Double win for Efteling at Park World Excellence Awards

On Wednesday 26 September, Efteling Theme Park Resort was honoured to be presented with two accolades at the inaugural Park World Excellence Awards: ‘Large Theme Park of the Year’ and ‘Seasonal Event of the Year’ for Winter Efteling.

Professionals from across the theme park and attractions industry gathered at the W Amsterdam to see Coen Bertens, Chief Operating Officer at Efteling, collect the two awards at a dazzling evening of celebration in recognition of the sector’s premier talents.

Launched in May of this year by Datateam Business Media in association with Park World magazine, the Park World Excellence Awards has been cited as ‘an awards scheme with a difference’, allowing Europe’s very best operators, suppliers, manufacturers and entertainment specialists to not only put themselves in the running for an award, but also nominate other outstanding companies for an accolade.

The awards reflect a highly successful few years for Efteling, which is going from strength to strength in its vision to become an international destination, reaching its 2020 goal two years early by achieving five million visitors in 2017. As part of the strategy to attract more overseas visitors, Efteling opened its third accommodation offering at Holiday Village Efteling Loonsche Land in 2017 and, in September 2018, premiered CARO - its very first show created for an international audience with very little language.

The ‘Seasonal Event of the Year’ award is particularly special as Efteling marks the 20th anniversary of Winter Efteling in November 2018. Taking place between November and January, Winter Efteling transforms the park into a winter wonderland, offering visitors a different park experience during the colder months. Winter Efteling has evolved over the years and now includes an Ice Palace with ice skating and tubing, cross-country skiing, bonfires, twinkling lights and special winter productions.

Coen Bertens, Chief Operating Officer at Efteling, said: “We are absolutely delighted to pick up not one, but two awards at the Park World Excellence Awards, recognising the success of the whole park as well as our ever-popular Winter Efteling event. We are committed to developing the park to appeal to a wider demographic and to visitors from all over the world, and these two awards are testament to the hard work and dedication of our team to achieve this vision. Winter Efteling emphasises Efteling's year-round offering, since we're open 365 days a year, and we will continue to evolve our events offering to appeal to more and more visitors across the year.”

Speaking at the ceremony, media director at Datateam Business Media, Paul Ryder said: “All finalists have performed to an Oscar winning standard, demonstrating dedication and passion, and should be congratulated for their contribution to the theme park and attractions industry. It was a very close call in some categories, making for an exciting evening tonight.”