The hidden denigrance pit at PortAventura

Para leer esta entrada en español, por favor, clicke aquí
To read it into Spanish, please click here

 

Before to start, I’m sure that many of yours, as readers, had listened about PortAventura. Even it’s possible that some of yours being here at least once in your life. On any case, for those that not know who is, it tells it. PortAventura will be the first big theme park in Spain, and after it’s opening at 1995, has obtained great awards thanks to the determinations to the well job. Not just to the towns were it is (Salou and Vila-Seca), but also on all the environment of the zone in Tarragona, PortAventura is a great driving for the economy of the zone, that as it’s said, it generates more than 2000 million Euros each year of benefit at the zone.

 

Before to arrive to the PortAventura denigrance, it pass for many lapses, where it’s different owners, besides to be careful from the business profitability and the great rides, knows that the customer it’s a very important part on an enterprise image, until them only be cared just for the money. It just needs to review it:

 

-          From 1986 to 1992: The Catalan government promotes the project of a big leisure complex near Tarragona. By then, Disney finds ground on Europe to build a big leisure complex. After evaluating many proposals, it just remained two final options: Tarragona and Paris, being the French option the chosen, and opening it on 1992. The Government not surrenders, and finds investors for a great leisure complex, as it being associated to, at firsts, to the American Holding Anheuser & Bushc, that between other businesses had the brewer Budweiser and the famous Bushc Gardens on USA. That enterprise designed the park on all aspects, being careful on each detail and being conscious about the changes that had to do to does the park agree to the European liking.

-          From 1992 to 1995: Building of the complex at Vila-Seca, town by then on breakup from its neighbour Salou. The government had by then the definitive project and the investors: La Caixa (Catalan bank and financial services), Anheuser & Bushc, Endesa (Spanish power provider) and the own Generalitat (the Catalan Government). It be needed 3 years of intense works and a budget of 300 million Euros of the age to do one of the greatest infrastructure and private invest ever do in Catalonia.

-          1995: PortAventura opens on May 1^st of it year. After the consolidations, thanks, between others, to the high quality of its theme and the presence of never seeing rides, the project earns a hit that overflowed the best predictions.

-          From 1996 to 1998: PortAventura it consolidates as reference centre, and does another big invest as a double track roller coaster (Stampida). Not even the out of Endesa from the shareholding stops it growth.

-          From 1998 to 2004: Generalitat (the Catalan Government) outs from the PortAventura’s shareholding. Instead, Universal Theme Parks & Resorts, enterprise that holds the knows parks from Hollywood and Orlando (USA), Osaka (Japan) and Sentosa (Singapore) takes the majority capital of PortAventura. Also betting for the costumer satisfaction, does great invests. From Universal, PortAventura earns a legacy of two great rides (Sea Odyssey, now disappeared as such, and Templo del Fuego, with an excessive season operating), the awarded as best live show on 1999 (FiestAventura), a water park (Costa Caribe) and the first two hotels (PortAventura and El Paso).

-          From 2004 to 2009: Although the great investments, Universal not see enough profit on the complex, so that it’s come out from the business of the amusement parks on Europe. It’s holding it being tacked from La Caixa (After re-named Criteria). La Caixa move to reduce costs, trying also to keep on the costumer satisfaction, but it’s a little lowered. It starts a great profitability on the enterprise of PortAventura, and in this age it builded two great rides (Hurakan Condor and Furius Baco) and an hotel (Hotel Gold River) and a convention centre, and also, the integrating of the Hotel Caribe, at it’s moment, independent but with agreement for the park access. Also it designed the current PortAventura logo.  

-          From 2009 to 2013: La Caixa, that being the great partner of PortAventura from before it’s earliest, it being dropped fully of PortAventura, and the Italian venture capital Invest Industrial owns the totally of PortAventura (that purchase it being completed in 2011). Invest Industrial it being centred on the profit and deletes almost completely the costumer satisfaction as maintain of its business model of success of PortAventura. During that age, to compensate the fall in attention, it wins audience for the great invests of a new area (Sésamo Aventura, valued on 10 million Euros), the Sambhala Roller Coaster (valued on 25 million Euros) and the extension of Costa Caribe water park (valued on 12 million Euros). 

