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Diary Highlights
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13 Mar 2014
Merlin wins big at London Stock Exchange Awards
Following its high-profile flotation last November, attractions giant Merlin Entertainments has won ‘New Company of The Year 2013’ at the London Stock Exchange PLC Awards.
Described as the ‘City event of the year’, the evening was attended by over 1,500 senior executives from the financial community including investment banks, fund managers, investment analysts and other quoted companies.
Merlin chief development officer Mark Fisher accepted the prize, which was decided by a judging panel comprised of 22 executives from leading City firms such as Schroders, Legal and General plus Zeus Capital.
The ‘New Company’ gong is awarded to a company which has gone public in 2013 and which the judges deem to have the potential, but too short a track record, to be considered for the top award – ‘Company of the Year’.
After 14 years as a private equity-owned company the firm took the decision to go public as it sought to focus on long-term ownership and investment in its brands – which include LEGOLAND, Tussauds Group and SEA LIFE Centre.
The company’s shares were nine times oversubscribed at the price they floated at and their value quickly grew by 10 per cent.
Speaking exclusively in the latest edition of Attractions Management, Merlin chief executive Nick Varney said the move had been described as a “textbook” IPO, putting the company on track for its ambition of market domination.
“The leisure industry has long suffered from a perception of being a Cinderella industry, and it’s been massively undervalued as a key contributor to the economy – so I hope Merlin can become something of a sector champion,” he said. “Standing on the balcony of the London Stock Exchange with the clock counting down was a very emotional moment.
“I always believed it was our destiny to become a public company. We’ve never made a secret of the fact that we wanted to be market leader.”
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19 Apr 2024
Galgorm Resort gears up to host UK Aufguss Championships next week
UK sauna enthusiasts will converge at Galgorm Resort in Northern Ireland next week for the
highly anticipated second annual UK Aufguss Championships.
27 Mar 2024
Thailand's first lady attends APSWC Awards ceremony recognising industry excellence
The Asia Pacific Spa & Wellness Coalition (APSWC) recently marked another year of industry
achievement with a prestigious awards ceremony held during the 2024 APSWC Round Table
event in Bangkok, Thailand.
08 Mar 2024
Global Wellness Day 2024 to champion reconnecting with nature
Global Wellness Day (GWD) is set to mark its 13th annual celebration on 8 June 2024, under
the theme #MagentaNature, emphasising the vital connection between humanity and the
natural world.
04 Mar 2024
SHA Wellness receives top accolade at 2024 World Spa and Wellness Awards
Eight of the world’s leading spa operations were honoured at the annual World Spa and
Wellness Awards during a glamorous ceremony held in London over the weekend.
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01 Mar 2024
Second edition of UK Aufguss Championships set to heat up Galgorm Resort
The ancient art of aufguss will be celebrated this April with the Second UK Aufguss
Championships at destination spa and hotel Galgorm Resort in Northern Ireland.
06 Feb 2024
Canyon Ranch announces Enchant at The Ranch wellness festival
Destination wellness brand Canyon Ranch will host the first edition of its beauty and wellness
festival, called Enchant at Canyon Ranch, from 17 to 21 March at its Tucson resort and spa in
Arizona.
10 Jan 2024
Spas of America unveils Top 100 Spas of 2023, Spa at Séc-he lands first place
Spa and wellness travel website Spas of America has unveiled its Top 100 Spas of 2023, with
The Spa at Séc-he in downtown Palm Springs, California, taking the top spot.
20 Dec 2023
We Work Well unveils 2024 event schedule for fitness, wellness and hospitality industries
International hosted buyer event company We Work Well (WWW) has confirmed dates and
locations for its 2024 conference calendar.
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