ABOUT
Multi-disciplined and results-driven professional with a solid career and international experience in Theme Parks.
Background in Retail, F&B, Guest Services, Cash Control and Finance. Skilled at recognizing the business needs and developing effective solutions with focus on customer experience and profitability.
Strong attention to details, deep understanding of guest expectations and ability to anticipate needs taking actions to translate expectations in value to guests and to the company. Has managed multiple outlets and departments with headcount over 300 staff and large budgets.
Recognized as an exceptional leader with the ability to maximize effectiveness and develop the team potential to meet targets while maintaining the team’s moral and high levels of colleague satisfaction.
Experience in developing and maintaining safety standards and programs.
EXPERIENCE
AVIVA
RIO QUENTE, HOT PARK AND COSTA DO SAUIPE
BRAZIL
General Manager of Experience in Entertainment Parks and Resorts
Feb 2024 - Current
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MERYAL WATERPARK RIXOS QETAIFAN ISLAND NORTH
DOHA, QATAR
PRE-OPENING
Director of Guest Experiences
Sept 2023 - Feb 2024
IAAPA
ORLANDO, UNITED STATES
Latin America & Caribbean Advisory Committee Member
Jan 2023 - Current
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President
Nov 2022 - Sept 2023
ANDRADINA TOURISTIC DISTRICT
ANDRADINA, BRAZIL
THERMAS ACQUALINDA WATERPARK
ANDRADINA, BRAZIL
HEAD OF PRE-OPENING
Chief Operating Officer
Oct 2020 - Sept 2023
HOT BEACH WATERPARK
OLIMPIA, BRAZIL
PRE-OPENING
General Manager
Dec 2018 - Oct 2020
Guest Services & Retail Manager
Dec 2016 - Nov 2018
ECO PARK PORTO DA ILHA
BONITO, BRAZIL
Operations Manager
Jul 2016 - Dec 2016
Business Development Manager
Jan 2016 - Feb 2017
XPEDITION MIDDLE EAST
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
MELIUS RESTAURANT
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Assistant Manager F&B
Aug 2015 - Jan 2016
MIRAL EXPERIENCES
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Management Trainee
Aug 2014 - Aug 2015
Food & Beverage Committee Member
Jan 2012 - Dec 2014
IAAPA
ORLANDO, UNITED STATES
WET'N WILD SÃO PAULO
ITUPEVA, BRAZIL
Account Manager
Sept 2013 - Jul 2014
Food and Beverage Manager
Nov 2011 - Sept 2013
Revenue Assistant Manager
Aug 2009 - Oct 2011
Food and Beverage Supervisor
Jul 2008 - Jul 2009
Food and Beverage Coordinator
Feb 2007 - Jun 2008
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HOPI HARI
VINHEDO, BRAZIL
Operations ll Senior (F&B Coordinator)
Mar 2003 - Dec 2006
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CERTIFICATES
IAAPA CERTIFIED ATTRACTIONS EXECUTIVE
DISNEY APPROACH TO EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
DISNEY APPROACH TO QUALITY SERVICE
DISNEY APPROACH TO LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE
IBCCES AUTISM CERTIFICATION HOSPITALITY AC20175688
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR FOR TOP MANAGEMENT OF ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
CONSULTING SERVICES CLIENTS
TUNÁ WATERPARK
CAPITÓLIO, BRAZIL
Services: Review and redesign of masterplan for operational adequacy.
ENDORSEMENTS
Ken Whiting - President Whiting's Food Concessions & Chairman of IAAPA
"It is a pleasure working with Rafael on the Food & Beverage Committee for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA). He is always willing to volunteer his time, and to share his experience and expertise. He brings a global perspective to our group which adds real value to the service we provide to the members of IAAPA. He definitely understands our industry, is very knowledgable in his professional position, and has a desire and commitment to continue to learn and grow. It's been a pleasure to have the opportunity to work with him."