-          From 2013 to present: Invest Industrial leave to be the unique owner of PortAventura to share the capital (and the possible profits) with another venture capital group: The American KKR, owner, among others, of Kodak, Del Monte or Toys ‘R’ us. During that age, it being announced others invests, for example, the ride Angkor (valued on 10 million Euros), and the agreement with Cirque du Soleil. Also announces the project of Ferrari amusement park, with a planned investment over 100 million Euros. Despite those large investments, those two investors not earn an enough large profit to redeem those large investments.

 

 

After giving an explanation of the different phases who passed PortAventura, let’s explain now the decadency of PortAventura on its costumers treatment and be focused just on a very small group of costumers, who being knowing here as “The chosen”.

 

For some time, and with the massive consolidation of Internet to the majority of the population, it appear many independent websites that treat about the enterprise, although has an own official website (that being recorded on April 21^st of the year 1997), therefore we can say that PortAventura didn’t need alien websites to report about the enterprise activities and to do advertising.

However, and progressively, it being appeared those websites. Some websites being centred exclusively on PortAventura, and others on general amusement parks. Later, the bloom of the video hosting services, such as Youtube or Vimeo being popular the diverse broadcasting of amusement parks that remember, it be a private area. In fact, the first YouTube video being recorded by his founder on a zoo. And, for finish off, the large social network, such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram allows to anyone, with a zero financial investment, to create a website about amusement parks. PortAventura has, officially, with its respective channels on much kind of servers and social networks.

But nevertheless, the great boom emerges at year 2010. At the time, PortAventura it’s being celebrating it’s 15 years of existing park. It’s got a good relation with a website called PA-Community, link that being beaked on November of 2011 because the behaviour of some of its affiliates, and also the presence of negative opinions about this enterprise.

Most of the old affiliates of PA-Community (whose website being to be generalist inside amusement parks) passed to create its own websites about PortAventura, without take into account the fact that being using without licence a registered brand name.

There was a considerable amount of websites that, trying from a more or less bad method, it stays sharing information’s, images and videos of PortAventura, who’s being distributed without permission. In fact, there two rules from the park those websites and its administrators unaccomplished, and be that:

 

-      IX.2: Images recorded by Visitors to PortAventura may not be used for commercial purposes.

-      IX.3: PortAventura is not responsible for photography and/or recordings carried out by third parties.

That rules being available to read on PortAventura’s website. On the first rule case, consist basically that the images that a visitor or costumer takes on the enclosure it being just with the particular use only, without being used to that kind of websites, given that it’s an commercial use of the image (it can be does it with asking an internal licence). On the second case, means that in case of appear on a third person’s image or record that can be used for a website, and it’s not approved by the affected person, PortAventura it’s not responsible of that aspect.  

But nevertheless, that websites publish images of the park (on some cases, copied or with copyright), and on many cases, it appears other costumers, that appears without its consent on its publicised images.

After that bloom of unofficial websites, it can be seed that it’s consolidating be finished on 2014, although later it continued to develop other websites, on many cases, excessive alike each to other. 

But nevertheless, PortAventura be guilty to not taken measures on the existence of those websites, who being using a brand name without permission, in particular profit, doing a criminal activity over the Spanish law 17/2001, of December, 7^th, of trademarks.  

Until it started the really deplorable part: The recognition that being “stealing” the name of an enterprise in some particulars profit.

The first part starts on March, 21^st of the year 2015, with the re-opening of the park coinciding to the 20 years of opened park. Although, on theory (beyond the press acts) had to be any other day, PortAventura organizes a private act for the creators and managers of those websites, without any thoughtfulness to the large amount of costumers that spends money on an enterprise on every one of each visits. PortAventura prioritize a group of people that the just it does it’s to let sell it, and forgiven of the great public, discriminating the profitable costumer, that just appeal for the money.

 

The image of the shame

 

 

The most degrading of all that it’s the subsequent publication, the next day, of a large boast of its attitude by using the enterprise’s social networks. Given the intolerable attitude that does PortAventura by organization of those discriminatory acts, I’m decided to send a letter by certified mail to the press responsible of PortAventura, the mister Oriol Garcia, that I know of it’s position thanks to the social network Linked In. Given the length of the writing, I put it on spoiler, for who wants to read full, can do it by clicking the key “Mostrar”.  The original letter be write in Spanish, there it’s a translation.

 

Valued Mister Oriol Garcia:

 

At first I stand: My name is Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, and since June of 2011 I’m a PortAventura’s annual pass holder, with number XXXXXX.

