Six Flags is synonymous with thrills, laughter, and screams of joy. However, in June, 2006, investors were not laughing. As KMGH Denver reports (2006), shares of Six Flags Inc. dropped sharply on Friday when debt rating agencies lowered their outlooks on the amusement park operator after it said attendance and revenues had fallen. (para 2).
BACKGROUND
The Six Flags “History” website (2011) states throngs flocked to Six Flags over Texas when the park opened in 1961. Six themed sections, modeled after the culture of the six countries whose flags flew over Texas during the state’s colorful history, created a spectacular and magical setting for guests – and provided the park’s name. The inventive theming afforded guests a chance to experience places and times that previously only existed in their imaginations, including cowboy culture, French and Spanish cultures, and even southern belles and pirates. (para 4).
Six Flags built two other parks in the late sixties and early seventies. These three parks would be the only theme parks opened and constructed under the Six Flags name. When deciding on a strategy, the organization chose a strategy of growth. The plan was to purchase smaller, existing amusement parks across the globe. At one time, Six Flags acquired and operated 46 parks, with the majority of the acquisitions occurring in the late 1990s. The new parks carried the Six Flags name, but the theme of the original park was not carried over. Each new park was individualized, including one that operated an attached Sea World, and another an aquarium. The organization did, however, add waterparks to most of the facilities that did not already have one available.
According to Wheelen & Hunger (2010), [Bill] Gates began buying Si...
... middle of paper ...
...rott, E. (2009). Six Flags files for bankruptcy. Retrieved from
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Extra/six-flags-files-for-bankruptcy.aspx.
KMGH Denver (2006, June 23). Six Flags considers selling Elitch Gardens, Money. Retrieved
from
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/money/9415831/detail.html?rss=den&psp=money
MSN Money. (2011). SIX. Retrieved fro
http://investing.money.msn.com/investments/stock- price?symbol=SIX.
Shapiro, M. (2005). Six Flags' New CEO Outlines Strategy. Retrieved from
http://articles.latimes.com/2005/dec/15/business/fi-sixflags15.
“TEA/ERA theme park attendance report”. (2007) Retrieved from
http://www.connectingindustry.com/pdfs/TEA-ERAAttendance06.pdf
Whellen, T. L. & Hunger, D. J. (2010). Strategic management and business policy: achieving
sustainability (12th ed.)
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
When we see Texas, we remember today mainly for its BBQ, Football and Black Gold, Texas tea. However, there is much more than just the usual itineraries that we find in most other states as well. Molly Ivins in her essay “Is Texas America” categorically states that, “Here's the deal on Texas. It's big. So big there's about five distinct and different places here, separated from one another geologically, topographically, botanically, ethnically, culturally and climatically” (Ivins). This is a true belief from Molly Ivins of how huge Texas was and how the demographics changed in each geographical location in Texas. The population of Texas and the demographics are two essential factors that include many important parameters in deciding the history of any state. The presence of many ethnic groups further adds to the diversification of
Initially, these parks were developed as a marketing tool for the Anheuser-Busch American brewing company. Each of the parks were to feature hospitality houses with samples of the Anheuser-Busch products. Since 1933, Anheuser-Busch has been associated with the Clydesdale horses that were housed in stables in all of the Busch Gardens parks. And eventually, rides and attractions were added to the parks until it completely turned into a full theme park while still promoting Anheuser-Busch. Then, Busch Entertainment Corporation was created in 1959 as a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch Companies to run the various parks. Today the Corporation is known as SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment (Galarraga, Collette, Denny, & LeBrasseur, 2010).
The company Pier One Imports faces a few issues and has been facing them for some time now. Pier One has grabbed a large amount of the market share from competitors like Linen ‘n Things but this was only due to their folding. Pier One has much to improve on in ecommerce if they wish to stay relevant and profitable in the future. (Why Pier 1 Is Choosing Bricks Over Clicks--And Winning , 2012) As for their ongoing sales they are just okay. They’ve made some changes to their store and their
Tourist flock to the state primarily for its beautiful beaches, year round warm weather and variety of theme parks. Walt Disney World’s theme park alone receives more than 47 million visitors annually, making it the most visited theme park in the world. Also, Florida offers some of the best charted boat fishing trips in the nation that attracts huge numbers of anglers from around the world. The city of Miami is a hot spot for tourist due to its beaches, art-deco scene and famous nightclubs, it’s nicknamed “Hollywood of the south”, where more films are produced and more movie and music stars are beginning to call home. Compared to Florida, Texas recreational activities ranges from visiting historical landmarks, exploring canyons, caves and museums. The states most popular attraction is “The Alamo” which is located in San Antonio and draws more than 2.5 million visitors annually. The advantage Texas has over Florida is if you don’t like what’s in Texas you can travel elsewhere, being that the state borders New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mexico. Florida only borders Georgia and Alabama, but it’s within close proximity to more Caribbean Islands than any other U.S.
The name Texas is derived from tejas or teyas, the rendering by the Spanish in the mid-16th century of the Caddo people's word for friends or allies. It gradually became used to denote the region north of the Río Grande and east of New Mexico, and was officially applied as Texas when the area was organized as a republic in 1836. Texas was an independent republic until it joined the Union on December 29, 1845, as the 28th state. Its single-star flag dates from its independent period and has given Texas the nickname the Lone Star State.
