Visit Euro Disney Theme Park example essay topic

Euro Disney' marketer's before entering a market as in this case has been the European market should have scanned the environment. By scanning the environment they should analyze the mega-environment as well as the task environment for possible opportunities and threats. Yet, a close attention could have been paid to their strength and weaknesses inside the company. Indeed, the consideration about any trends should have been incorporated in their environment analysis. In this case there has been a recognition of a trend, which is the trend of people going to theme parks during the weekends for entertainment of them as well as their children.

Also here is an existing need for entertainment of this kind. Therefore, an opportunity exists in the European market that Euro Disney could have taken advantage of. However, their failure to pick up signals from the macro environment and micro environment as well as to position their product accordingly, had negative effects on their operations. A further analysis of their macro and micro environment highlights their malfunction. MACRO ENVIRONMENT (P.E.S. T) The components of the macro environment are the political-legal environment, the economic environment, the socio-cultural environment, and the technological environment in which Euro Disney operates. Political-legal environment: Euro Disney's decision to open its Theme Park near Paris has caused a negative publicity in the sight of many French politicians.

In fact, they have objected the existence of Theme Parks in the center of their French culture since the park has been viewed as a visible symbol of the U.S. culture. Although Euro Disney marketers probably choose this location, in particularly France, due to the fact that is the center of Europe and could most probably be the most convenient place for people to arrive and settle in their hotel to be entertained. For instance, people from all over Europe could travel quickly to Paris due to short distance and travel convenience like people from Germany or Spain could quickly and conveniently arrive in Paris. However, the ignorance of the politicians' unfriendliness and deterrence caused the dire publicity to be spread all over France and probably wider. Politicians are usually the most publicly articulated figures. Thus, their opposition view would probably be spread to many potential visitors or customers that are most likely to decide not to buy or visit Euro Disney Theme Park or products.

The negative publicity should have been important factor that Euro Disney marketer did not considered when placing the Theme Park and sustaining the U.S. spirit. Socio-cultural environment: Euro Disney marketers have recognized a trend. People are going to theme parks during the weekends for adults as well as children entertainment. Indeed, there is an existing need for entertainment of this kind. However, the opportunity should have not been 'taken for granted'. Other cultural factors should have been analyzed to decide the positioning of Theme Park.

Their prevalent mistake has been the failure to recognize the cultural differences between Americans and French people. Locating the Theme Park near Paris and acquiring agricultural land as well as imposing the U. S spirit undeniably negatively affects french citizens. The French peoples' lifestyle deeply depends on the gratitude to their traditional agriculture. Thus, the land takeover by an American Company mainly does not provide pleasure to them. In addition, the politicians' negative publicity and the cultural leaders' unfriendliness toward the Euro Disney theme park caused the company to close down one resort hotel and laid off 5000 employees. Taking this into account the Euro Disney marketers should have anticipated peoples' resistance toward the Theme Park and should have changed their positioning in accordance to the cultural as well as lifestyle changes.

Probably they could have changed their positioning toward more French like spirit such as French names for their labeled products or shows. Probably their decision not to have French names has been due to the targeting market, which is whole Europe containing many cultures and languages. Indeed, they have overlooked the market since it is too broad target market to fit the different cultural needs. Economic Environment: Euro Disney mainly failed to recognize the recession period in Europe.

Recession usually means higher level of unemployment. The unemployment further changes the way people spend their money since they have less disposable income, particularly when people are unemployed they do not spend money on luxury especially on entertainment. Indeed, this should have been considered as a factor that could lower the number and spending power of customers. Further, the implementation of the exchange rate mechanism has had negative impact on French and British GDP level. Thus, by decreased GDP the standard of living decreases driving consumers away from spending money on Theme Parks. Indeed, the climate in Europe together with the lower GDP has led the operations to depend only on summer month's period.

In fact, the income generated only from this period has not been enough even to sustain the business. I addition, ignoring the lower GDP and the Europe's recession Euro Disney's marketers have made significant mistake by over pricing its products and tickets. The higher price forced consumers to switch to its lower priced competitors. Indeed, Euro Disney has missed consumer price sensitivity, thus have failed to attract customers. Technological environment: The major technological problem has been the particular location where the Theme Park has been built. The climate has brought to a standstill the operation of the business.

Although the idea to build a Theme Park has been in correspondence with the existing need on the market the weather should have been considered. In practical terms, the transfer of the idea to fit the market needs indeed could not been suitable since the weather conditions have not been considered. Probably, a closed type of Theme Park could have been suitable for the weather changes. TASK ENVIRONMENT The key elements of the task environment that will be analyzed are the competitors, the distribution and the customers. Competitors: Major overlooked problem are the competitors of Euro Disney. The overpricing of Euro Disney products and tickets has given a place for competitors to enter the market as well as to gain customers.

Euro Disney has overlooked the power of its competitors to take its customers. Thus, the mere dependency of loyalty of customers has negatively affected Euro Disney sales. Considering the shocking economic factors and the cultural mistake that they have made Euro Disney has opened an opportunity for competitors to conquest the market. For instance, rival leisure attractions in UK had taken aggressively visitors away from Euro Disney. Indeed, this imposes a major threat to Euro Disney to sustain in the market.

