Attracting visitors to your water park isn’t just about great rides and refreshing pools—it’s about creating an unforgettable experience that keeps guests coming back for more. By combining strategies like targeted marketing, exciting seasonal events, and membership programs that make every visit feel special, you can make your water park the go-to destination for years to come.
Read on for 10 proven strategies to boost visitor numbers, drive local engagement, and enhance your water park’s reputation.
1. Boost your Google Reviews
Building trust and credibility through positive Google reviews is crucial for attracting new visitors. Encourage satisfied guests to leave reviews by following up with an email or SMS shortly after their visit. Reviews not only enhance your online reputation but also improve your visibility on Google, making it easier for potential visitors to find your water park.
Read more: How to Attract More Guests to Your Venue with Google Reviews
2. Use social media for local engagement
Engaging with the local community through social media can make a huge difference in attracting local customers. Create buzz by sharing videos, guest testimonials, and behind-the-scenes content that shows the fun and excitement of your park. You can also encourage guests to post photos with a unique hashtag or run social media contests that reward free tickets or merchandise for the best park photos.
3. Create seasonal and holiday events
Draw in local visitors by hosting events throughout the year, such as back-to-school events, Halloween-themed nights, or summer splash fests. These events keep your water park top-of-mind and encourage repeat visits. Highlighting unique offerings like holiday-themed water slides or exclusive family activities can make these events even more attractive.
Read more: 5 Must-Try Halloween Ideas to Boost Hype and Revenue at Your Venue
4. Offer targeted discounts and membership packages
Special discounts and membership packages are a win-win, providing value for guests and guaranteed revenue for your park. Consider offering family discounts, loyalty passes, or local resident specials. Season passes can be especially popular, offering perks like early entry or discounts on food and merchandise to foster a sense of exclusivity.
5. Personalized and targeted marketing campaigns
Make your marketing efforts more effective with personalized, location-based campaigns. For example, you can run Facebook ads that target local families or use SMS notifications to inform previous guests about special events. ROLLER’s CRM helps you segment your audience and send tailored offers, such as discounts on group bookings, helping to drive repeat visits and build loyalty.
Read more: How to Drive More Customers Through Your Door with Paid Search
6. Collaborate with local businesses
Forming partnerships with nearby businesses can create a network that benefits everyone. For example, you could collaborate with local hotels or restaurants to offer discounted water park admission for guests to attract more out-of-town visitors. Partnering with local transportation services or offering shuttle discounts can also make visiting your park more convenient.
Read more: How to Drive More Local Visitation to Your Theme Park
7. Highlight convenient access
Make it easy for guests to visit your park by offering conveniences like easy parking, shuttle services, or quick-access passes for those who purchase online. Parking can make or break the visitor experience, especially during peak times. Consider designating family or accessible parking spots near the entrance and maintaining clear signage to direct drivers. Offering a shuttle service from key locations (such as hotels or public transportation hubs) can ease guests’ arrival and encourage visitors who may not have easy access to private vehicles.
8. Encourage repeat visits with loyalty programs
Loyalty programs that reward frequent visitors with points they can redeem for discounts on tickets, food, or even VIP experiences can keep customers coming back for more. For instance, a loyalty program could offer a free pass after a certain number of visits or provide discounts on future ticket purchases, which can encourage guests to return frequently.
9. Embrace technology
Streamline the guest experience with technology like mobile-friendly booking systems, fast-track check-in options, and cashless payment systems. These tools make the guest experience hassle-free, encourage pre-visit purchases, and can even increase on-site spending. Using ROLLER’s POS and online booking tools, for instance, allows guests to book, upgrade, or add extras easily, improving both their experience and your revenue.
10. Use guest feedback to drive improvements
Feedback is invaluable for understanding what guests love and what could be improved. Using guest feedback tools like ROLLER’s GX Score allows you to gather real-time insights into visitor preferences and pain points. By adjusting based on guest feedback—such as adding more shade areas or improving restroom facilities—you can create a guest experience that keeps visitors coming back and recommending your park.
What’s next for your water park?
Keeping visitors coming back requires smart planning and creating memorable experiences that stand out. From engaging local partnerships to using technology for convenience and personalized marketing, these strategies can increase your water park’s visitor numbers and revenue while building lasting guest loyalty.
Here’s how ROLLER can help:
- CRM and targeted marketing: ROLLER’s CRM tool enables you to personalize your marketing content based on guests’ previous behavior so you can target your audience with relevant offers to increase visits.
- GX Score: Automatically gather guest feedback through post-visit surveys, and use those insights to refine and enhance the guest experience year after year with the GX Score.
- Memberships: Increase guest loyalty and drive predictable revenue with ROLLER’s membership management software.
- Guest waivers: Eliminate bottlenecks at the entrance by allowing guests to sign waivers online before arriving.
- Self-service ticketing kiosks: Reduce wait times and streamline entry by allowing guests to purchase tickets on-site without the need for staff assistance.
- Analytics: Gain valuable insights into your venue’s operations and guest behavior with ROLLER’s powerful Analytics tool, helping you make data-driven decisions to improve efficiency and profitability.
Ready to see how smart systems can transform your water park? Book a demo with ROLLER today!
