Theme Park Awards: How They Work and Why You Should Care - Lawrence Roots

Andy Povey is joined by Lawrence Roots to explore the growing importance of the UK Theme Park Awards and why they matter to operators across the visitor attraction industry. Lawrence shares how the awards recognise excellence across parks of all sizes, combine expert judging with public voting, and help raise standards across the sector. They also talk about the emerging trends in the UK theme park industry, the value of consistency and creativity, and practical advice for operators looking to create award-winning guest experiences.

Topics Discussed

• The origins and evolution of the UK Theme Park Awards
• How public voting and expert judging combine to decide winners
• Why awards matter for marketing, recognition and team motivation
• The role of creativity, consistency and guest experience in judging
• New award categories, including Rising Star and Outstanding Achievement
• Trends shaping the UK theme park industry in 2026
• Major upcoming projects and investments across UK parks
• Why smaller operators can compete alongside major brands
• The importance of understanding audience needs
• Practical ways attractions can improve experiences without large budgets
• Why investing in people is as important as investing in attraction

Show references: 

Lawrence Roots, Founder of UK Theme Park Awards

• https://www.ukthemeparkawards.com/
• https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/ukthemeparkawards/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-roots/

Nominations for the UK Theme Park Awards 2026 are now open. Register to make nominations and vote in the UK Theme Park Awards.

• https://www.ukthemeparkawards.com/register

Skip the Queue is brought to you by Merac. We provide attractions with the tools and expertise to create world-class digital interactions. Very simply, we're here to rehumanise commerce. Your guest host is Andy Povey.

If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.

If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn.

Credits:
Written by Emily Burrows (Plaster)
Edited by Steve Folland
Produced by Emily Burrows and Sami Entwistle (Plaster)

Download The Visitor Attractions Website Survey Report - https://www.merac.co.uk/download-the-visitor-attractions-survey

We have launched our brand-new playbook: ‘The Retail Ready Guide to Going Beyond the Gift Shop’ — your go-to resource for building a successful e-commerce strategy that connects with your audience and drives sustainable growth.

Download your FREE copy here