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Artwork for Skip the Queue

Skip the Queue

Rubber Cheese
Sustainability
Iaapa
Avon Valley
FEAR Scream Park
UK Theme Park Awards
Artificial Intelligence
Themed Entertainment Industry
Sundown Adventureland
We the Curious
Journey
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Technology
Burnout
AI (artificial Intelligence)
Mobile Website Optimization
Human Interaction
Aerophile
Moonraker VFX
BBC Studios Science Unit
Yield Management

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes166Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Places & TravelManagementSociety & CultureBusiness

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Artwork for Skip the Queue

Latest Episodes

In this episode of Skip the Queue, Andy Povey is joined by Clive Morris, founder of CCM Consulting, to explore the financial realities facing visitor attractions. They discuss the recent UK VAT changes, why collecting the right operational and financ... more

Dynamic pricing can be one of the most powerful tools available to visitor attractions but only when it's used well. Andy Povey is joined by pricing expert Adriaan Van Der Hek to discuss the practical realities of dynamic pricing, how it benefits bot... more

In this Summer Special of Skip the Queue, guest host and attractions industry journalist Owen Ralph is joined by three theme park operators for a closer look at their new offerings for 2026.

Lawrence Mancey discusses Paultons Park’s £12 million them... more

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

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Recent Guests

Matt Stubbs
Creative director at Little Lion Entertainment
Little Lion Entertainment
Episode: Inside Arcade Arena: Building the World’s New Live Gaming Experience - Matt Stubbs
Duncan Phillips
Founder and Managing Director of DP Leisure and DP Associates; head of 360 Play initiatives
DP Leisure/DP Associates
Episode: Universal Is Coming: What Does It Mean for the Future of UK Attractions? - Duncan Phillips
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

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.

Apple Podcasts
#242
France/Business/Management
Apple Podcasts
#141
Ireland/Business/Management

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Windsor Great Park Illuminated: Designing Experiences That Draw Guests Back Year After Year - Rob Paul and Kathryn Stafford
Q: How do you balance innovation with audience expectations?
By using feedback loops, maintaining familiar anchors like the talking tree, and carefully pacing wow moments with calmer, narrative-driven segments to create a journey rather than a sequence of tech pieces.
Windsor Great Park Illuminated: Designing Experiences That Draw Guests Back Year After Year - Rob Paul and Kathryn Stafford
Q: What's new about the light trail this year?
They described a completely refreshed trail with more features, upscaled effects, and new tech integrated into the overall design, ensuring there's nothing repeated from prior years apart from refreshed concepts.
Inside Arcade Arena: Building the World’s New Live Gaming Experience - Matt Stubbs
Q: What does the timeline look like for developing a new Arcade Arena project?
From concept to open, the process typically takes around 12 months for this type of thing, with time for testing, previews, and final adjustments before launch.
Inside Arcade Arena: Building the World’s New Live Gaming Experience - Matt Stubbs
Q: How do you start on a new IP like Alien Invasion—tech first or story first?
We start with testing hardware and exploring the physicality of what can be built, but it must come from an experiential place first—what people haven't done before and what they might want to do again.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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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Which podcasts are similar to Skip the Queue?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Skip the Queue:

1. Talk of the Devils: The Athletic FC's Manchester United show
2. The News Agents
3. Arts & Culture
4. The Rest Is Football
5. The Louis Theroux Podcast

How many episodes of Skip the Queue are there?

Skip the Queue launched 7 years ago and published 166 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. Matt Stubbs
2. Duncan Phillips
3. Rob Comley
4. Simon Townsend
5. Bala McAlinn
6. Lawrence Roots
7. Dominique Bouchard
8. Veronica Celis Vergara

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