Steve Donnelly, the new director of guest experience and entertainment at Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts
Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts has strengthened its corporate management team with the appointment of a new director.
Steve Donnelly, (46) from Lincoln, has joined the Gulliver’s team as director of guest experience and entertainment. With nearly 30 years’ experience in the tourism and hospitality industry, Steve’s previous career history includes being a director at the RWS Entertainment Group, a senior specialist lead at Away Resorts and head of entertainment at Bourne Leisure.
He is also chair of the board of a £2.3 million Heritage Lottery Fund project in Lincolnshire named the Beonna at All Saints – a beautiful Grade I listed church dating back to 1200 AD.
The newly created role at family-owned Gulliver’s will see Steve drive creative vision and deliver extraordinary guest experience, entertainment and events across the company’s four UK Theme Parks and Resorts in Matlock Bath, Warrington, Milton Keynes and Rotherham.
Steve said: “I am really excited to start this new role with Gulliver’s. I did my first summer season at Alton Towers Resort back in 1994 before then joining Blackpool Pleasure Beach and over the last 10 years I’ve worked across the international sector at luxury hotels and resorts, so I feel I have a lot of experience to bring to the team here.
“Having seen the growth of the business over recent years, I was keen to be involved in the bold plans and growth ahead to make a difference and, after meeting the family and the leadership board, Gulliver’s felt like the right career opportunity for me.
“I absolutely love working in leisure and tourism and as it just runs through my veins and I enjoy creating experiences suitable for the whole family, which, on a day out or a staycation, they remember forever. I am now looking forward to working across all four resorts to review our approach and drive our overall experience to bring alive new trends and events in the future.”
Julie Dalton, managing director of Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts, said: “For nearly 45 years, Gulliver’s has been providing our guests with high quality entertainment that offers great value as well as an abundance of family-fun and this is something we are incredibly proud of. We’re thrilled to welcome Steve to the Gulliver’s board in this newly created role which now allows us to put a more dedicated focus in this area of our business and enhance our offering even further.
“Steve comes with a great pedigree in the leisure sector and just the right experience we need to build on the achievements we have made as a company as we look to continue to deliver the very best experiences for our customers for years to come.”
For more information about Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts, please visit: www.gulliversfun.co.uk
