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Artwork for Skip the Queue

Skip the Queue

Rubber Cheese
Burnout
Avon Valley
FEAR Scream Park
UK Theme Park Awards
Journey
Sundown Adventureland
Themed Entertainment Industry
We the Curious
Artificial Intelligence
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Technology
AI (artificial Intelligence)
Mobile Website Optimization
Human Interaction
Yield Management
Gift Shop
Sustainability
TEA Wellness Council
Complete Works
Aromaprime Themed Scents

Skip the Queue is for visitor attraction owners, directors and suppliers who want to improve their organisations and deliver a better experience for their guests. Each episode we speak with inspiring industry experts who share their knowledge of what really makes an attraction successful. This podcast is brought to you by Merac. We're here to help attractions unlock growth with innovative solution... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes163Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ManagementPlaces & TravelSociety & CultureBusiness

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Artwork for Skip the Queue

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Matt Stubbs, Creative Director at Little Lion Entertainment, shares insights into the innovative world of immersive entertainment, from the origins of the Crystal Maze to the cutting-edge Arcade Arena concept. Discover how technology... more

In this episode, Andy Povey is joined by Duncan Phillips, Founder and Managing Director of DP Leisure and DP Associates, the team behind 360 Play.

They discuss the potential impact of Universal's proposed UK resort, the opportunities it could create... more

In this episode of Skip the Queue, guest host Olly Reed from Navigate is joined by Rob Comley of Chester Zoo and Simon Townsend of the Eden Project to discuss the growing impact of weather forecasting apps on visitor attractions. They discuss how sim... more

In this episode of Skip the Queue, Andy Povey is joined by Bala McAlinn, Managing Director Complete Works to discuss how visitor attractions can balance technology with authentic human interaction. Bala shares how storytelling, performance techniques... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Rob Comley
Representative from Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo
Episode: The Weather Forecast Debate Every Attraction Is Talking About - Rob Comley and Simon Townsend with Guest Host, Olly Reed
Simon Townsend
Representative from The Eden Project
The Eden Project
Episode: The Weather Forecast Debate Every Attraction Is Talking About - Rob Comley and Simon Townsend with Guest Host, Olly Reed
Bala McAlinn
Runs Complete Works, a training and theatre-based experience company for attractions
Complete Works
Episode: How Visitor Attractions Can Balance Technology and Human Interaction - Bala McAlinn
Lawrence Roots
Founder of the Theme Park Network
Theme Park Network
Episode: Theme Park Awards: How They Work and Why You Should Care - Lawrence Roots
Dominique Bouchard
Heritage and Engagement Director at Leeds Castle
Leeds Castle
Episode: How is AI starting to play a role in visitor attractions - Dominique Bouchard
Veronica Celis Vergara
Founder of Valumia, sustainability and ESG risk specialist
Valumia
Episode: Climate Action in Attractions: What’s Holding the Industry Back? - Vero Celis and Marie Rayner with Ruth Read
Marie Rayner
Director of Project Development and Sustainability Lead at Storyland Studios
Storyland Studios
Episode: Climate Action in Attractions: What’s Holding the Industry Back? - Vero Celis and Marie Rayner with Ruth Read
Andy Zimmerman
CEO of Journey, global design and innovation agency
Journey
Episode: The Future of Experiences: What Guests Expect Now (and What Comes Next) - Andy Zimmerman
Debs Griffin
Owner/leader at Sundown Adventureland, Sundown Adventureland
Sundown Adventureland
Episode: What Three Generations of Women Can Teach Us About Running a Theme Park - Debs Griffin

Host

Andy Povey
Host of Skip the Queue with a focus on attractions and guest experience.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 63 ratings
  • Developing a culture of innovation with Elizabeth McKay

    So inspired by this podcast! I listened whilst driving home last night, lots of top tips and insights from Elizabeth - and not just about developing a culture of innovation. Recommend this for anyone in an organisation looking to harness creativity and drive change.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RT /
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Variable pricing benefits

    Great episode with Simon Addison who clearly explained how variable pricing not only increased his revenue by £2.3m, but also increased his customer experience and rating!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CF_qwerty
    United Kingdom4 years ago
  • Fascinating insights

    This is such a good listen. Great conversations that really lift the lid on the businesses and people behind the attractions we know and love.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GTemplar
    United Kingdom4 years ago
  • Lifting the lid on the attractions world

    This is a great podcast. As someone who works with attractions (as opposed to in them) it provides a rare insight into the challenges, processes and every day workings. This will hopefully help us work more effectively and efficiently. It’s also very relaxed and informal so is an enjoyable listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jon Turko
    United Kingdom6 years ago
  • A brilliant podcast, a must listen!

