Matt 236 Posted December 2, 2015 Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 This is good news, Thorpe really do need a proper hotel, not several dozen shipping containers so this is strongly welcomed especially consider most other parks are at the verge of getting another hotel or form of accommodation. Can't wait til construction starts there. pognoi 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitchada04 Posted December 2, 2015 Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 Will be interesting to see what they do with the Shark Hotel. I mean, the planning very much specifies that the Shark must be removed upon opening of the hotel or 28th Februrary 2024, whichever happens sooner (and impressively it looks like the real hotel will happen first!) Â But will they want rid of Shark? I don't know how popular it is, but will it do well alongside a presumably more expensive hotel. Guess it depends on demand because I'm sure the council would much rather Thorpe keep the Shark hotel there than build another coaster or whatever. Thorpe say it is still a location for major ride development but will that still be the case in 2019. Who knows, but Thorpe isn't ready for a hotel yet in my eyes. Maybe it will be by 2019. I look forward to seeing what the next MTDP which we'll see next year will show as that will give a rough idea of where they're heading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted December 2, 2015 Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 Will be interesting to see what they do with the Shark Hotel. I mean, the planning very much specifies that the Shark must be removed upon opening of the hotel or 28th Februrary 2024, whichever happens sooner (and impressively it looks like the real hotel will happen first!)  Really?  I got the impression that the Shark Hotel was just under temporary approval until 2024, and there was no condition to remove it if the proper hotel was built beforehand.  The council have said they can't have more than 250 hotel rooms on site at any one time, but since the hotel will be built in phases, that won't be a problem until at least 2020.  But other than that, Thorpe will want to keep the Shark as long as possible - one of the reasons for the 2024 date was so that it was financially viable to invest in the Shark hotel in the first place!  I do expect them to keep the Shark Hotel as long as possible, and I don't see it leaving as soon as the hotel opens.  But equally, I do see it going before 2024 in all honesty! BenC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted May 9, 2016 Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 (edited) Surprised this hasn't came up yet. The Thorpe Park Hotel is planned to begin construction within the next few months ready to open by 2018. The building is planned to be finished by Autumn 2017 and decorated until spring/summer 2018. As said, upon entering the hotel guests will see various exotic creatures as well as have different scents in the air, creating a truly immersive atmosphere. Guests will travel to and from the hotel via a large boat that will bring large batches of people into the park, presumably for early ride access. The hotel includes 250 rooms, a bar, a restaurant and various other facilities such as a health club and conference rooms. You can see some more information and plans here - http://www.southparks.co.uk/features/thorpe-park-resort-hotel/#1460729924136-9365385a-6513 Edited May 9, 2016 by Owen Ryan, CharlieN, Olistjj and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted May 9, 2016 Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 To be fair, it has come up and was discussed on the last page  Plans for this version were submitted a couple of years back and all the necessary obstacles have been cleared this time, so all is good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted May 9, 2016 Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 I was referring to the fact that construction is actually due to start properly very soon  it's all quite exciting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitchada04 Posted May 9, 2016 Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 Funny this came up today, because a planning document has been submitted! This one seems to be about proving that they have lawfully started development on the site and detailing the service road they have created for the hotel. Anyway, it has some photos of this lovely pegged out field from 8th April to show work has commenced. Thorpe also paid £40,000 to RBC to help fund the yellow bus scheme upon commencement of construction. Once phase one is complete they also make another payment as part of S106 contributions. Fun! http://planning.runnymede.