What’s New in Top Performance Travel Destinations

From world class parades and clinics in Orlando to the glamour of Broadway in NYC, the top destinations help create memorable experiences for performance and education groups. Here’s what’s new or coming soon in these top destinations.

New York City

NYC is arguably the world’s most bustling and ever-changing city. This fall, an old favorite returns: the NBC Studio Tour. Now named “The Tour at NBC Studios,” the tour promises to be more in-depth than ever before, and will allow guests to try their hand at producing their own television segment. A major part of the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan, the National 9/11 Memorial Museum and the nearby One World Observatory are now open to the public. The museum has received strong reviews from groups for its impactful retelling of the events of September 11, 2001.

Chicago

One of the world’s most architecturally stunning cities continues to become more impressive. This past winter saw the opening of Maggie Daley Park (adjacent to Millennium Park) and its one-of-a-kind skating ribbon, a unique children’s play area, and adventurous climbing walls. It’s likely we will see Maggie Daley Park become as popular a destination as Millennium Park. Located just a short distance north, Navy Pier is receiving a makeover of its own. The upgrades, which are expected to be completed in time for the pier’s centennial celebration in 2016, will bring the pier in to the 21^st century. Central to the improvement is a brand new Ferris wheel that will soar 50 feet taller and feature climate controlled gondolas.

St. Louis

The Gateway Arch has been the symbol of St. Louis since its completion in 1965. The arch’s three year refurbishment project will be completed this fall, just in time for its 50^th anniversary. The project, named “CityArchRiver 2015” will include new parks, riverfront trails, bike paths, and an enhanced interactive museum space and exhibits.

Orlando Area

The Orlando area theme parks are constantly growing and expanding, and 2016 is no exception. Universal’s Islands of Adventure® will open a new thrilling attraction entitled “Skull Island: Reign of Kong.” In it, guests will board “expedition vehicles” which will transport them through Skull Island and into the world of Peter Jackson’s King Kong. Over at the Walt Disney World® Resort, new shopping and dining locations are coming to Downtown Disney® (which will be renamed Disney Springs® when the makeover is complete).  Watch our Facebook page for an expected announcement regarding exciting changes at Disney’s theme parks in the coming weeks.

Nashville

Music City, U.S.A. is always full of excitement, and 2016 is no exception. Start with a stop at the newly expanded Country Music Hall of Fame. Then, head over to the Ryman Auditorium which features a new multimedia video experience. Finally, take your group to see a Broadway style show at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, which now offers post show Q&As and meet and greets with the cast.

Southern California

The Disneyland® Resort is celebrating its 60^th anniversary. The festivities (which are expected to last through mid-2016) include a new fireworks show, a new state-of-the-art electrical parade titled “Paint the Night,” and the new “World of Color Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Walt Disney.” Over at Universal Studios Hollywood®, your group can experience “Fast and Furious Supercharged,” the new grand finale to the famous studio tour. If you haven’t visited Universal Studios Hollywood® in a while, don’t miss a visit to the Simpsons in Springfield, and a hilarious ride on “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.”

If you are ready to explore one of these new attractions on your next performance tour, contact us today.