WhiteWater’s Latest Innovations at IAAPA Expo Europe 2024
WhiteWater, the leading designer and manufacturer of aquatic attractions, commenced the IAAPA Expo Europe 2024 by unveiling its latest product innovations and award-winning projects at its booth on Tuesday afternoon, attracting a crowd of industry media and peers.
WhiteWater IDEA Scholarship Winner 2023 Mpume Mpuza at IAAPA Institute
Cultivating Diversity in Leadership
The press conference began with the announcement of the continuation of WhiteWater’s IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility) scholarship for 2024 in partnership with the IAAPA Foundation. Launched last year, this scholarship aims to assist individuals from underrepresented backgrounds by providing financial support and educational access, effectively bridging the opportunity gap. The scholarship funds attendance at the IAAPA Institute, a week-long programme designed for senior leaders in the global attractions industry. This initiative not only nurtures hidden talent but also empowers future leaders by alleviating financial constraints and systemic barriers.
Making Waves in Cruise
WhiteWater continues to lead in cruise industry innovation, revealing several new projects. These include an Adventure Trail for the 2025 MSC World America ship and its 24th collaboration with Royal Caribbean Cruises, featuring a FlowRider® Double on the Star of the Seas, also set to launch in 2025.
Expanding into the Saudi Arabian cruise market, WhiteWater has teamed up with AROYA Cruises to introduce the first AquaForms 5 play structure on a cruise ship, alongside a splash pad featuring Life Floor and AquaSplash spray toys on the Aroya Manara. This addition is designed to enhance the onboard experience, particularly for families and young guests.
Hotels and Resorts Thrive with Aquatic Amenities
WhiteWater also showcased its latest resort projects, following its 2024 report with Hotel & Leisure Advisors that highlighted the long-term financial benefits of aquatic attractions. In Croatia, Amadria Park expanded with new attractions, including the Whizzard and Constrictor + Rattler Fusion water slides, with additional indoor amenities expected to open by year-end. Other significant developments include the Regnum Carya water park in Turkey, scheduled for a Spring 2025 opening, and the Grand Hyatt Dubai resort water park’s Q2 2025 opening featuring 15 new attractions across 20,000 square metres, aimed at boosting guest engagement and occupancy.
The Global Surf Movement Continues
With over 25 million surfers worldwide, the sport continues to grow and integrate into various venue types. Within the resort space, Grand Hyatt Dubai is set to introduce the first FlowRider® Triple in the Middle East, featuring a 12-metre (40 feet) surface that accommodates up to three riders simultaneously, with a capacity of 360 to 720 rides per hour. In the standalone venue space, FlowRider Inc. announced an exclusive licensing agreement with SEVEN to bring the Flow House brand to Saudi Arabia, combining food, beverage, and surfing entertainment. Three Flow House venues are currently under construction across the Kingdom: in Riyadh, Al Khobar, and Jeddah.
In Germany, the first inland surf park, O2 SURFTOWN MUC, celebrated its opening in August 2024 with over 14,000 guests in attendance. This groundbreaking venue is also the world’s first to feature Endless Surf technology, using a 34-caisson lagoon, which delivers customisable waves using advanced pneumatic hardware and proprietary software.
Building Record-Breaking Attractions
Europe
In 2024, WhiteWater made significant strides across Europe’s water park sector with notable additions to Fårup Sommerland in Denmark and Aquascope in France. At Fårup Sommerland, the company celebrated a milestone by installing Denmark’s tallest water slides, including a Tailspin + Boomerango Fusion and Parallel Pursuit. This marks the continuation of a successful 14-year partnership with the park. New for younger guests, the park introduced Mini Boomerango, alongside several other kid-friendly attractions to ensure a seamless experience for all ages. Over in France, Aquascope welcomed three new kids’ water slides and an engaging splash pad featuring AquaSplash and AquaSpray toys, enhancing the park’s appeal for families and young visitors.
Middle East
WhiteWater also announced its collaboration with Aquarabia Qiddiya City, bringing to life 22 exhilarating rides and attractions, including five record-breaking rides. One of the flagship attractions at the water theme park is FusionFortress 18, known for its ground-level interactives where children with limited mobility can explore and engage with the toys while spraying their siblings with jets, turning wheels to set off various reactions on the structure, and most importantly, sharing the fun with their family and friends. The first play structure of this scale in the world, FusionFortress 18 boasts a staggering 181 interactive play features, 11 diverse water slides, two tipping buckets, and a water geyser spraying nearly 30 metres (100 feet) into the air. Located in Qiddiya City, Aquarabia will be one of the project’s many attractions where visitors can enjoy unforgettable entertainment offerings, based on the foundation of play.
Looking Ahead
WhiteWater’s forward momentum into 2025 was buoyed by the news of successfully defending its new product track record in the Canadian intellectual property suit brought by ProSlide Technology. The ruling by the Honourable Justice Michael Manson, one of Canada’s foremost intellectual property judges, proved there was no infringement by WhiteWater and that ProSlide’s patents were deemed invalid.
“Innovation is at the heart of everything we do,” said Rainer Maelzer, President of WhiteWater ERA GmbH. “As we continue to grow globally, we are committed to working closely with our clients to create unique, immersive experiences that drive guest satisfaction and operational success.”
Rainer and the WhiteWater team continue their focus on collaborating closely with clients, ensuring that their vision is realised while meeting the evolving needs of their guests. As WhiteWater’s latest brand campaign, launched at the IAAPA Expo Europe, highlights “together the future of attractions is ours to create.”
Journalists can find more resources on the team’s press page.