 

Therefore, probably you own had intoed that I am an regular visitor of the park, and in these almost 4 years that it stay as holder, I do enough visits to do valuations with certain criteria about most aspects of yours enterprise, such to the positive side ant the negative side.

 

On the large amount of visits that I do at the park, and by use of my annual pass, I can’t negate the great amount of positive aspects that I see on each visit. I’ll put, for this way, just one example, and it’s the great gentleness that it threaded the park staff each time that I come, and it’s a large value for the enterprise that had to keep. Also, there are many aspects on the park or the enterprise that had to enhance.

 

But nevertheless, PortAventura, as private enterprise that is, and offering the possibly of fidelize it’s costumers by an annual pass called PortAventura Club, that I tell up that I am a holder, had to appraises much more the costumers opinions, so on the positive aspects and on the negative aspects.

 

In case of the sporadic visitor, it’s well to got enterprise staff (or outsourced) to do satisfaction inquiries at the last hours of each day, when the costumers be visited the enclosure, and can do a criteria opinion about. Another way it to add a code on each individually sealed ticket, to assess the positive aspects and the upgradable by a website. 

 

And on the case of the regular visitors, that is to say, the annual pass holders, it’s a most easy full issue, because the enterprise had the costumer data (among others, email, phone number or home address). On this case, it would be good, for example, to call to the holders once a year to do generically inquire on who, the costumer, by phone, assess the correspondent aspects to, later, from the enterprise, and in function of the results, arising to enhance certain aspects.

 

That approach that I do it’s realist, and not need of a very big effort, while that it’s greatly wins on costumer satisfaction, but that it’s seeing some negative aspect, it knows that it’s taken that measures, the costumer had to feel listened, and it’s possible to come back or recommend the enterprise to third persons just for the fact of being listened and understood.  

 

And say that, on my way, on those almost 4 years that I stay being holder, I not perceived any kind of interest of yours enterprise to know the opinion that I had as costumer, and the positive and negative aspects that I see at each visit to the park. To being as me, if it exist interest by the enterprise to listen the costumers opinions, with pleasure and by educated form I expose, well as by email, web survey, phone or in person on one place of yours facilities. And, obviously, also I want to earn responses. That I comment it’s an aspect that, on suggestion, I purpose to enhance the global costumer satisfaction. 

 

 

But nevertheless, I took and great and disagreeable surprise when I discover that the last day march 21^st it being organized those that you named an “Fans day trip”, which leaves not clear your exactly concept of the “Fan” word. By the enterprise, any costumer that comes regularly at yours facilities and likes the park, it can be assigned the consideration of “Fan”. The case is to organize that kind without criterion, and to give the opportunity of opinate about the enterprise or the park just a very small group of people (100 person, because I read). And also, the most severe it’s not just to organize that, it’s to choose the assistants with an “to finger” criterion, that gives clear that them been chosen just persons that says the aspects that interest to the enterprise, or the aspects that some persons want to listen, avoiding the rest of opinions of the great mass of annual pass holders that has PortAventura. And it’s just the first part of the error.

 

The second error, and equal or also more seriously than the first, is to brag of the organization of those events by using of the social networks that offers a big amount of information accessible to everyone. And it’s something that can be feeling offends or discriminated another people. And I say discriminated because I consider every costumer of yours enterprise (or other, whatever it’s business) had right to be listened by the enterprise, without discriminations an on a neutral an equality criterion.

 

Respect to the social networks issue, I see the last Sunday march 22^nd on the Facebook page facebook.com/PortAventuraOficial an image with a message while your be self congratulate to do that kind of events. I enclose a screenshot to verify better. For seeing, on PortAventura’s Facebook page had, at day 03/25/2015 at 9:55 hours 232.990 “Likes”. And, as I read, on the event assist 100 persons. That means that, to be happy some persons, you had to discriminate other 232.890 persons. Ant that persons be other costumer (of future costumers) that, to seeing the discrimination that does PortAventura to others, plans to not hire the service of an enterprise that gives favouritism treatment to certain persons for thinking reasons or others.

 

All that I comment I will write to you, as Mr. Oriol Garcia, because casually I meet your Linked In profile (that I ask excuse if I entry were I don’t do), that tells that you be “PR & Press Manager at PortAventura”, an inside them, it reads that “At PortAventura, I’m in charge of the Press & PR Department, leading the communication strategy. That includes consumer oriented communication, corporate information and crisis communication. I coordinate Press & PR activities for the Spanish market and also for the international markets of the company (UK, France and Russia). 4 years ago I began PortAventura’s social media strategy, with Facebook as the main tool of communication, and nowadays our group has up to 150.000 fans in Facebook and 10.000 in Twitter.”. That description gives to understand that be you ho takes the enterprise social networks. In part, I can put in your place, because I had similar studies, and I know how can feel professionally that job.

