Posted
By Ken Storey
on Fri, Jan 29, 2021 at 10:36 AM
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Photo via Visit Orlando
Manta at SeaWorld Orlando. This photo was taken prior to the pandemic.
In early summer, as theme parks around the globe sat closed and tens of thousands of hospitality workers faced unemployment, there was talk of the industry facing a drought of new investments to make up for the revenue lost due to the pandemic.
Just weeks before the nation went into lockdown, Disney announced a new CEO, Bob Chapek, known for his bean-counter approach. Seven weeks after the parks closed, Disney announced it would be cutting $900 million in capital expenditures. Things looked the same at SeaWorld, with leadership confirming all capital expansion was paused until further notice.