not doing it? Thank you
Sorry forgot to say, absolutely great video. Love that you got this interview and how you're are tabling these issues! Fantastic work!
Great update :) a talk that was well needed! And good to hear things being addressed
honestly loved this. not normally the content i see from this channel but i absolutely love this. i want more of this content. who else agrees?
Great video. I'd love to see regular videos like this even if it were just a few times a year so Alton Towers can give us an idea of the kinds of things they're working on and improving
Thank you
Great insight and interview and really good to see Bianca now onboard and bringing her experience into the mix, with a view to helping Merlin steer things back on course. It does make you wonder how the custodians of such a real treasure of a Theme Park, can get into a position whereby the magic and sparkle of the park starts to fade in the eyes of its customers. Looking forward to seeing the park get back on top of things.
The most professional video on this channel so far! This is top top stuff. The way you asked the questions and listened resulted in a great interview
Thank you
Good on them for accepting quite blunt questions
In the parks defense, they HAVE been addressing the neglect and modernisation issues in recent years. Replacing the entirety of Nemesis, maintaining the vast forests and doing significant overhauls of Duel.
It's a shame that it will be like five years before the can get around to fixing everything simply due to the number of things to do, but it does seem like they will get to it all
Loving the change of vlogs Shawn. Hope to see more in the future. 🤞
Great work Shaun, fantastic to see the park listening to you and the viewers
Thanks for having a photo with myself today love your content as always
Well done on the interview. A lot of people would take the opportunity to solidify a relationship with the park by only pointing out the positives, but you didn’t, you asked the tough questions we’ve all been wanting to ask. Major probs to you 👍 and to Bianca as well, her passion for improvement really shows and I’m excited for what the next 5-10 years holds at Alton Towers
Thank you
Wow , what a great get for the channel. More of these please
Thank you
It was great to see and hear bianca and great she took the time to do this interview but can we give a mahosive shoutout to Charlotte for keeping the camera still and focused whilst walking backwards 🤟🤟🙂👍
Omg Shawn I can't tell you how proud I felt watching you you were like a pro interviewer your mum and dad must be bursting with pride it's great you had the chance to give your views as let's face it if anyone knows these places you do everywhere you go people lo e you thank you so do much I'm a granny who enjoys the family rides more but you make everything so interesting to watch and your lovely lady thank you my love a big fan always and again thank you you made a difficult thing look so easy and the lady seemed a genuine person who really wants the best for your park thank you xxxx
Thank you very much
Brilliant video guys. More like this at various parks would be amazing. Love it.
Thought you did a great job of putting all of our concerns into well thought out questions, good stuff!
This was brilliant, and it looks like you both had a great time. Thanks 💜
100% agree with this video and would love to see this kind of content happening with other Merlin theme parks in the future. Really look forward to the future of Alton Towers and I believe with the right people such as Bianca it can really become the park that we have all missed for these years, it deserves to be a world class theme park and deserves to have this amount of investment. Thanks Shawn and Charlotte for providing us with this video, I am sure it's helped a bunch of people out including yourselves. Great video as per usual!
Great video and good to see Bianca stepping up to take questions and responding to feedback. She came across genuinely interested in listening and acting on improving the resort. I would love to see you interview management from parks across the UK and worldwide, I think it would be very interesting.
What a great interview
Great work on handling those difficult questions Shawn and well done Charlotte for the camera work 🤣
Thank you
she has a lot of damage control to do. bless her she seems positive and motivated. unfortunately i will only believe it once i see changes. i wish her and the park all the best! thank you for the professional interview!
Great interview video. It’s good to see someone like Bianca at the top, and it sounds like there’s good things ahead. If they can get food prices under control and keep investment at a level that we have seen for The Curse, we are in for a great future experience. I’m at the park tomorrow for the first time to ride the curse since opening weekend. Looking forward to it.
Hi Bianca, that was great for you to share that with us. We are getting Married next Monday and coming to AT for three days with family, staying at the Enchanted Village. We tried so hard to be allowed in on our wedding day for some pictures in front of the Towers as we love it so much, but have been turned back at every point. Sad that the contact with a human sometimes just isn't there.
As someone that’s lived and worked in Australia, it was great to see and hear an Aussie’s insight into Alton Towers. She came across really passionate and clearly wants to make positive changes, so fingers crossed 🤞🏻
From her answers I gleaned that the retro squad isn’t going anywhere imminently as they’ve already allocated investment capital into Nemesis retrack and Project Horizon, but after this they will be looking at permanent flat rides?
It was a nice interview, well done 👏🏻
great to hear her address the questions so simply to straight to the point:)
great to see your interview skills shawn, fantastic
Well done! Excellent interview - you asked the right questions and you were given PR Answers - nothing was really answered, how are you able to justify your food and beverage offer and the response is we have to accept Merlin have decided on this "venture" and we have to live with it, I would have rather you stood up to them and said how in the world do we get out of these contracts! As for ride availability, presentation and removal no word on any investment coming from Merlin, it badly needs flats that are permanent, thing is if they do it now they will have enough shelf life to last at least 15 years and they dont cost as much as an investment piece such as an indoor coaster ect. The cost of staying should be addressed also - it costs far to much to stay in resort compared to Europe!
Definitely an interesting interview! Thanks for answering bianca! Awesome hearing about her past experiences too!