 

And I think that, as regular costumer that I am, I had to contact with you to explain my disagreement, so for part of the organization of that kind of discriminatory events so for the social networks publishing, that I see that as a wrong strategy by the enterprise by give fell discriminated at the rest of the public. On that second aspect it that had to consider by your part, that you be the responsible of the same.

 

Also, comment that I be disrespected by Facebook for some of my comments on the image in question. And I disown that some of disrespect me be one of the assistant to the event. But, on case of be this, it had to be researched its attitude, and assess to delete comments or to not be invited to future events, because them be disrespect to other costumers. For if you want to research by yourself, say that my Facebook name is Xxxxxx Xxxxxx. Say that, by myself, on the most heavy cases I send an own Facebook warning at those who disrespect me.

 

Also comment that, seeing the image, I see some persons that, although didn’t know it’s name, I knows of view, and in some cases, I see them inside the park and I be disrespected by them. Inclusive, on one time, on a visit with my family (whose entries buying its ticket), some person that appears on that image had pushed me or someone of my family. Because they not do any injury, it’s a disturbing attitude to other visitors for its part. Therefore, it had to be valued the attitude of certain persons and replant if them deserve to assist to that kind of events.

 

And the before commented is, that will be plan to organize real events to the annual pass holders, that giving in consider that each year them pays the fee, them had to be taken in account. Also, it had to find some method to take more in account its opinions face to future enhances.

 

Now I had to be honest. As along it’s almost 4 years, my satisfaction level with the enterprise is higher. And, by be by me, with pleasure I renovate my annual pass. But nevertheless, that discrimination deed again the mayor part of the holders I found that it’s some very serious, and it has to attend that, wile them pay, all rest not interest. And the trust is that, because the well threat received on yours facilities, the organization of that events and it’s after boast on social networks be a hard disrespect to replant if I, as costumer, I had to renovate or not the annual pass of an enterprise that just benefit an minority.

 

At home I had saved 156 € that theatrically had to be invested on the renovate of the annual pass. So, after seeing the discrimination deed again me and again other costumers, I rethink the non-renovating of the pass after almost 4 years of good satisfaction grade. Now be you who, by response to that written (that be sended by certified mail to guarantee its coming-in) can send a minimum good writhed response and of weight because it be organized that events, the reason of be chosen that concrete persons to come and not others, and the justify of the same. Also, I want the commitment, by your or by who had responsibly to organize that events, to not repeat more events based on the for treatment and to think more on the annual pass holders.

 

Comment that, by me, in case of loose me as costumer, also loose the fee according to my annual pass money, also it be loosed the money that I spend on internal consumption inside the enclosure. Comment that, also to my calculus, the spend ups to more than 1000 € each hear on the enclosure. Also, too be loosen the annual visit with my family, that has 5 extra visitors, that one of them (me) had paid the ticket by annual pass, and a global spend over 400 € in just one day. And also it is loosed visits and money by the word of mouth that I can do.

 

Therefore, it had to be thinking in the hurt that does to the enterprise the organization of that king of events and in the discriminations that feels a great part of the costumers of your enterprise.

 

In case of want to reply, that I appreciate what you, my contact data is that:

 

(Hidden data). 

 

Waiting your response, I thank you in advance the used time to read and valuate my writing.

 

Signed carefully:

 

 

Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx

 

 

At date Wednesday, march 25^th of 2015, at Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

 

That letter be send by certified mail, therefore it’s warranted it’s arrive. Also, on the Correos webpage, that letter is delivered on March, 26^th of 2015, because it arrived to the responsible.

A few time later, I received response, which, although is noted the effort deed on write that, less or nothing clarify about the reason about it being discriminate costumers at PortAventura. Also of none clarify nothing, PortAventura continues with its costumer discrimination policy, and newly organizes reserved acts just too chosen people “to finger”.

That’s be the send e-mail response by Mister Oriol Garcia, press relation responsible of PortAventura, and one of the human responsible of the enterprise do discrimination with many of it’s costumers:

 

 

 

 

Although to the correct writing of the response, less or nothing clarify that writing about of the discrimination that PortAventura does, also that neither justify the chosen criterion of the assistants to the enterprise’s organized events for certain “costumers”.