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning%20Applications%20On-Line&TYPE=PL/PlanningPK.xml&PARAM0=208427&XSLT=/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/SiteFiles/Skins/Runnymede_AA/xslt/PL/PLDetails.xslt&FT=Planning%20Application%20Details&PUBLIC=Y&XMLSIDE=&DAURI=PLANNING Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitchada04 Posted May 9, 2016 Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 2009 MTDP Back in 2006 when it first got approved. It has taken a LONG time to get to this stage. Â Stuntman707 and CharlieN 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project LC Posted May 9, 2016 Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 I'm glad to see that in the space of 10 years the design of the hotel has hardly changed at all. From an engineering point of view they could save a lot of money making this like most modern hotels where you precast sections off site and then move them on to the site and just slot them into place. Seeing as there is no overall repeating patten it implies that this will be built the conventional way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuntman707 Posted July 8, 2017 Report Share Posted July 8, 2017 It feels like Thorpe is desperately overdue a hotel now. Alton Towers have just opened their fourth on site accommodation. Legoland has opened a brand new second hotel too. Even Chessington has two hotels and opened a new camp site this year. On that top map Mitchada posted, it's interesting to see that the land Where Thorpe Shark is and the island next to the Swarm are definitely areas which have been considered for new development and coasters. Also in the 2006 map the coaster that now became SAW winding around Loggers Leap. Mer and pognoi 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobF Posted July 8, 2017 Report Share Posted July 8, 2017 Stuntman, its worth noting different target markets of the parks, family venues tend to more look for the resort feel in terms of having the expendable income and the experience, thorpe being ultimately a park that attracts teens and young adults alienates allot of the clientele that would ultimately stay at a hotel. I personally would like to see the hotel built,  but demographics are definitely an influence when looking at return on investment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuntman707 Posted July 8, 2017 Report Share Posted July 8, 2017 It's Merlins only theme park in the UK without any hotel/accommodation investment this year. Every park should have at least one permanent hotel especially if Merlin insists on calling Thorpe Park a "Resort". It just feels like Thorpe is being left behind with investment this year especially when Towers and Legoland are both being given a new hotel and a new ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 None of our parks deserve two hotels apart from Towers, the ridiculous focus on resort stuff because of the income is arguably hurting the actual park investments... Â I'm still annoyed Chessie removed half the bird gardens for their stupid second hotel... Project LC and Matthewtikal 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis. Posted September 13, 2017 Report Share Posted September 13, 2017 I think a hostel either on-site or nearby would be a good idea. Their popularity is seeing a huge surge in this country at the moment! I've stayed at YHA's all over the country and they're great, you meet so many interesting characters. I much prefer them to hotels!   Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planenut Posted September 13, 2017 Report Share Posted September 13, 2017 1 hour ago, Lewish said: I think a hostel either on-site or nearby would be a good idea. Their popularity is seeing a huge surge in this country at the moment! I've stayed at YHA's all over the country and they're great, you meet so many interesting characters. I much prefer them to hotels!   A hostel is a great idea, but sadly there is little encouragement around Heathrow due to the influence of hotels in the area. Hostels are brilliant, used them all the time whilst in New Zealand and they don't have to be flash, just functional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis. Posted September 17, 2017 Report Share Posted September 17, 2017 The Thorpe Shark building could work, I'm pretty sure the YHA at The Eden Project is made up of shipping containers. That way when the inevitably overpriced main hotel opens they can have a proper budget option!  Hostels are great. I know male dorms can get a little stanky and you get the occasional chronic masturbator above or below you shaking the bed all night but it's all part of the fun!    Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuntman707 Posted August 27, 2018 Report Share Posted August 27, 2018 Was prompted to do a survey yesterday. Interesting that one of the questions was asking about interest in new premium accommodation on site. So new, hopefully permanent accommodation is definately something Thorpe are still considering. JoelAllen 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project LC Posted August 27, 2018 Report Share Posted August 27, 2018 The Merlin financial reports show a strong interest in developing all of the theme parks into resorts through the addition of hotel accommodation. The latest 2018 one highlights increasing accomodation as a key point of growth to increase profits. So to press on with the hotel expansion makes sense with the direction Varney is taking the company.  