"Rafael is a loyal and dedicated professional and has always helped the company, regardless of the area that was requested. He managed a team of over 50 professionals and was admired by all. He is a motivating leader. Rafael was always connected to market trends and sought to apply his knowledge in his daily work. His great attention to details and focus on results were of great value to the company. It was a pleasure working beside Rafael for almost 5 years."
Marcelo Beraldo - General Manager Parque da Mônica
"For every project we undertoke together with IAAPA and in particular a Webinar to Brazilian audience , Rafael always showed deep knowledge of the Food and Beverage segment and Water Parks, developed a really meaningful content and presented the Webinar with ease and professionalism . I highly recommend Rafael Penna as Speaker and as Food and Beverage professional."
Bruno Baldacci - Marketing Manager Wet'n Wild
"Rafael is a very smart man, with new and audacious ideas. He knows how to manage people developing their best results for his Food and Beverage group. Technically he knows everything about foods, beverages and its restrictions. Rafael also managed some important projects during the period we worked together, and has given good results for the company. I get very secure to endorse Rafael as a great professional"
"Rafael is an extremelly dedicated and with urgency sense, responsability and dinamic professional with fast thinking and logic skills. He always accepted well the challenges and has a solid and well deserved career."
"Rafael is a serious and dedicated professional. He has a clear vision of he business and he manages his area with competence. He is always opened to receive comments and suggestions and even that does not make sense, he respects his colleague. He is one of the few colleagues with this skill that I had the opportunity to work together. I am very proud to have him as a partner at Wet`n Wild"
Isabela D'Andrea - Marketing Manager Wet'n Wild
Marcelo Gregório - Maintenance Manager Wet'n Wild
Elvio Andrade - General Manager Blue Park Foz
FERRARI WORLD ABU DHABI
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
MORE ENDORSEMENTS
INDUSTRY PRESENCE
LIVE SESSION
Theme Parks - The reopening
Covid-19 Series
Portal Eventos TV - 08/2020
Panel with Entertainment industry professionals discussing the reopening of theme and water parks after Covid-19.
WEBINAR
Acessibility for Autism in Tourism
Covid-19 Series
IAAPA - 08/2020
Webinar in Portuguese targeting Brazilian IAAPA members.
LIVE SESSION
How technology can help Theme Parks
Reopening
Covid-19 Series
HAPFUN - 06/2020
Panel with Entertainment industry professionals discussing the technology use in the industry x Covid-19.
INDUSTRY PROTOCOL
Attractions Industry Protocols
Covid-19 Series
BRAZILIAN MINISTRY OF TOURISM- 06/2020
Protocol Commitee Member
WEBINAR
Water Park Industry Reopening
Covid-19 Series
IAAPA - 05/2020
Webinar in Portuguese targeting Brazilian IAAPA members.
STANDARD
ABNT NBR 15926-5:2011 Amusement Parks equipments - Part 5: Water Parks
BRAZILIAN ASSOCIATION OF TECHNICAL STANDARDS - 05/2020
Revision Commitee Member
INDUSTRY PROTOCOL
Attractions Industry Protocols
Covid-19 Series
SINDEPAT / ADIBRA - 05/2020
Protocol Commitee Member
ARTICLE
Making the Grade - Steps for minimizing the risk of foodborne ilnesses.
IAAPA FUNWORLD MAGAZINE - 03/2015
Article in English
WEBINAR
F&B - Basic maneuvers to improve your results.
EAAPA - 05/2014
Webinar in English with Russian translation targeting former USSR countries
WEBINAR
F&B - Tips and strategies to improve your F&B results
IAAPA - 12/2013
Webinar in Portuguese targeting Brazilian IAAPA members.
ARTICLE
Maximizing Food Margins - Attractions apply a mix of strategies to preserve profit.
IAAPA FUNWORLD MAGAZINE - 11/2013
Article in English
ARTICLE
Serving Up Solutions - How Attractions Meet the needs of guests with food allergies.
IAAPA FUNWORLD MAGAZINE - 04/2012
Article in English