Also that, by PortAventura, and by Mister Oriol Garcia, not exist any kind of repentance for the discrimination, it be relapsed again, and on biggest scale still, if it fits.  

On May 7^th of 2015, the serious MASS MEDIA be cited to PortAventura to do the journalistic coverage of the act of the foundation stone placement of the future Ferrari Land amusement park on an adjacent terrains (that act be symbolically, because rarely a foundation stone be a structural part of an ended build). Between others called authorities, it stays Sebastian Vettel (Formula One driver) and Artur Mas (the Catalan President). Given the magnitude of the called authorities, and it’s probably habit to appear on front of journalist and mass media, the protocol had to be maximum, and give an strict image of formalism and seriousness. 

But nevertheless, despite the used formalism also by Ferrari how by the Generalitat (the Catalan Government), the sin deed here it was by PortAventura. Newly, on an press act strictly thought-out to journalists and mass media, com again, and called by PortAventura the polemical unofficial websites of PortAventura. Those pages and it’s managers, between great journalists and information professionals, come from around the world, not be able to tell about the presence of that kind of people, although to not say nothing for strict upbringing.   

To know who supposedly is had to talk on a news conference, we go to he known Wikipedia’s description:

In a news conference, one or more speakers may make a statement, which may be followed by questions from reporters. Sometimes only questioning occurs; sometimes there is a statement with no questions permitted.

              

(….)

News conferences are often held by politicians (such as the President of the United States); by sports teams; by celebrities or film studios; by commercial organizations to promote products; by attorneys to promote lawsuits; and by almost anyone who finds benefit in the free publicity afforded by media coverage. Some people, including many police chiefs, hold news conferences reluctantly in order to avoid dealing with reporters individually.

A news conference is often announced by sending an advisory or news release to assignment editors, preferably well in advance. Sometimes they are held spontaneously when several reporters gather around a newsmaker.

 

News conferences can be held just about anywhere, in settings as formal as the White House room set aside for the purpose to as informal as the street in front of a crime scene. Hotel conference rooms and courthouses are often used for news conferences.

Said the news conference definition, it can be confirmed that those groups of people it can’t be said on sure that is an thought-out act for the mass media or to journalist, but otherwise an favour treatment to the “to finger” chosen groups by certain PortAventura Managers just to be commented who the enterprise wants to be seed on minority websites.   

Given the low degree of formalism shown by PortAventura on that aspect, and on called people that not be information professionals, I arrived to the conclusion that’s be intolerable, so I decided to contact with the Catalan College of Journalists, to report of these events, and if them had some actuation protocol  on these affairs, use it.

For those who not know, the Catalan College of Journalists is one of the professional colleges awarded with a Sant Jordi Cross, the Catalan equal to the Nobel Prize.

By its webpage,I found its contact way, therefore I give send the next writing (translated, because the original writing it’s on Catalan):

 

For the attention of the Catalan Colleges of Journalists:

 

Good morning, on first I introduce myself: My name is Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, with DNI number XXXXXXXXX and resident on Xxxxxxxxx. I’m not a journalist (I don’t have the required formation, and never I do as such). So the aspects that I had to comment on these message it response more to the logical that to the knowing that I have of the journalism task.

 

And it’s about the irregularities deed by the playful company PortAventura Entertainment, SA (henceforth, PA), on its news conferences.

 

On a news conference is it that an enterprise, entity or person calls an amount of mass media to tell an important change or a novelty (and, in general, any information that can be interest by the big public). By press conference, the journalists (people with studies a many prepared for the job) see and, if it’s necessary, interview to the involved persons to prepare an after review that arrives to the great public (the readers, listeners or viewers).

 

The affair that PA does it’s so different, Because that, on some cases come journalists, from big national, autonomous or international mass media, the press conference be based, specially, on nearby people to the enterprise managers, whose give an favourable treatment and be chosen on “to finger” criterion. Often, them based on say just who the enterprise wants to says, and, in exchange, them get privileges on the enterprise facilities.

 

The great number of “Unofficial mass media” that be created lastly about PA, that had to steal importance to the formal journalism and rigorously, is due to the bloom of websites created by social media use, specially YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, and as well as dubious objectivity and neutrality blogs.  