At a price tag of 3 million dollars, the first Six Flags park, Six Flags over Texas, opened in Arlington Texas in the year 1961. (When first park opened) Since then the company has grown to 18 parks, 16 in the United States, 1 in Canada, and 1 in Mexico; and is currently the world’s largest theme park company. (The biggest) Last year 25.6 million guests attended a Six Flags park (six flags attendance), posting $1.2 billion in revenue. (Six flags makes money). Ticket transactions accounted for approximately 55% of sales revenue with the rest being from food, games, merchandise, and other income sources. (six flags report, page
Texas has a rich and long history and much of it has passed through the state over the years to become a part of its folklore. This Texas folklore is part of many cultures within the state and has even filtered outside the state. The first cultural influence on Texas was from the Paleo-American Indians. When these Indians arrived they were in a bit of a culture shock when they met the Spanish in the 16th century. In the following centuries, more people began to arrive in Texas and they brought new ways of talking, believing and doing things. The Spanish and the Mexican set the patterns south of Nueces and along the Rio Grande. Anglos brought their ways of life from the British Isles to the South and Eastern part of Texas. African Americans who came to work on the plantations on the Brazos and Trinity bottoms brought songs, stories and beliefs that came with them from Africa. Germans came directly from the Old World to the Hill Country, Cajuns came from France and eventually through Louisiana and settled in Southeast Texas. The Dutch, Danes, Polish, Czechs, Norwegians who also came here brought with them their ways of life and they all became bound together to become part of Texas. By the year 2000, Texas was made up of 54.5% Anglos, 31% Hispanic, 11.4% African Americans and another 3.1% of other ethnicities.
Texas was never a big empty space. The Spaniards and later the French who came here discovered cultures that were centuries old. But history, and the museum itself, begins with European colonization. The history of Texas, one of the signs says, was shaped by the way the different groups of people who came to Texas responded to the land and to each other. So land, and interaction between different groups of people, would be used a lot in the telling of this story of Texas, I assumed.
Disney’s long-run success is mainly due to creating value through diversification. Their corporate strategies (primarily under CEO Eisner) include three dimensions: horizontal and geographic expansion as well as vertical integration. Disney is a prime example of how to achieve long-run success through the choices of business, the choice of how many activities to undertake, the choice of how many businesses to be in, the choice of how to manage a portfolio of businesses and the choice of how to create synergies between those businesses (3, p.191-221). All these choices and decisions are made through Disney’s corporate strategies and enabled them to reach long-term success. One will discuss Disney’s long-run success through a general approach. Eisner’s turnaround of the company and his specific implications/strategies will be examined in detail in part II. Disney could reach long-run success mainly through the creation of value due to diversification and the management and fostering of creativity, brand image and synergies between businesses (1, p.11-14).
“Busch Gardens Williamsburg opened in 1975 and is a European-themed park with world-class roller coasters, natural beauty, and shared family fun. Voted the world‘s
According to the website dreamsunlimitedtravel accessed on November 16 2015, “The park opened with 5 original parks. Those parks are Main Street U.S.A, Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland.” The idea for Main Street, U.S.A is derived from a typical Midwest town of the early 20th century. It’s suppose to reflect the Victorian era with a train station, emporium, double-decker buses, and horse-drawn streetcars. Adventureland is designed to recreate the feel of an exotic tropical place in a far-off region of the world. Frontierland recreates the setting of pioneer days along the American frontier. And finally, the Fantasyland was originally styled in a medieval European fairground fashion, but its 1983 refurbishment turned it into a Bavarian village. There have been 3 new parks added to Disneyland since opening day. These new parks include New Orleans square, Critter Country, and Mickey's Toontown. New Orleans Square is based on 19th-century New Orleans, opened on July 24, 1966. Critter Country opened in 1972 and formerly was the area home to Indian Village, where indigenous tribespeople demonstrated their dances and other customs. Mickey's Toontown opened in 1993 and was partly inspired by the fictional Los Angeles suburb of Toontown in the Touchstone Pictures' 1988 release Who Framed Roger
Disney has a rich history and an even brighter future due to the smart decision making of the managing body. Throughout its history Disney has been heavily involved in acquisitions, keeping up with the industry trends and even starting new ones through its parks and resorts segments.
The company started its activity in 1971 as small coffee shop located in Seattle specialized in selling whole arabica coffee beans. After being taken over by Howard Schultz in 1982, following a rapid and impressive growth, by mid 2002 the company was the dominant specialty-coffee brand in North America, running about 4,500 stores, 400 international stores and 930 licenses.
Starbucks recognizes its employees for much of its success. This is due mostly to maintenance of a great and proven work environment for all employees. The company does not have a formal organizational chart; sot employees are permitted by management to make decisions without a management referral. Moreover, management trust and stands behind the decision of the employees and it is this that allows for employees to thinks for themselves as a part of the business, so as to make them feel as a true asset and not as just another employee.
For years now Pizza Hut, Inc. has been the leader of the pizza industry. We have been privileged to have had the opportunity to perform research on advancements we can make to maintain this reputation. Based upon our Economic Analysis we have decided to not launch the BIGFOOT pizza. The following gives a detailed analysis, offers alternatives to improving the Pizza Hut experience, and gives reasons why we came to this conclusion.