Another winter activity we are developing is the Conference business.
Our Camps are ideally suited for this purpose. We can provide halls for large or small meetings, sleeping accommodation and food for those attending, and relaxation after the business of the day is finished. The Conferences we have booked for 1964 show a substantial increase over those of 1963.
Haying exhibited in practically every Exhibition Hall in Great Britain, 1 know that our main build- ings and the other facilities we can offer arc ideal for Trade and other Exhibitions. We are starting a special department to promote this idea. However, we must not expect immediate ,results from this, as most Exhibitions book up a, year or two ahead.
We have almost concluded our arrangements for new Camps at Barry island and Weymouth, and we hope to open one of them in 1965.
MARINELAND AT SOUTHSEA You have probably read in the Press that we are interested in new sites at Southsea near Portsmouth and at Blackpool.
In connection with the Southsea site. I would say that planning permission to build a Marineland has been granted by the Minister to a group com- posed of Associated British Picture Corporation, Billy Smarts (New World) Circus Limited and Butlin's.
I have studied the operation of Marinelands in America where they have considerable public appeal and I believe that one built at Southsea would prove just as attractive. I ought however to point out that although a Marineland would be a new form of entertainment for the British public it is something different from the operation of a holiday camp. Accordingly my co-directors suggested that I should put up the same amount of capital as the Company thereby sharing any risk there might be. One third of the share capital will be subscribed by Butlin's and myself equally, whilst the other two thirds will be subscribed by Associated British Pic- ture Corporation and Billy Smarts Circus equally.
Plans for the building of the Marineland are now being prepared and we hope to open to the public in 1965.
VENTURELAND AT BLACKPOOL The development at Blackpool will be known as Ventureland an entertainment centre of some 800 acres. 50% of the capital will be held by Asso- ciated British Picture Corporation whilst the re- maining 50% will be subscribed by Butlin's Ltd. and myself equally.
Ventureland will consist of—Zoological Gardens, Golf Course, Golf Driving. Range, Marineland, Ex- hibition Area, Leisure Gardens, Trotting Track,
County Show, Picnic Area, and Car and Coach Parks to accommodate .12.000 vehicles. It will also include a holiday camp which will be built and operated by Butlin's Ltd. on behalf of Ventureland. Associated British Picture Corporation will also build and operate an open-air drive-in cinema under a similar arrangement.
Experience has shown that it takes many months to obtain planning permission for a major scheme such as this and consequently 1 am not able to say whether Ventureland will be opened next year or the year after.
DAY VISITORS
Last year 1 referred to the number of Day Visi- tors to our camps. I am pleased to say that many thousands of bookings for holidays have been re- ceived this year as a result of these visits. B.utlin's have the only, camps where the general public are pleased to pay up to I5/- for a few hours visit during the morning and afternoon, to sample and enjoy some of the amenities which our campers get at all times during their holiday without additional payment. What other holiday camp can make such a claim? I know of no other holiday camp group that has enough facilities to make any charge at all. I say this because many people are under the im- pression that, all holiday camps are alike.
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