 

In so far this season, PA it is deed the irregularity of does those press conferences for those groups twice (inside as I know). The first be on day 03/21/2015, coinciding to the park reopening, that just received the false journalists to say just ho the enterprise wants to be seed in exchange to privileges for that day, cloaking as press conference. The second act is yesterday 05/07/2015, coinciding with the foundation stone placement that had to be the future Ferrari Land Park. On this case, there is a minority of real journalists. So the real journalists are mixed, again, with the chosen group by the enterprise to say the facts that just interest to the enterprise in exchange again of internal privileges. And it’s an institutional act where stays, between others, the Sir Artur Mas and the Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel. And the external groups of the journalism presence no give a well image to who has to be called a press conference.

 

Comment the irregularities deed by PA, I recommend, if it’s possible, to send a clarion call to the enterprise for the deed irregularities with the mass media. Also it can be deed a newspaper article (from real journalism) where it be explained those favour treatment that does PA to some concrete groups. I know that those last be difficult, because PA is a great advertiser on the most mass media, and for this, forces to the mass media to rest objectivity. But, at least, had to do that the big public be conscious of that actually impermissible that does PA.

 

I know that those message is long, so at least I had be you knower of the existent reality between PortAventura and the press.

 

I hope that the send information be helpful.

 

Thanks.

 

 

On this case, the Catalan College of Journalists had knows how to do such as an institution, with clear demonstration of professionalism, severity and formalism. An in just 3 hours I received reply by them, on concrete, by Mister Xavier Puig, communication manager of that entity.

The reply text used as reply, again translated from Catalan, is that:

 

Appreciated Xxxxxxxxxx,

 

At first, we thank you to provide us that information that not had Constance. Also I want to explain that, being and private enterprise, those, in principle be free to call the persons, journalists or not, to dissemination events. Normally, it does it under the words of “Presentation”, act, opening, or any other word that they want to use. So also it’s sure that it not suitable and not ethical to protect according to news conference if in here there’s not information professionals. And also it’s sure that, with new technologies, increasingly there is more intrusiveness. 

 

We pass an internal copy to follow that affair.

 

Thanks for your trust.

 

Greetings.

 

According to the given explanation, the legality and the ethical not ever are compatible concepts. But nevertheless, despite to journalism professionalism, that an enterprise does that events had not be controlled. Nevertheless, thanks to that write, the Catalan journalism sector now knows what occurs with PortAventura and the enterprise relation with mass media and press.

Bordering on illegality:

One of the most pitiful aspects deed by that king of websites is not just the obsessive mania that takes with PortAventura and the painting all perfect and nice. It’s that to stay on the private life of the PortAventura staff, and spread data that it’s publishing or spending be a misdeed, according to the Spanish Penal Code (an on concrete, the Spanish LOPD law).

They were treated some of those websites that, on a sick leave of one of a PortAventura’s employee, spew those information by the own unofficial pages. It should be remembered that the LOPD bans the diffusion of related health data about persons, being an infringement that takes penalty. On concrete, it is a severe infraction, that it’s penalties between 20.001 to 300.000 Euros without penal consequences.

Here there’s two screenshots that helps to understand who those websites be on the personal life of its employees, doing, also, illegal acts:

 

 

 

The company supporting to demigrance:

But nevertheless, the worst had to arrive. And it threaded to the day as PortAventura gets recognition and right to those websites. For that, commit the shabbiest act on its 20 years of history. As first, creates a kind of internal seal called “PortAventura Experts”, with a blue ring and the logo inside of them. Those seal is granted to those websites, to be showed on a visible place, although the quality of them is dreadful.

The second part, that had to be also more dreadful than previous, consists on include, on the Spanish PortAventura Blog, inside the own PortAventura’s website a recognition to those by do free publicity of those websites, by including it’s name, and in case of clicking over the letters of them, it redirect to those unofficial websites.

Here there’s a screenshot of the pitiful links on its official website:

 

I am not aware that exist any other amusement park or recreation facility on the world that does that acts, to redirect links from an official website to an external other website and such less reliable.

STOP IT! I unsubscribe:

It be inadmissible that a playful company that had to pay to the costumers 156 Euros for it’s annual pass no had considering towards them, and discriminates them, while others, to create a dreadful website based on a prefabricated template it gives more privileges than nothing, and on a lower price or also free.

Whereupon, and also more given the poor explanation received by Mister Oriol Garcia (specified above), I decided to take a drastically measure against that behaviour deed by PortAventura, and I opted for do harm at where it’s more painful: To the money.