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daboywunda Posted September 7, 2018 Report Share Posted September 7, 2018 Just an opinion... Hotel expansions across the whole Park Portfolio also opens up different customers who may not be going for the Parks.. Suddenly you have business customers who want unique conference facilities and packages, you have passer-by trade (I've used the Thorpe Shark hotel when working down that way in a previous job) etc as well as an expanded park visitor capacity too... Â Some people criticise the likes of Alton for closing Splash Landings because of expense but still building more rooms / hotels / accommodation when they haven't actually seen that at peak the accommodation offering is not enough to keep up with demand and so the investment in additional rooms brings more money in at peak season than they lose by closing hotels off-peak. It's a really clever business decision as this means that they can diversify the customers they have beyond theme park goers, meaning that theme park expansion investment doesn't have to keep pace with hotel expansions... Â Some people seem to have the wrong idea that the park should expand at the same rate as the hotels without looking into the business model behind it.. They think that the phrase "build up a resort profile" means adding a tonne of rides and attractions in addition to hotel rooms when in reality it's about balancing the offer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project LC Posted September 7, 2018 Report Share Posted September 7, 2018 2 hours ago, daboywunda said: Some people seem to have the wrong idea that the park should expand at the same rate as the hotels without looking into the business model behind it.. They think that the phrase "build up a resort profile" means adding a tonne of rides and attractions in addition to hotel rooms when in reality it's about balancing the offer. It's not so much about attracting business customers but encouraging visitors to spend more per head. If they are staying the night then not only will the park get the room revenue but those guests will be spending more on food as they will be there for at least one meal. It's a good way to increase revenue and a sound business model.  Merlin's approach to balancing the offering within the group is to diversify between different attractions rather than within the attractions themselves. The hotels are just there it increase the revenue of the attractions rather than diversify the portfolios offering. In my opinion to increase revenue more effectively and protect the group from economic conditions they should be adding more indoor attractions to the "resort's" as well as the more traditional big ticket attractions. Doing so would enable the parks to extend the peak season and reduce the influence caused by the weather.  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattL28 Posted November 6 Report Share Posted November 6 attraction source have reported that a new hotel is in development Inferno 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted November 6 Report Share Posted November 6 Interesting.  The website suggests that the design was to continue in 2023, with construction starting in 2024. It says its subject to planning approval, but no new application related to the hotel has gone in in recent years. They do have permission granted for a hotel on that site, from almost 10 years ago, but I don't know the rules around all that as to whether that'd still be valid.  A "proper" hotel should still be on the cards for the park, but it doesn't seem like it will be happening just yet.. Would be nice to be proved wrong.  However, what I will say...I don't like the look of those images. Inferno 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Posted November 6 Report Share Posted November 6 The proposals from the previous hotel looked a lot nicer.  Seems this is smaller too. 100 rooms whereas the one they previously got planning permission for was 250.  Good to see they're at least looking at a business case for a hotel again though - would be nice to see a permanent hotel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted November 6 Report Share Posted November 6 3 minutes ago, Cal said: Seems this is smaller too. 100 rooms whereas the one they previously got planning permission for was 250.  One of the over-riding conditions related to the Thorpe Hotel proposal - which has been in place since the park first looked into it almost 20 years ago(!!) - was that they wouldn't have more than 250 hotel rooms on site.  I wonder if them looking into a smaller hotel means they're looking at keeping the Shark Cabins (which currently has 90 rooms, but permission for up to 184)? So that way they can have a budget option and a more expensive option.   Also, having looked into the planning application a bit more - the current main hotel application is still valid and can be used for development. Cal 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattL28 Posted November 6 Report Share Posted November 6 I think I’m in the minority but I actually quite like the hotel for Thorpe.  It is very modern day Disneyland Paris, which doesn’t work for Disney but in some respects would be nice to have at Thorpe rather than tacky.  It will be interesting to see whether this goes ahead but knowing attraction source there’s no smoke without fire. There’s gotta be some insider information. I remember when Hyperia had its consultation the then General manager Neil Poulter said they would build one when it becomes a two day destination and I think we are quite far away from that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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