Great Wheel Corporation

Great Wheel Corporation was a company engaged in the development, building, financing, and operation of Ferris wheels, which they often termed "observation wheels" or "observation platforms".

Great Wheel Corporation
TypePrivate
HeadquartersSingapore
ProductsFerris wheels

Great Wheel Corporation, registered in Singapore as GWC Holdings, was a consultant for the 165-metre (541 ft) Singapore Flyer, the world's tallest Ferris wheel since it was completed in 2008. Florian Bollen was chairman of both Great Wheel Corporation and Singapore Flyer Pte Ltd.[1] The Singapore Flyer went into receivership in May 2013.[2]

In 2009, Great Wheel Corporation merged with World Tourist Attractions to form Great City Attractions.[3] World Tourist Attractions went into administration in December 2010, followed by Great City Attractions in July 2012.

In May 2010, Great Wheel Corporation was one of several companies named in a report lodged with the prosecutor's office in Berlin, Germany, for alleged embezzlement.[1]

Artist's impression of the failed Great Berlin Wheel project

Project failures

Great Wheel Corporation was involved in a number of giant Ferris wheel projects, all of which failed either prior to, or very shortly after, the start of construction.

Name
 		HeightCountry
 		Location
 		Project history
 
metres (feet)
Beijing Great Wheel
208 (682)
 ChinaBeijingOriginally due to open 2008[4]
Went into receivership in 2010[5]
Great Dubai Wheel
185 (607)
 United Arab EmiratesDubaiPlanning permission granted in 2006[6]
Originally due to open 2009[6]
Project cancellation confirmed January 2012[7]
Great Berlin Wheel
175 (574)
 GermanyBerlinOriginally due to open 2009[8]
"Delayed";[9] no subsequent announcements
Jeddah Eye
150 (492)
 Saudi ArabiaJeddahOriginally due to open 2012[10]
Construction should have begun in 2009;[10] no subsequent announcements
Great Orlando Wheel
122 (400)
 United StatesOrlando"Suspended" in 2009[9]
Great Orlando Wheel Corp. placed in receivership in 2013[11]

Financial failures

2010 collapse of Great Beijing Wheel Co.

In May 2010 it was reported that Great Beijing Wheel Co., the company set up to build the 208-metre (682 ft) tall Beijing Great Wheel, under construction since 2007,[4] had gone into receivership after breaching the conditions of a loan.[5]

2010 collapse of World Tourist Attractions

In 2009, World Tourist Attractions had merged with Great Wheel Corporation to form Great City Attractions,[3] said at that time to be "the world's largest operator of Observation Wheels." [sic][12]

On 23 December 2010, the holding company WTA Global Holdings, which traded as World Tourist Attractions, went into administration, having hit financial difficulties due to the seasonal nature of its trade. At that time, it was operating five large transportable wheels in the UK, in Dublin, Liverpool, Manchester, Weston Super-Mare, and Hyde Park in London. Some proved not to be viable during the off-season, while others simply failed to make the profits initially predicted. The company collapsed owing £16.4 million, including £8.9 million to unsecured creditors, who were expected to get nothing.[13]

Early in 2011 the assets of WTA Global Holdings were bought out of administration for £230,000[14] by Great City Attractions,[15] operating as a subsidiary of Elliot Hall Ltd,[16] a new company set up by WTA Global Holdings director Elliot Hall.[14]

2012 collapse of Great City Attractions
Main article: Great City Attractions

In July 2012 it was reported that Great City Attractions[17] had also gone into administration. It ceased trading the following month.

In May 2013 the Singapore Flyer went into receivership, and accountants Ferrier Hodgson were appointed as receiver and manager of the company's charged assets.[2]

References
  1. Firm linked to Flyer under German probe
  2. Singapore Flyer in receivership Archived 2013-06-07 at the Wayback Machine
  3. World Tourist Attractions, Great Wheel Merge Ahead Of IPO
  4. Beijing begins construction of world's biggest wheel Archived 2013-07-05 at the Wayback Machine AFP 2007-11-05
  5. Beijing Ferris wheel company in receivership
  6. "Great Dubai Wheel Gets the Green Light". Archived from the original on 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
  7. McGinley, Shane (5 January 2012). "Dubai's answer to London Eye scrapped, search on for stand-in". Arabian Business via Arabianbusiness.com. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  8. "The Ferris Wheel near the Zoo has been approved". Archived from the original on 2009-06-01. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
  9. Planned Great Wheel for I-Drive area of Orlando on hold -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
  10. Contract Signed to Build $250 million Jeddah Eye
  11. Orlando Ferris Wheel Project Gets Receiver for Liquidation
  12. "Keynote and Featured Speakers". Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
  13. Big wheel business debts revealed
  14. "Exclusive: Arena loses £50,000 after Wheel of Liverpool 'crash'". Archived from the original on 2014-09-24. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  15. Big wheel operator enters administration
  16. Company Overview of Great City Attractions Ltd.
  17. "Company which ran Plymouth Eye big wheel on Hoe has stopped trading". Archived from the original on 2012-08-13. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
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