The annual pass that I hold on my name, which, although to be paid and with more than a month of validity as yet, I decided to sent to the enterprise, specifically, to Mister Arturo Mas – Sardà, President of PortAventura, along with a self written letter, to can reproach all them do, and take leave saying that I’m not be it’s costumer (with the sequent loose of money that it takes) for the fact of discriminate to the profitable costumers and the bad criterion that them had to chose the people that earns those privileges. So the written be sent by certified mail to ensure arrival, and that be read to say goodbye to the money that I contribute. 

The send write be that, translated from the Spanish:

 

For the attention of Mister Arturo Mas – Sardà.

 

Appreciated Mr. Arturo Mas – Sardà:

 

As first I stand. My name is Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, with DNI number XXXXXXXXX, resident on Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx, and with the PortAventura’s annual pass number XXXXXX.

 

The reason for writing this it’s to inform you about the aspects that inconvenience me of your enterprise, be you who has ownership overt those aspects or not, and submit resignation as holder and as costumer of PortAventura. 

 

Who yes I had to comment as first is that to myself I feel bad my resignation as PortAventura costumer, so on those 4 years that I was subscriber, the quality of the given service be very high, and the general satisfaction degree with the enterprise, maximum. Also, I would like to laud yours employees, which, thanks to its friendliness, gentleness and professionalism, they have achieved always that when I go out of the enclosure I give at home a good feeling about PortAventura.

 

But nevertheless I see, since a time ago, that exists a group of visitors that, being annual pass member or not, that obtain a higher level of privileges at PortAventura, an bit by bit, I realize that such privileges them obtain for an concrete reason, and it’s for the fact of be nearby persons to certain managers (whose names or position I disown). And, in the meanwhile, the fore mentioned visitors group earn a great amount of privileges on our facilities, people as I, as the costumers that pay it’s ticket or hotel guests, it seems that not be visitors beyond the money that spend on our facilities. 

 

It may in principle, with I tell, you don’t know so well about I refer. But with that reason I write to you, and I had to set examples to asses the situation. Obviously, just I had to say examples that known the affair by myself, and I’m not invent nothing and I not assess disown affairs.

 

The first known case be the last march 21^st. Coinciding with the opening of the park season, and with reason of the 20 years celebrate of the park. I heard that it’s be organized an act as yours named “Fan days” or “Amateurs days” or other names. So that act no had to be considered really a fan act, because the assistants are chosen “to finger” for that just is commenting the aspects that the enterprise wants to listen. Also, the most blending of that be the fact of not get into account on any moment the large number of costumers that each year visits your enclosure (such as I comment before, by ticket, annual pass of hotel stay), whose also can get information’s, opinions and comments that can be so helpful for the enterprise, also that be benefited or gifted with some gift or menu inside our facilities. That behaviour it’s fully empty of ethical.

 

And not only this, also, at the next day, be the same enterprise who boasted of which act by use of social network (Facebook, for example). That shows an wrong commercial strategy, being as the great potential public of the park can feel discriminated, and seeing that images it had see that to the park just interest an specify public, feel that it’s presence not interest. I repeat that is a wrong strategy, and not do any favour to nothing. To remember it, I attached a screenshot of that publishing. Of that happening I send an informative letter to your companion Oriol Garcia, whose reply is so less convincing, and not resolve any of the displayed aspects on the same.  

 

Another case is the May 7^th, coinciding to the foundation stone placement of the future Ferrari Land Park. Although in theory, those had to be an news conference and, for this, all the assistants (beyond the authorities) had to be journalists and information professionals, the process not be respected, and they were brought, in addition to, members of websites again chosen “to finger”, with a very clear intention of, after the act be just commented just who PortAventura interest, and damaging the most formal journalism, and allowing that people that not be information professionals give news without knowledge and without the impartiality and the objective that knows the real journalism, and missed of journalistic rigor.

 

And, finally, the straw that breaks the camel had be the naming, on your official website (inside PortAventura Blog) the name and the link of many of those websites, which yours named “Friend pages” or “PortAventura Experts”, without take into account the quality of the same or the neutrality of the comments that here be write and the criterion of election of those pages.

 

Also, comment that some of the people that appears on the image of the act of March 21^st, although I not know it’s names, I crossed them sometimes inside the enclosure, being people that does disruptive behaviour, such as jostle, to me or to my companion, specially when it be the days that I come with the family. Despite not cause injuries, it is disruptive behaviour that not gives good image of the enterprise.

