03_10_Intro_Jury
12.09.2016
16:25 Uhr
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THE EXPERT-JURY OF THE EUROPEAN STAR AWARD 2016 Gerardo Arteaga (Chile)
and has since worked across Europe, Middle East and Asia. Over the years she has completed a wide range
Gerardo Arteaga
Nergis Aslan
Gerardo is general manager at his family's amusement
of leisure and attraction assignments including feasi-
park, Fantasilandia, located in the heart of historic San-
bility studies, reviews of operational performance, eco-
tiago, Chile (www.fantasilandia.cl). In 1978, the park
nomic impact analyses and due diligence for a num-
was founded by his father, and up until today, it is still
ber of large-scale attractions and attraction groups. In
the only large amusement park of its kind in the coun-
2014, Natalia became a partner at Leisure Develop-
try. Meanwhile, on the seven-hectare grounds, there
ment Partners (LDP), a leading consulting practice
are currently 40 rides and attractions in operation, with
focused on leisure and entertainment real estate,
new and exciting additions and innovations scheduled
which is also IAAPA's current platinum sponsor. LDP
every year. The Arteaga Family and Fantasilandia are
excels at market and economic testing for both new
also prominent supporters of the Chilean “Make-A-
projects and existing operations, providing services to
Wish” foundation and the "Hogar de Cristo" charity.
the development, investment and operations commu-
Furthermore, the family business also includes a chain
nities (www.leisuredevelopment.co.uk).
of FEC's called Happyland, located in Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico. Gerardo is an active member
Bas Bakkers (Netherlands)
of IAAPA serving as Immediate Past Chairman and participating in a number of committees and the
Bas is working for The Coca-Cola Company and lead-
Board of Directors. In his function as IAAPA Chairman
ing the international engagement with the Leisure and
last year, he visited and familiarised himself with many
Hotel Industry. Bas has 20 years of experience in the
European theme parks. Gerardo is 42 years of age,
Coca-Cola system where he was responsible for
and has four children together with his wife Catalina.
Sales and Business development roles in the Home
In his free time he enjoys skiing, playing tennis, sailing,
and Away from Home markets in The Netherlands.
and flying remote control aeroplanes.
Jeff Bertus (Netherlands) Nergis Aslan (Turkey) Over the last 40 years, Jeff has gained high repute in Natalia Bakhlina
Bas Bakkers
Nergis is the founding partner of Tureks Uluslararası
the industry for his work in the field of leisure and
Fuarcılık, the organising company behind ATRAX
amusement parks, not only in the Netherlands, but also
(www.atraxexpo.com), the only specialised trade fair
internationally. A former executive director at Club van
of the amusement industry in Turkey and the surround-
Elf (Dutch Association of Leading Visitor Attractions)
ing region. With her profound knowledge of and ex-
and the lobbying group Europarks, he became vice-
perience in the global amusement and recreation in-
president of IAAPA Europe, where he was responsible
dustry, Ms. Aslan has played an important role in gath-
for establishing the association's regional base in
ering the players of the sector under one roof for the
Brussels. Jeff has also served as a member of the
first time in Turkey. Along with the ATRAX exhibition,
board at the Dutch Employers’ Association VNO-NCW,
she continues to contribute towards the further devel-
as a member of the Dutch Platform Tourism & Recrea-
opment of the sector with the Shining Star Awards and
tion of VNO-NCW/MKB Nederland. Furthermore he
Atraxion Magazine. She also carries out a detailed sec-
was government consultant in the framework of various
torial analysis and statistical study of the amusement
projects regarding “traffic and leisure” and “Reduction
and recreation industry in Turkey, something which has
of Overload of Rules & Regulations in the Leisure
never been done before. With a view to monitoring the
Industry”, and consultant/treasurer of ETAG (European
development of the industry closely, she continues to
Travel & Tourism Action Group). Nowadays he runs his
travel globally. Nergis Aslan has an undergraduate
own consultancy business, Jeff Bertus Leisure.
degree in Sociology from Hacettepe University.
Carlos Catalá Aliaga (Spain) Natalia Bakhlina (Great Britain) A Spanish blogger based in Paris, Carlos discovered
4
Natalia began her career as an analyst at Knight Frank
Disneyland Paris as a 7 year-old child in 1992 and
in Moscow., where she led the office in real estate mar-
since then theme parks have become a major part of
ket analytics. Now boasting 12 years' consulting ex-
his life. He loves travelling around Europe discovering,
perience in real estate economics with emphasis on
visiting, taking pictures and trying to understand the
entertainment destinations and complex mixed-use
history, cultural influences and motivations behind the
urban and resort developments, she moved to the UK
continent's many wonderful amusement parks. His
in 2006 to join Economics Research Associates (ERA)
blog (www.ThemeParkZone.es) is where Carlos