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Merlin chief executive to deliver keynote address at IAAPA 2017
POSTED 01 Aug 2017 . BY Tom Anstey
Varney was appointed Merlin chief executive when the company was formed in 1999 Credit: Merlin Entertainments
Merlin Entertainments CEO Nick Varney has been named keynote speaker for the 2017 IAAPA attractions expo in Orlando, Florida.

Varney, who has more than two decades of experience within the attractions industry, was appointed Merlin chief executive when the company was formed in 1999, later being appointed company director in 2013.

Under his leadership, Merlin has become a global leader in location-based family entertainment, operating more than 100 attractions in 24 countries across four continents, welcoming 60 million people annually and employing some 27,0000 people.

"Nick leads a company with a diverse portfolio,” said IAAPA president and CEO Paul Noland. “We can all learn from his unique perspective on the opportunities and challenges ahead for the global attractions industry."

Varney will deliver his keynote during the GM and Owners’ breakfast, which takes place on 15 November at 8:15am. In addition to Varney’s speech, the breakfast will also include the presentation of the IAAPA Young Professional Award and the IAAPA Service Awards.
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NEWS
Merlin chief executive to deliver keynote address at IAAPA 2017
POSTED 01 Aug 2017 . BY Tom Anstey
Varney was appointed Merlin chief executive when the company was formed in 1999 Credit: Merlin Entertainments
Merlin Entertainments CEO Nick Varney has been named keynote speaker for the 2017 IAAPA attractions expo in Orlando, Florida.

Varney, who has more than two decades of experience within the attractions industry, was appointed Merlin chief executive when the company was formed in 1999, later being appointed company director in 2013.

Under his leadership, Merlin has become a global leader in location-based family entertainment, operating more than 100 attractions in 24 countries across four continents, welcoming 60 million people annually and employing some 27,0000 people.

"Nick leads a company with a diverse portfolio,” said IAAPA president and CEO Paul Noland. “We can all learn from his unique perspective on the opportunities and challenges ahead for the global attractions industry."

Varney will deliver his keynote during the GM and Owners’ breakfast, which takes place on 15 November at 8:15am. In addition to Varney’s speech, the breakfast will also include the presentation of the IAAPA Young Professional Award and the IAAPA Service Awards.
RELATED STORIES
Varney calls on new government to shake up "undervalued" tourism sector


Merlin Entertainments chief Nick Varney has said the next UK government must hand over responsibility for promoting tourism to a new department, saying the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) had made it a “second-tier priority”.
Merlin could pull plug on Shrek’s Adventure roll out


It’s almost a year since Universal’s parent company Comcast acquired DreamWorks, and now Merlin Entertainments boss Nick Varney has to decide what to do with its Shrek’s Adventure midway.
Struggling pound could bring UK tourism boom, says Varney


Merlin Entertainments CEO and British Hospitality Association (BHA) chair Nick Varney has said that the UK’s decision to leave the European Union could actually bring an influx of visitors based on the weakened value of the struggling pound.
Alton Towers to remain shut until cause of accident is determined, says Varney


Merlin Entertainments’ chief executive, Nick Varney, has said Alton Towers will remain closed until the cause of the Smiler accident that left 16 people injured has been determined.
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KX Chelsea invests £15 million to upgrade its wellness offering
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