Ripley Entertainment Inc. Attractions are Faring Well, Thanks to Family Value Initiatives

(SANEPR.com) June 10, 2009 -- Orlando, Fla. (June 8, 2009) – Families may not be ready to buy a new home or a new car, but parents are certainly finding frugal ways to keep their families happy and amused this summer!

They’re searching out family activities and have no qualm about enjoying family time at value oriented attractions – which is leading to surprisingly strong sales for the businesses of Ripley Entertainment, according to Jim Pattison Jr., president.

“I think people are feeling better about the economy, and are ready to have some fun this summer. They are still watching their dollars and that bodes well for Ripley’s, where we have always presented a quality experience at an affordable price.”

In addition to be being reasonably priced, a Ripley’s attraction is also an easy drive for most of the country. As the country emerges from the recession, many people will be moving from the “staycation” to the “daycation” – day trips that provide some necessary fun. More than 50% of the U.S. population lives within a half tank of gas of one of more than 50 Ripley Entertainment attractions located in the U.S.

The combination of value and location has helped boost sales during the first half of the year, Pattison notes. Ripley Entertainment Inc., with its 70-plus businesses scanning 10 different brands, is reporting a slight overall growth in attendance so far in 2009 - compared to the same period last year. Ripley Entertainment Inc. consists of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museums, Ripley’s aquariums, Guinness World Record attractions, miniature golf courses, 4-D Moving Theatres and other family attractions, including Great Wolf Lodge indoor waterpark resort in Niagara Falls Canada. Most of the individual businesses are seeing slight growth this year, with several experiencing double-digit growth.

“I think much of our success this year is because we are delivering more value than ever, by keeping pricing in line with family budgets,” Pattison said. “Families may not have huge dollars to visit destination resorts this year, but they still want affordable fun.”

Ripley Entertainment attractions are offering money-saving, flexible combination tickets in most of its markets where visitors can pick and choose other Ripley attractions to add on to their base ticket. In most cases, the more they buy the more they save - up to 25% in some cases. For convenience, tickets for most Ripley attractions are now available online.

About Ripley Entertainment Inc.,
Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com), keepers of the venerable Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brand, is a global leader in location-based entertainment, entertaining more than 13 million annually at its 74 businesses in 11 countries. In addition to its 30 Believe It or Not! museums, the Orlando, Florida-based company has publishing, licensing and broadcast divisions, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, that still runs daily in 42 countries. Ripley Entertainment Inc. is a Jim Pattison Group Company, the third-largest privately held company in Canada.