Ardent hoping it can turn corner

DREAMWORLD operator Ardent Leisure may have stemmed the tide at its troubled theme parks operations and is hoping that next year’s Commonwealth Games will boost business.

Acting chief executive Geoff Richardson says the theme parks division, which experienced a significant fall in visitor numbers in the months after the fatal Dreamworld accident in October last year, was now trading above break-even.

Ardent says it expects its theme parks to make a positive contribution over the rest of the financial year.

“Despite the challenging year, guest satisfaction and feedback at Dreamworld continue to be excellent, and we look forward to a strong holiday period and hopefully a boost from the 2018 Commonwealth Games to be held on the Gold Coast,” he said.

Ardent’s theme parks reported an earnings loss of $3.4 million for the year to June compared with a profit of $34.7 million the previous year.

Mr Richardson, who stepped in this month when Simon Kelly quit after just five months as chief executive, said Ardent was tracking broadly in line with expectations for “core earnings” ahead of the key holiday trading season.

Ardent would provide a further trading update at its halfyear results in February.

Ardent chairman Gary Weiss said the year following the Dreamworld tragedy had presented many challenges.