    Absolutely LOVE this podcast. Although I don't work in the attractions industry, the topics and conversations resonate with me because it's all about customer service, marketing, relationships and (more recently) surviving during a challenging time. It's such a friendly podcast with really lovely guests and Kelly does such an amazing job interviewing them. I very much liked the interview with Lee Cockerell and Wes Smart. There was a connection between the two even though they are very different ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MegFenn
    United Kingdom6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are described as high-quality and the discussions as insightful and practical.
The show is appreciated for its relaxed, accessible interviewing style.
Listeners praise actionable tips and industry insights from diverse guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Leading with Authenticity - Andreas Andersen
Q: What practical leadership tips would you give to listeners facing crisis situations in their own organizations?
He emphasizes authenticity, dropping the armor during crises, showing genuine emotions when appropriate, and building a strong pre-crisis team and culture—the so-called bank of confidence—that can be drawn on when challenges arise.
Leading with Authenticity - Andreas Andersen
Q: Can you tell us more about the four-year sequence of crises and how you navigated them from pandemic shutdowns to later market volatility?
Andreas Andersen explains the pandemic shutdowns, the challenging reopenings with restrictions, the surge in demand that followed, the Nordic market downturn in 2023, and the significant fire at Faro Oceania in 2024, describing how these events collectively demanded rapid crisis management and long-term resilience.
Behind the scenes at The Traitors Live Experience - Neil Connolly
Q: Tell us about the experience and the challenges you faced from the initial text message through to the final creation.
The journey started with a casual text that sparked the idea, followed by two years of development with O3 Media and the Netherlands format, designing a two-hour live experience that mirrors the TV show's structure while integrating new missions, audience interaction, and scalable operations. The key challenges included translating a two-week TV timeline into a tight live schedule, ensuring the format stayed true to the intellectual property while making it practical for live venues, and building a vertically integrated operation that could control production, venue, tech, and marketing in-house.
How Visitor Attractions Can Balance Technology and Human Interaction - Bala McAlinn
Q: Can you train someone to become a better storyteller?
Yes, Bala argues that everyone can improve with technique, practice, and experience, emphasizing vocal, body language, and confidence developed over time.
How Visitor Attractions Can Balance Technology and Human Interaction - Bala McAlinn
Q: What is the magic you bring to the world of attractions?
Bala explains that the magic comes from applying theater and performance techniques to training, shows, and guest interactions, turning staff into storytellers and enablers of memorable experiences.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Skip the Queue

What is Skip the Queue about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show focuses on the people and practices shaping visitor attractions, from theme parks and zoos to science centers and heritage sites. Episodes cover practical topics like guest experience, sustainability, experiential design, IP and branding, inclusion, and leadership, often featuring operators, designers, researchers, and industry advocates. Notable threads include how awards influence recognition and improvement, how AI and data-informed strategies are deployed in real venues, and how multi-stakeholder collaboration drives memorable guest journeys. The program tends to highlight hands-on lessons, behind-the-scenes processes, and actionable tips for improving guest engagement, operations, and business performance. A standout trait is... more

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How many listeners does Skip the Queue get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers Skip the Queue has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Skip the Queue?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Skip the Queue:

1. Begin Again with Davina McCall
2. The News Agents
3. The Rest Is Entertainment
4. The Rest Is Politics
5. Katherine Ryan: Telling Everybody Everything

How many episodes of Skip the Queue are there?

Skip the Queue launched 7 years ago and published 163 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Skip the Queue?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Skip the Queue?

Recent guests on Skip the Queue include:

1. Rob Comley
2. Simon Townsend
3. Bala McAlinn
4. Lawrence Roots
5. Dominique Bouchard
6. Veronica Celis Vergara
7. Marie Rayner
8. Andy Zimmerman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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