IAAPA Water Park Forum

Value driven, focused and results motivated Senior Operations Manager with 23+ years of experience in business development, commercial/operations management and leading departments within the leisure/sports/hospitality sectors. Has consistently produced unprecedented results with a proven track record of increasing revenue, profit and market share. Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with expansive experience in managing operations departments to ensure commercial interests are optimized.

Commercially astute and profit-driven, has a unique understanding and skillset, with the ability to deliver accelerated, sustainable and profitable business growth. As a Hospitality professional, committed to providing a memorable guest experience to all customers to drive revenue and market share. With an inclusive and participatory leadership style, and a proven track record of building cohesive, top-performing and customer-centric teams.

As the Head of Waterparks Global and Amusement Rides Middle East at TÜV SÜD, I lead the business development and operations of amusement ride and water park projects across the world, with a focus on the Middle East region. I have over 25 years of experience in general management, organizational and business development, project management, consulting service management, with a NASCLA certification as a General Contractor.

My core competencies include service operations, operational planning, operational excellence, customer focus, leadership, and creativity. I am passionate about ensuring the safety and quality of waterparks and amusement rides, and developing and rolling out international water park services. I manage local inspector teams, supervise and coordinate contractors and vendors, and establish competitive bidding systems and effective contract management. I am also responsible for the recruitment, training, and global dispatching of Expert Engineers. I thrive on challenges, innovation, and collaboration, and I am committed to delivering exceptional results for TÜV SÜD and its clients.

Bill Lentz is an amusement park and hospitality specialist with over 35 years of experience managing theme parks, water parks, and animal parks. He currently serves as General Manager at Rixos Qetaifan Island North in Doha, Qatar, overseeing operations at Meryal Waterpark. Prior to this role, he was General Manager at Adventureland Resort and Miami Seaquarium, and he spent several years as Vice President of Water Parks at Palace Entertainment. Earlier in his career, he held various VP & General Manager roles at Cedar Fair Entertainment (including Knott’s Soak City Palm Springs and California’s Great America). A graduate of California State University–Fullerton with a B.B.A. in Finance and
Management, Bill is known for maximizing profitability through expense control, driving multi-disciplinary revenue, and delivering exceptional guest experiences in the amusement and hospitality industries.

Piotr is a registered UK Architect with a Master of Science in Architecture and has over 20 years of experience in international architecture, theming, design, and project management. Piotr’s rich background involves working with a multitude of prestigious brands such as Yas Waterworld and Royal Caribbean and unique industries including the Riyadh Metro, aviation, retail, and mixed-use developments. Piot joined WTI in 2018 as Senior Design Architect and by 2022 he was named Director of WTI’s Creative Studio. Capitalizing on his multi-faceted skillset, Piotr works as a client-facing masterplanner and architect on various projects – leading and guiding the creative design process for numerous aquatic destinations of all shapes and sizes. Piotr is involved from the earliest stages of the project and works with internal and external teams to craft meaningful and impactful design decisions
to deliver iconic and award-winning facilities across the globe. His commitment to the aquatic industry is showcased through his involvement in several industry associations such as the Royal Institute of British Architects, Themed Entertainment Association, International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, and World Waterpark Association. In addition, Piotr is a LEED Green Certified professional and has developed an innate understanding of sustainable design practices. Piotr’s passion, creativity, and enthusiasm are visible in all aspects of his career at WTI.