ABOUT THE PANELIST

David J. Sangree, MAI, CPA, ISHC, is president of Hotel & Leisure Advisors, which is based in Cleveland. He is a hospitality consultant and appraiser specializing in hotels, resorts, waterparks, golf courses, ski resorts and other leisure properties. A member of the Appraisal Institute, a Certified Public Accountant, and a member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants, Sangree has performed studies on more than 1,000 existing and proposed hotels, waterparks and other leisure properties. A graduate of the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, he has appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and CNBC, and has written numerous articles.

 

Owner:Valcartier Vacation Village

Year opened:2010

Size:100 acres

Retail price of adult 1-day ticket: $35.50 U.S.D. (approximate)

Staff:Approximately 500, peak season

Opened in June 2010, Calypso Waterpark is perhaps North America’s best new waterpark. Located on 100 acres about 20 minutes outside of Ottawa, it’s the largest outdoor waterpark in Canada. A budget of approximately $45 million allowed developers to create a real destination, and the park features many of the newest attractions, including 25 slides, a large wave pool and a lazy river. Strong theming and mascot characters have helped create the brand identity. This year, operators are debuting 10 new water slides, including an Aqualoop water coaster.