Amanda Thompson, managing director of UK theme park Pleasure Beach Blackpool, has been awarded an OBE for her services to tourism in the Queen's New Year's Honours list.

Keeping up a long family tradition, Amanda has followed in the footsteps of her father, grandfather and great-grandfather to continue building on the success of Britain's top tourist attraction. The great-granddaughter of Pleasure Beach founder William George Bean, she became managing director of the family company in 2004, having previously served as deputy managing director since 2000 and as a director of the company. As MD, Thompson has become one of the few gifted females to hold the title in the amusement park industry and in fact runs one of the largest amusement parks in the world.

Thompson is also president of Stageworks Worldwide Productions, the entertainment division of Pleasure Beach, which she formed in 1982 to present spectacular live shows on stage and ice. With more than 20 years' experience producing and directing ice shows, she has brought Stageworks to the forefront of live entertainment, creating outstanding productions for venues worldwide.

Since taking over the helm, Thompson has continued to invest and to improve the aesthetics of Pleasure Beach and the whole visitor experience, bringing new concepts including the opening of the UK's only Nickelodeon Land, which opened in May 2011 representing an investment of £10.3m.

Commenting on the New Year Honour, Thompson said: "I feel very honoured and deeply privileged to have received this accolade and to follow in my father's footsteps as he was also awarded the OBE for his services to tourism. It's very important for me to carry on in the tradition of Pleasure Beach and long may the success continue."