Therefore, a close consideration and repositioning should have been made in order to overcome the threat from its competitors. Distribution channels: Another factor is the distribution channels. There has been a warning by its main vacation programme distributor, Airtours, that it will close its Euro Disney programmes because of the inconvenient price. The distributor could not sell Euro Disney programme packages and make profits. Thus, this imposes a great threat for Euro Disney and should have been anticipated before pricing their products too high.

Consumers: Euro Disney failed to recognize the consumers lower disposable income as well as their cultural differences. In fact, these were the major reasons for the lower sales. They overlooked the opportunity to profit on the established costumers need for Theme Park entertainment because they did not realized who in fact were their customers. STRENGHT S AND WEAKNESESEuro Disney's major strength is its well-known and established tradition and brand name.

Further, Euro Disney is a conglomerate company comprised of many businesses. The existence of their own television programme is in fact a strength, thus transformed into opportunity to advertise its products and parks. Indeed, its strengths or distinctive competences may have been turned into opportunities to experience a competitive advantage over its competitors. Obviously, Euro Disney did not used effectively its strength in the European market, thus has overlooked to transform its strengths into opportunities. In addition, one weakness that can be concluded from the case study is Euro Disney's ineffective marketing team when entering the European market. In fact, it is a failure of its marketing team to quickly react to the threatening environmental signals and especially predicting them before entering and positioning itself in the European market.

The marketing mix is comprised of four different elements, which are the product, the place, the promotion and the price. Bearing in mind the environmental analysis the company should have chosen better marketing mix to position itself in the European market. Suggestion of each element of the marketing mix is provided and analyzed accordingly. PRODUCT The products are the Theme Park experience and entertainment and the various Disney products sold inside. People from Europe view differently the product.

They have deep consideration toward their traditions, in particular in France toward the agriculture. Therefore, acquiring agricultural land to build the Theme Park would not be proper decision. Probably a better decision could have been to buy land that is not for cultivating agriculture. Indeed, acquiring other non-agriculture land such as land in the center of Paris or in an urban area could have been more attention grabbing. Even though the price for urbanized land is higher, however, increase number customers attracted could have compromised it because they would have not been offended and there could have been less negative publicity. Yet, the American spirit of the Theme Park and the products affected the French people perceptions.

Due to their appreciation for their culture Euro Disney could have placed French names on their offerings. However, since their target has been whole Europe putting French names would not be suitable for the different customers. Thus, the company could either target smaller market such as France or putt international names that could appeal to all European countries. However, the American spirit should be abolished in every case due to the fact that the location of the Theme Park is Paris and there exists a resistance toward American spirit products. PLACE The mere fact that Theme Parks is located near Paris, which is the center in Europe, more precisely Western Europe suggests that the place is nearer to every Western Europe country.

Thus, and improvement in the traveling convenience should be increased to create more appealing message to people willing to come to the Theme Park. Indeed, this attracts customers by the fact that they will enjoy their traveling and at the same time entertain themselves. However, considering the climate in Paris the company should have not located Theme Parks on that particular location. Indeed, a more suitable location could have been Spain, Italy and Greece. The climate there is rarely wet and rainy, thus an open Theme Park is suitable as well.

Yet, these countries are not very convenient places for all European people to travel due to larger distances. Comprising the improvement in the travel condition it could be possible to attract and cover the whole European market. Still, another possibility could be to change the product. This means to change Theme Parks to be close type of park that could suit any climate. In particularly, a technological improvement with extensive R&D could improve the construction of the park, such as number of means to isolate the park from the environment by roofs or by other techniques. PROMOTION Euro Disney has already accepted the new spirit of co-operation to promote its products.

It has joint deals with the leading travel operators, competitions in the regional and national press, discount schemes for its frequent customers and television, radio and press advertising. Indeed, it's a decent way toward improvement. Yet, the company should indeed consider its distinctive competence, which is the ownership of its own TV shows and programmes. This a good way to promote its products at lower expenses as well as to show consideration towards its customers.

In fact, throughout the TV shows it could be the most convenient and convincing way to promote its products due to the fact that most of the products are targeted at the same market as the TV shows. In addition, an emphasis should be placed to the traditional value of the Disney name. Since the company differentiates itself through its well-known name this indeed constitutes the major strength or distinctive competence. By exploitation of its strength they should emphasize their willingness and spirit of taking care of their customer's wishes and needs. Thus, their major promotional tool should be their brand name and the 'word of mouth" delighted experience.

PRICE Finally, a quick change it their price should be adjusted in accordance to the acceptability by customers and potential customers. Euro Disney must consider recession period in Europe as well as the lower disposable income and standard of living. The economic environment suggests that people are not willing to pay the high price offered by Theme Park, meaning that they are especially price sensitive. Even the major programme distributor Airtours warned to close its Euro Disney programme from sales due to the significantly high price.

Thus, Euro Disney must lower its price to accommodate to the accepted consumer's level to fit the market needs and gain customers. In addition, the company could provide special discounts. Since people are price sensitive, special discounts during winter period could encourage visitors and buyers. Thus, Theme Parks could balance its sales throughout the year as well.

Indeed, special discounts could be given to group visitors to encourage more people visiting the resort. Moreover for more price concerned people Euro Disney could offer packages prices. For instance, a five days accommodation might be slightly lower price than for two days only. Thus, boosting resort visitors.