Industry thought leader
Thomas Mack, one of the owners of Germany's largest theme park, the Europa-Park Resort in Rust near Freiburg, is internationally regarded as one of the most innovative entrepreneurs in the gastronomy, hotel and theme park industry.
Thomas Mack oversees the entire operation of Europa-Park, which employs more than 5,200 people. With six hotels and over 40 restaurants, including the two-Michelin-starred Ammolite - The Lighthouse Restaurant, Europa-Park is also one of the largest hotel and restaurant destinations in Europe.
He has a particular passion for the hotel and gastronomy industry. He is a driving force and pioneer in the sector. He has been named ‘Hotelier of the Year’, among other accolades. He holds a hotel management degree from the Lucerne Hotel Management School and has worked internationally at renowned establishments such as the legendary Grand Hotel Le Meurice in Paris and alongside the renowned three-star chef Emile Jung in Strasbourg.
Thomas Mack gained international experience in the wine industry in South Africa and in leading theme parks around the world, including the USA. He developed the unique Eatrenalin gastronomy concept together with F&B expert Oliver Altherr. This spectacular 'restaurant of the future' opened at the end of 2022 and has won numerous awards worldwide, including the Red Dot Award and the TEA Thea Award, known as the Oscars of the industry, in Hollywood in 2024. Thomas Mack is currently the CEO of Eatrenalin.
In September 2025, Thomas Mack was elected to the IAAPA Board of Directors as a new member. IAAPA is the world's leading association for the theme park industry. The association is committed to promoting growth, safety and innovation within the industry.
Not a day goes by without us improving or enhancing areas or developing new ideas. The company is vibrant. We have very high quality standards.
From hotel management school to the Europa-Park Resort
Thomas Mack was born in Lahr in 1981. Just like his brother Michael, he grew up right next to Europa-Park in Rust.
Thomas Mack has managed the hotel, park and event gastronomy divisions as an authorised signatory since 2007, achieving great success in developing new gastronomy concepts and ideas. It was under his direction that FoodLoop was created - the world's first restaurant where food is delivered to the table via rollercoaster tracks.
The fine dining restaurant, Ammolite - The Lighthouse Restaurant, located within the themed 4* superior hotel, 'Bell Rock', is equally as successful. It is the only restaurant within a theme park worldwide to have received two Michelin stars.
In 2013, Thomas Mack married his wife Katja. Together they have two sons.
Thomas Mack has been one of the managing partners and co-owners of Europa-Park since May 2016. He is now responsible for the entire operational management of the theme park and hotel resort, gastronomy, Confertainment, entertainment and Rulantica water world.
Thomas Mack is also very active outside of Europa-Park. In 2020, he played a key role in the acquisition of the Alsatian winery, 'Château Ollwiller'. In 2024, he opened the restaurant 'Amitié - La Cuisine du Château' in the immediate vicinity of the winery.
Responsible hospitality
"A combination of experience and new ideas is the key to success," is Thomas Mack's credo. He embodies the values of the family business: solidarity, gratitude, high standards as a service provider and tireless work on his vision.
"We don't just want our guests to be satisfied – we want to surprise and inspire them, and offer them experiences they won't find anywhere else."
He is shaping the Europa-Park Resort with a clear focus on quality and sustainability.
His responsibilities include:
- Hotels & Gastronomy: over 5,800 beds and more than 90 restaurants, bars and cafés
- Entertainment & Confertainment: top-class shows, events and business
events - Rulantica: further development of the water world as a year-round destination
- Operative business at Europa-Park (attractions, etc.)
- Viticulture & culinary delights: biodynamic viticulture through Château Ollwiller
The opening of the Rulantica water world (2019) expanded the resort to include a year-round attraction, thus making a significant contribution to the further development of the location. Its gastronomic concepts are characterised by the highest quality standards, coupled with an experiential character.
The Mack family believes in never standing still and always rethinking things. We are characterised by a very high level of service. The ‘Mack feeling’ is very important.
Milestones & award-winning innovations
Thomas Mack has had a lasting impact on the hospitality industry with visionary concepts:
- FoodLoop restaurant at Europa-Park (2011) – The world's first looping restaurant
- Ammolite – The Lighthouse Restaurant (2012)– Two Michelin stars at the Europa-Park Resort
- Château Ollwiller (since 2020) – Biodynamic viticulture in France
- Eatrenalin (2022) – The first ‘Restaurant of the Future’, winner of the TEA Thea Award (2024)
- Amitié – La Cuisine du Château (2024) – Restaurant with Alsatian bistro cuisine
His keen sense for trends and quality is also reflected in the shows at the Europa-Park Resort. As the person responsible for the entertainment division, he has played a major role in raising the quality of the resort's offerings to a new level. He also receives professional support from his wife Katja Mack, founder and director of the TALENT ACADEMY Europa-Park, who shares his passion for innovative show concepts. Thomas Mack has also been responsible for several musicals that were realised with the composer Hendrik Schwarzer: ‘SPOOK ME! – The Europa-Park Musical’, ‘SPOOK ME! 2 – The Europa-Park Musical’ and ‘Rulantica – The Musical’.
Outstanding achievements as a hotelier and restaurateur
Thomas Mack's work and innovative strength have been honoured multiple times - here is a selection:
- ‘Hotelier of the Year’ (2020) – Awarded by the Allgemeine Hotel- und Gastronomie-Zeitung (AHGZ)
- ‘Restaurateur of the Year’ at the FIZZZ Awards (2020)
- ‘Influencer of the Year’ (2023) – Schlemmer-Atlas-Award
- ‘Restaurateur of the Year’ (2024) – Rolling Pin.Awards Germany
- ‘The Power 10 – Immersive Influencers’ (2024)
- Blooloop Award (2024) – For outstanding contribution to the leisure industry
- Member of the IAAPA Board of Directors (2026)
Eatrenalin
MACK & BOJSEN – European Cuisine
Thomas Mack
A visionary host
More about Thomas Mack's projects and innovations
Latest press releases about Thomas Mack
Alpine Express ‘Enzian’ and ‘Tirol Log Flume’ return, while the ‘Yomi Adventure Trail’ awaits explorers
With the Alpine Express ‘Enzian’ and the ‘Tirol Log Flume’, two traditional classics return to the Austrian themed area with a brand new splendour. The charming family rollercoaster and the refreshing log boat ride wind through the impressive ‘Magical Valley of Diamonds’ and bring fun for all ages. The ‘Yomi Adventure Trail’ is completely new, an adventurous high-altitude trail with suspension bridges, plenty of climbing elements and two slides that take guests up the rocks that reach up to twelve metres in height to the ‘Gemstone Grotto’. ‘Alpenexpress Coastiality’ also has a new VR adventure waiting for you.
May 14, 2024
More than 300 international participants at the fifth AUREA Award in Europa-Park
The Europa-Park Resort once again served as the meeting place for innovative entrepreneurs, experts and visionaries from all over the world. On 1st December 2022, the best products for immersive tech and entertainment developments in VR, AR, XR and MR were honoured at the fifth AUREA Awards. The award ceremony took place as part of the industry conference NTR - The Metaverse Summit, in cooperation with the Bundesverband Digitale Wirtschaft (BVDW) e.V. and MACK NeXT, which saw the international participants meeting in Rust from 1st to 2nd December.
December 2, 2022