Disney will invest US$1bn in California resort if Anaheim waives gate taxes
Disney is considering a US$1bn (€892m, £635m) investment into its Disneyland Resort in California, with the investment dependent on the city of Anaheim waiving tax on park admission tickets for a further 30-year period.
The ticket-tax ban could again be extended a further 15 years after that if Disney embarks on a separate US$500m (€446m, £317m) expansion.
Disneyland California currently holds tax exempt status from an agreement made with the city in 1996, but that deal expires tomorrow (30 June 2016). At present, no Disney park anywhere in the world pays admission tax.
In exchange for the tax cut, the investment would include new attractions, a parking structure with more than 5,000 vehicles and upgrade and infrastructure improvements to the Disneyland theme park and resort complex.
Disney has been investing heavily in its California operations over the last few years: in 2012, Disney’s nearby California Adventure theme park underwent a US$1bn expansion, which included the addition of Cars Land.
The company now has about 28,000 workers in Anaheim, making it the largest employer in Orange County. The US$1bn proposal would create an estimated 1,400 new jobs.
A public hearing on 7 July will discuss whether or not to extend the resort’s tax exemption, which any potential expansion is dependent on.
According to local reports, two members of Anaheim’s City Council are supporting the plans, while two others are undecided. Mayor Tom Tait, who approved the initial deal in 1996, has opposed the plans.
A recent independent study on Disneyland California suggested that resort is responsible for more than US$5.7bn (€5bn, £3.6bn) in economic activity across the south of the state.
Disneyland worth US$5.7bn annually to California
Disney considers increasing fees for peak times with surge pricing system
Disney eyes future wearables to grow MyMagic+
Theme parks, Frozen and Star Wars lead Disney to beat Q2 earnings predictions
Disney value jumps US$2bn following Star Wars teaser release
New attractions to mark completion of Disneyland Resort expansion
UAE’s first Dior Spa debuts in Dubai at Dorchester Collection’s newest hotel, The Lana
Europe's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Bionic leaves, breathable metals and selfgrowing bricks... Biomimicry in architecture has come a long way. Christopher DeWolf takes a look at the latest advances