A very professional interview and a deeper conversation with quality in mind. and an Aussie in charge at Alton towers, I loved it Guys. I once participated with VR theme parks on park Feedback and was an experience that opened my mind to the dedication to the guests and memories they will make.
hi shaun and charlotte
great video with a interview with someone high up within alton towers and i like everything this lovely lady has said and from what she ansered we can see more things happening within the park.
i totally agree with you that alton towers could do with say an ice rink for xmas.
hope we see more interviews like this from the likes of thorp park and chessingtion.
this is my nearest theme park to where i live in birmingham and is and always will be my fav theme park.
stay well both of you.
from peter anne ella and bethany from birmingham
Fair play, she's got a talent. Can spend 5 minutes answering a question, without actually answering the question 😂
Good interview, it was good hearing that they are taking notice of comments let's just hope they keep working on the park to make it the best 🙂
fair play for this interview, asked some difficult questions and she didnt shy away from answering them. Good questioning 🙌
Very interesting video, thank you !
Excellent and informative vlog, thank you
A great, very professional interview. Thank you Shawn (and Charlotte) and thank you to Bianca for answering some daunting questions! I always have and always will love Alton Towers and look forward to the future of this amazing resort.
Thank you
superb professional interview asking the difficult questions - well done tpw! Let's hope that Bianca's enthusiasm for Alton Towers and the industry will result in improvements.
Thank you
Well done Bianca great passion here and great to see you answering these questions. Thanks Shawn & Bianca also camera lady Charl
Im so glad it was all honest that is what the park needs is excactly what you said shawn !
Superb interview! Well done 👍🏼
This came from the heart. Well done. Brilliant chat.
with all the space alton towers has it might be fun to have a dedicated area just for the funfair and really lean into the theming maybe as a slightly sinister old fashioned touring fair with a circus, performers and such like something you would see at Glastonbury but with the rides which could still change yearly and wouldn't interfere with the different areas. Would be brilliant for Halloween.
The rapids could be awesome if they put a few more logs in and get the waterfalls back on.
Agreed, better still same treatment as Dual, a full overhaul, themeing etc
Great video. I have to say, you are a really great interviewer Shawn.
Operations on Galactica and oblivion have been shocking this season. Oblivion should be a monster for throughput but they aren't using it properly. Galactica seems to have people who don't know what they are doing on the stations
I agree 👍🏼👍🏼
Definitely agree in regards to galactica
I agree with galactica, it’s been really bad this season.
Agree with galactica, went on Tuesday and it was so busy at the park, only one station operating with two trains…steady 90min queue all day, took me 30mins with a fastrack as neither the fast track or main queue moved for nearly 15mins, constant problems with having to recheck restraints, feel like they’ve totally neglected it
@@RubyShorthose I've heard that the 3rd train is still in the maintenance shed and hasnt been ticked off to use for this year. Im not sure why they wouldnt use the 2nd station though
Fair play to her for addressing our concerns as it was easy for her to not do this. Good to see they acknowledge our issues with the park.
Easy to acknowledge, the real task is making the changes
@@loveunitedhateglazer7033 yep. Its all on record now anyway. Place is really below par at the moment.
Thankyou for this, great PR. Ive been going to AT since before The Nemesis opened. It needs some John Wardley passion and vision. I feel like the problems go back further, to Th13teen then Smiler ...huge investments. then I feel other areas became neglected...once the incident happened on smiler the whole park started to look tired. Its got a lot to give it needs a lot more TLC that Towers deserves
Good for them to do this and for you to take the time to deliver this, but why is the skyride closed? That question wasn't addressed, and what are they doing about fixing it, makes moving around the park a real pain
Welcome Bianca looking forward to the future of the park in your hands x
Thank you bianca she gave alot of her time which says she takes her job seriously xxx
Great you were able to have this conversati n shawn! Bianca seems to have a great direction for the park.
Fantastic video Shawn. Overall I’m confident. But like all of us say, lots needs to change, because Alton towers honestly has the potential to be europes best park. And the curse just shows that. And you mix that with the heritage, coaster lineup, towers, stunning scenery, and the last major investments being strong, then you’ve got a winner. Love these types of videos.!
God I wish every park would do an honest walkthrough with you Shawn!
Well done Shawn. Bianca sounds like she's on the same page with most things and her and the team are listening to what visitors want to see and the points you raised. Things will take time but she has a lot of experience and can hopefully make those improvements to get the Park up to where it should be. Charlotte was excellent on filming duty 👌 👏
Well done to Bianca and great questions! Love how you care for the Towers and it really is sad to see the place they are currently in. I’d like to think things will change. But the likes of food and drink id remain sceptical.
Awesome conversation Shawn and Bianca .. will be exciting to visit in the future as it looks bright …
This was a very interesting conversation. Very professional and thorough in my opinion. Despite all the downsides of the park in recent years, this will not stop my intentions of visiting the park in the future. Although, I wish I could have experienced the park back during its heyday.
Brilliant interview a lot of questions I had answered
Great interview. I like her, she seems to have a lot of passion for the park and came across well. If they kept up with the painting and maintenance it would not cost so much in the long run. Like the Nemesis upgrade when its done don't just leave it keep it maintained.
They do need to get with the times, your right. I only just went to Thorpe park had it felt so fresh compared to AT. Some amazing theming and just a great feel. But AT has been my go to place for 35 years so do want to see it improve, mostly that the rides actually run daily.
Great video and good to see AT taking the time out to talk to Shaun and the community. Would have been nice to have a bit more detail from Bianca but can understand why the answers are high level and non specific. Very well PR trained!
Big thanks to Bianca! It's good to know Alton Towers are listening! For Bianca to come on the channel and discuss with you is fantastic! Thanks Shawn!
Thank you
I think she answered the questions perfectly, a very exciting and positive conversation. 👏
Good work, Shaun! It would be interesting to see you interview some other key personnel from other parks.
Had ankle surgery this earlier this year and absolutely desperate to get back to AT! Will be limited in mobility but hoping park will be able to help
I think this was well needed conversation. Well done to towers and Shaun for addressing it.
Haha! This was a really interesting video! Thanks for sharing it with us Shawn!