Visitation Capacity Planning Visitation Capacity Planning for - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Visitation Capacity Planning Visitation Capacity Planning for PublicVenues PublicVenues for ORCA Consulting ORCA Consulting February 6, 2008 February 6, 2008

ORCA Consulting Expertise ORCA Consulting Expertise Operations Operations & Visitor & Visitor Experience Experience Visitor Visitor Capacity & Capacity & Circulation Circulation

Operations/Visitor Experience Operations/Visitor Experience • Ease of operation • Operational insights • Cost efficiency • Visitor program development • Revenue enhancement • Staff development • Visitor satisfaction • Visitor amenities • Ancillary business opportunities • Implementation strategies

Visitor Capacity and Circulation Visitor Capacity and Circulation • Design and peak day • Public space and attendance support facility sizing and configuration • Visitor length of stay • Circulation • Instantaneous visitor counts • On-site transportation capacity • Visitor capacity • Reservations and • Wayfinding strategy ticketing strategy

Major Categories of Leisure Venues Major Categories of Leisure Venues Public Sector Private Sector • Nature & historic parks & • Theme parks & attractions sites – National • Resort destinations – International – Regional • Sports venues • Urban public venues • Entertainment venues – Zoos & Aquariums – Museums, Galleries, Gardens • Traveling venues – Visitor Centers – Concert & theatre venues • Fairs & Expositions

The Spectrum of The Spectrum of Leisure Venues Leisure Venues C:\My Documents\nba6.gif Theme Parks Non-profits Increasing emphasis on revenues & profit Private Sector National Parks

Comparison of Management Objectives: Comparison of Management Objectives: National Parks vs Theme Parks National Parks vs Theme Parks National Parks Theme Parks • Provide unique • Provide exciting opportunities for visitors experiences that to experience priceless simulate reality or & one-of-a-kind fantasy resources • Maximize attendance & • Try to accommodate profits through visitation, but not marketing and meeting encourage more of it visitors’ needs

Comparison of Management Objectives: Comparison of Management Objectives: National Parks vs Theme Parks National Parks vs Theme Parks National Parks Theme Parks • Protect sensitive & • Renovate or replace valuable resource resources that are no longer cost-effective • Comply with • Respond to a host of appropriate regulations, non-NPS stakeholders but plan & operate autonomously from outside influences

Comparison of Management Objectives: Comparison of Management Objectives: National Parks vs Theme Parks National Parks vs Theme Parks National Parks Theme Parks • Operate the parks as • Provide capital & effectively as possible operating revenues as with limited funds / needed to maximize seek alternate funding attendance and profits sources • Provide basic visitor • Provide ample visitor services & amenities services and amenities with little emphasis on to maximize visitor revenues comfort & profits

Comparison of Management Objectives: Comparison of Management Objectives: National Parks vs Theme Parks National Parks vs Theme Parks National Parks Theme Parks • Manage visitor stay • Increase visitor stay time to mitigate time to maximize congestion spending • Provide a variety of • Plan for a balanced experiences , ranging distribution of visitors from high social across the key densities to resources to maximize opportunities for comfort and profits solitude

Impacts of Management Objectives Impacts of Management Objectives on Visitation Capacity Planning on Visitation Capacity Planning • Capacity Limitations of key resources • Acceptable levels of crowding & congestion • Ability to develop & implement standards • Ability to develop & implement improvements • Level of visitor services • Visitor experience satisfaction • Planning sophistication

Planning Similarities Planning Similarities • Planning objectives may be different, but similar capacity planning approaches have been shown to be very effective

Planning Similarities Planning Similarities • Many problems can be solved by getting visitors out of their cars and onto alternative & fun transportation

Planning Similarities Planning Similarities • Need to provide for effective visitor information, orientation and wayfinding

Capacity Planning Terminology Capacity Planning Terminology National (& other) Parks General Planning Terms • Carrying Capacity • Attendance Capacity • Sustainable Capacity • Visitation Capacity • Recreation Capacity • Admissions Capacity • Limits of Acceptable • Throughput Capacity Growth • THRC, OSHRC • VERP • Instantaneous visitor • PAOT counts

