Parc Astérix, France’s second-largest theme park, has delivered a new “virtual queuing” solution from accesso® to promote physical distancing for guests.
Virtual queuing allows guests to spend less time waiting in physical queue lines. Park guests are able to use the accesso® Qsmart solution from their smartphones without an app download. Or, guests can use a wearable device provided to them upon entry to the park. Both offerings provide contactless ride reservations and loading. The solution dynamically adjusts to variables such as guest flow and incremental weather and operational changes. This allows the park operators to employ real-time capacity optimization and communication throughout a guest’s time on-site.
“In Accesso, we are pleased to find such a forward-thinking partner to help us welcome back our valued guests with safety and security top of mind,” said Sebastien Retailleau, Directeur Général Adjoint at Parc Astérix. “With the introduction of Filotomatix, guests will be freed from physical queues and thus able to enjoy visiting even more of our attractions and shows.”
Parc Astérix is the latest accesso partner to implement virtual queuing, as the demand for dynamic, reliable solutions to support social distancing continues to grow. Last year alone, accesso’s virtual queuing technology empowered over a million guests to wait less and enjoy more at a variety of venues across the globe. As theme parks and attractions continue to navigate the reopening process in the wake of COVID-19, virtual queuing has quickly become an invaluable asset for park operators eager to welcome back their guests while taking strategic care to implement appropriate social distancing measures.
“Parc Astérix is a truly iconic European park and we are thrilled to be partnering with them to redefine the experience for their millions of guests,” said Steve Brown, accesso CEO. “Though the world has seen many changes as of late, our unwavering dedication to our partners and their guests remains constant. We look forward to helping Parc Astérix welcome back their guests with solutions that will not only help ensure a safer park visit, but also an improved guest experience.”
The TASBIA™ Bottom Line
Theme parks have historically used standard physical queuing to manage crowds, but with COVID-19 the use of “virtual queuing” has become a must-have requirement. Vendors such as accesso, who provide solutions to attractions operators, are now able to apply both software–advanced dynamic virtual queuing–and hardware devices to address the revenue challenges at parks.
The accesso Technology Group differentiates themselves based on their vertical focus. They state that “many of our team members come from backgrounds working within the attractions and cultural industry…in this way, we are experienced operators who run a technology company serving attractions operators, versus a technology company that happens to serve the market.”
[UPDATE: 26 November 2020] accesso® Technology Group plc (AIM: ACSO) has been challenged as their customers have seen revenue declines due to COVID-19 closures and attendance restrictions. As a result, accesso’s trading has been negatively impacted in 2020 and the group has suffered a hit to both its financials and market value. The company has stated that full-year revenues would be at least US$48 million in 2020, and has said in their full-year trading statement that it will enter 2021 with “a resilient financial position and strong, durable customer relationships.”