 

After comment all the aspects that it’s seen the mistake that do PortAventura with the favourable treatment that gives to the “friends” website’s managers just to get well the enterprise on all aspects and to pretend that those privileges earned by undeserved ways being used by us as low cost publicity, without take into account the satisfied costumer opinion, whose there a lot.

 

On my case, I’m annual pass holder for 4 years (since 2011). Each year I spend inside your facilities more than 1000 €, that amount without the annual pass cost and the displacement to come to the park. Also, once a year I come with family, while between all group and without my spend, we spend more than 400 € inside yours facilities.

 

And, after staying a little time seeing who does PortAventura about the privilege assign to concrete costumers groups, I lose my feel like to continue to come to a theme park that gets privileges undeserved to specific groups just to do a website or a social network to do publicity.

 

The annual pass, whose validity it’s still in force to July 13^th, not be renovated, and for this, I not come to the park. On consequence, the money that I spend inside yours facilities also not comes with me. Thereby is how yours lose me as costumer. I not tolerate that the enterprise earn privileges to those websites.

 

Although the PortAventura’s annual pass it’s something that economically I be able to afford, I don’t want that my money comes to an enterprise that just looks in favour on a concrete costumers group that be chosen “to finger”, and, as that, I not want that my money, so I earn with effort, be part of the budget that be used to organize acts to favour those groups.

 

Also, an for you see that really I renounce as PortAventura’s costumer, in that’s letter envelope, which I send by certified mail to warrant it arrival and delivery, I enclose the ORIGINAL of my PortAventura’s annual pass, which I don’t have to use, and also I not want it. What I want it’s that the pass that I send enclose, as I renounce as costumer, and it be used for think over to know to the limit point had to be threaded with some groups, and also to give more in consideration to yours costumers. I not want that pass, so I not want that on my wallet there’s a document that certifies that I am costumer of a less ethical and moral enterprise to get in favour a concrete group. I not want to be costumer and take money to enterprises that not apply the ethical.

 

Also of this pass, I enclose also the screenshot of your Facebook where it’s seen yours boast for the organizing of that act, as well as a photocopy of my DNI to check my real identity.

 

On case of be interested to send a reply to me to respect, who I doubt that it had to be deed, I give you my e-mail to reply: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xx . Although I get reply, the fact of lose me as costumer it’s now deed and its tome thing irreversible, so not take me into account, not me and not other costumers or subscribers to organize acts or to listen its opinions.

 

Wishing that all that comments be serve yours for think over, I send and cordially greeting and leave as costumer, and I sign all sheets of that letter to demonstrate that really it’s my writing.

 

Thanks.

 

Yours sincerely:

 

Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx.

 

At Xxxxxxxxxx, on Friday, June 12^th of 2015.

 

That letter, as I comment before, be send by certified mail, for that, warrant it’s delivery, for that reason, it arrives on June 15^th on destiny. Also, by the Spanish Mail Services website it can do the tracking by number CD0C940000034940043480Q.

Inside the envelope, also the writing, I include the screenshot of the shame (the 03/21/2015 day act) and my DNI’s photocopy. Also, I enclose the original (not a photocopy) of the PortAventura’s annual pass to prove really my renouncement as a costumer, and for that, them not see more my money.

PortAventura, with those measures, be exposed to a money lose (or money that not had to earn), who it’s got well deserved. Such as had to wait, on these case, and many months later, also I don’t get any reply at respect, for that it’s sure that not had interest to keep on to it’s costumers and it’s satisfaction.

Conclusion:

After these lengthy written (as I give thanks to whose that read full, so has merit, despite attempting to make an enjoyable read) it has been to the conclusion of, for every person, come to PortAventura it’s be treated as an object that comes here, spends it’s money and it goes out. There’s not interest the satisfaction. There’s not interest its opinion. They just matter its money. 

The opinions be purchased to certain collectives that be benefited by internal privileges in exchange that all the opinions that says being positive. They get internal privileges inside the enclosure, and they give away the publicity to the link of its dreadful websites.

It’s something fully missed of ethical.

With me that does not have as costumer. They not see my money and neither of mucho other people. Hopefully some responsible of the enterprise see that write to think over and take measures at respect. So each possible costumer that read, at knowing how it had to be treated and discriminate, the had to leave out the want to come, and, for also, PortAventura lose costumers and money.

Thanks again to read the full article. And hopefully the people think over about the discrimination and the treatment to the costumer.