Importance of Importance of Visitation Capacity Planning Visitation Capacity Planning • Protection of valuable resources • Optimal utilization of key resources • Spend budgets cost-effectively • Manage “excess” recreational demand • Provide comfortable and enjoyable visitor experience

Effects of Excessive Visitation Effects of Excessive Visitation • Resource deterioration • Reduced visitor experience quality • Reduced future visitation through word of mouth

Assessing the problems Assessing the problems • Each site is unique and requires a tailored solution approach • Issues related to carrying capacity should be assessed holistically • Local stakeholders should be engaged

Mitigation Strategies for Overcrowding Mitigation Strategies for Overcrowding • Establish & implement realistic carrying capacities – Consider both visitor experience and resource protection • Identify opportunities to increase capacity – Viewing areas at key resources – Add activity areas – Implement operating procedures • Shift visitation into non-peak periods – Hours – Days – Seasons

Managing the visitor experience Managing the visitor experience Visitor experience should be managed to sustain revenues and future attendance • Set the stage for the visitors’ experience • Provide appropriate wayfinding • Eliminate circulation choke points • Develop an effective path network • Provide adequate amenities • Provide a variety of interpretive experiences

Self- -sustaining financial structure sustaining financial structure Self • Often, critical site improvements cannot be implemented due to lack of funding • Visitors are willing to pay a fair price for unique experiences • Financial mechanisms are needed to ensure that a site can be sustained and preserved for future generations

Attendance Analysis Attendance Analysis Annual Attendance Seasonality Annual Attendance Seasonality Estimates Analysis Estimates Analysis Daily Distribution of Annual Attendance Daily Distribution of Annual Attendance Attendance Design Criteria Venue Operational Attendance Design Criteria Venue Operational – Design Attendance Day Program Planning – Design Attendance Day Program Planning – Peak Attendance Day – Peak Attendance Day – Hourly Visitor Arrivals – Hourly Visitor Arrivals – Inst Visitor Counts (PAOT) – Inst Visitor Counts (PAOT)

Instantaneous Visitor Count Distribution Instantaneous Visitor Count Distribution Design Day Instantaneous Visitor Count Design Day Instantaneous Visitor Count (example: 20,000) (example: 20,000) Attractions/Exhibits/ Food Rest- Public Attractions/Exhibits/ Food Rest- Public Retail Retail Entertainment Service rooms Circ. Entertainment Service rooms Circ. (5%) (5%) (70% -- 14,000) (15%) (1%) (9%) (70% -- 14,000) (15%) (1%) (9%) Attraction Attraction Attractions Exhibits Entertainment Attractions Exhibits Entertainment Queues Queues

Capacity Planning Methodology for Exhibits Capacity Planning Methodology for Exhibits # Visitors in Exhibits # Visitors in Exhibits (example: 1,000) (example: 1,000) Exhibit Design Criterion Exhibit Design Criterion (25 sf per visitor) (25 sf per visitor) Required Exhibit Space Required Exhibit Space (2,500 sq. m.) (2,500 sq. m.)

Typical Capacity Planning Standards Typical Capacity Planning Standards for Theme Parks for Theme Parks • Attraction Wait Times – Design Day: 15 / 45 minutes – Peak Day: 30 / 90 minutes • Fast Food Wait Times: 5 / 15 min. Design Day • Ticket Booths: 10 minutes Peak Day • Restrooms : Zero Wait Peak Day

Grand Canyon Example - - Methodology for Methodology for Grand Canyon Example Visitor Carrying Capacities of Overlooks Visitor Carrying Capacities of Overlooks

Visitor Use at Yavapai Overlook Area Visitor Use at Yavapai Overlook Area

Example: Example: USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center

Example: Example: Statue of Liberty Monument Reopening Statue of Liberty Monument Reopening

Example: Example: U.S. Capitol Visitor Center U.S. Capitol Visitor Center

Conclusion Conclusion • Major planning consideration: provide memorable and comfortable visitor experiences