Park News
Park News
Park World News in association with
www.parkworld-online.com
tel Transylvania attraction opens Dream Island Park, Moscow
RWS Entertainment Group appoints new director
ion of the upcoming release ansylvania: Transformania, hapter of the $1.3 billion film
R development.
m Sony Pictures Animation, , an indoor theme park located as officially opened its new otel Transylvania.” tour Dracula’s lavish resort unusual guests, starting by s a bridge over a foggy moat to l’s lobby. There, they will meet will guide them through more ions. tion will be a worthy addition to work on the Hotel Transylvania
ook more than three years, to build a unique space for ning the latest technical and ons to create a comedic horror itable for the whole family,” oll, technical director of Dream
WS Entertainment Group has tapped zoo and museum industry veteran Robby Gilbert as its new global director, business
Gilbert joins the team as RWS and its subsidiary JRA expand their planning, design, implementation and operations capabilities for zoos, aquariums, science centres and botanical gardens worldwide, and as RWS offers custom leased experiences and merchandise featuring iconic brands, including all-new Hershey’s and Guinness World Records attractions. RWS is the only leased experience provider offering not only top brands but also fabrication, installation, operations, and retail merchandise capabilities. These immersive designs encourage play, guest engagement and fun, and are designed to be scalable and flexible in nature to fit any property and space, encouraging foot traffic and demonstrating high return on investment. Current brands include Peanuts, Play-Doh, BRICKLIVE, Bugs…BIG Bugs! and Dinosaur Expedition. Experiences based on Hershey’s and Guinness World Records will be available starting in Autumn.
Island Theme Park. “We partnered with Sony Pictures in order to achieve an authentic experience that will be the first attraction of this level in Russia, in one of the world’s leading theme parks.” “In line with our growing Location Based Entertainment strategy, Dream Island Theme Park has done a fantastic job bringing this beloved brand to life and giving audiences the unique opportunity to transport themselves into the thrilling world of Hotel Transylvania,” said Jeffrey Godsick, EVP of Global Partnerships and Brand Management and Head of Location Based Entertainment at Sony Pictures Entertainment. In addition to the Hotel Transylvania ride,
In his new role, Gilbert will drive the development, production, and delivery of these premium leased experiences as well as their associated branded retail products, which will be produced by RWS Entertainment Group’s London subsidiary, The Experience Department (ted).
guests will also find a “Tavern of Fear” snack bar, a “Vampire’s Bite” burger cafe and “Transylvania Treasures,” a gift store filled with Hotel Transylvania themed souvenirs and memorabilia.
In 2021, RWS acquired Cincinnati-based JRA, a world leader in creating cultural attractions, including zoos and aquariums such as Fort Worth Zoo, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Cincinnati Zoo and Texas State Aquarium, and science museums including Science Centre Singapore, The Mind Museum, Space Centre Houston, Ithra and MOST Science Centre. The studio has also partnered on attractions with such high-profile brands as Hasbro, Warner Bros., LEGO, NBCUniversal and Lionsgate. Gilbert looks forward to leveraging JRA’s considerable expertise and experience to a broader zoo, aquarium, museum, and garden audience.
Gilbert specialises in the development, management and operations of entertainment and educational attractions based on scientific and mission-oriented goals. Prior to RWS Entertainment Group, Gilbert
served as chief executive officer of HRG Concepts, which collaborated on the concept design, fabrication, and installation of exhibit elements for Phoenix Zoo, the San Antonio Zoo, the Nashville Zoo, the Baton Rouge Zoo, and multiple traveling exhibits. Other experience includes the development of over two dozen STEM/STEAM-based leased experiences around the world and supervising the production of a variety of full-scale animatronic figures.
“Robby has spent the last 14 years building amazing partnerships with zoos, aquariums, science museums and botanical gardens around the world,” said Kevin Kreczko, senior vice president, marketing & business development at RWS Entertainment Group. “As our new Global Director, Business Development, he’ll help to deliver immersive leased experiences, dynamic science exhibits and engaging cultural attractions to our clients. With the addition of Robby to the team, and with the expansion of our leased experiences offerings to top brands like Hershey’s and Guinness World Records, we can raise the experience of visitors to new heights across more markets than ever before.”
Connect&GO appoints new senior business development director Tornado Springs opens
Connect&GO, a world leader in integrated attractions management solutions and RFID technology, has added Ted Molter, former chief marketing officer at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, to its growing team. Molter brings more than 30 years of experience in zoos, aquariums and the attractions industry to his new role as senior business development director at Connect&GO. Molter’s career has spanned leadership roles at both San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld Ohio. He is a current IAAPA Board Member and has provided leadership and service as an active member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the San Diego Tourism Authority, Visit California and the California Travel Association.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ted to the Connect&GO team as we
continue our expansion into the United States and beyond,” said Tara Morandi, senior vice president sales & marketing, Connect&Go. “Ted brings an incredible amount of passion and expertise in helping zoos and aquariums grow their revenue, and he will be a huge asset to our team.”
Danish theming firm MK Themed Attractions assisted UK family park Paultons Park in getting its brand-new themed area, Tornado Springs, ready for 12 April by producing and delivering customised props for the entire area.
and experiences, all with a heavy Midwestern US theme. The majority of the themed elements were produced and delivered by MK Themed Attractions. Guests will be immersed in the new area completed with themed signs, props, objects, and coasters, all telling the unique story of Tornado Springs.
to say that it has been a pleasure working with Paultons Park. From the very beginning the visions and ambitions Paultons Park had sounded exciting, and a project we at MK Themed Attractions have loved being a part of. We look forward to seeing the impression the new area Operations director at Paultons
Most recently, Molter has served as a consultant collaborator after his roles as 18
are so pleased to finally open the park and welcome guests to explore Tornado Springs, our largest single investment here at Paultons Park. We wanted to introduce a spectacular and immersive themed area
“We strive to hire team members who truly understand the needs of the clients we serve,” added Dominic Gagnon, CEO of Connect&GO. “With Ted joining our team, we are excited to strengthen our foothold in the zoos and aquariums market and really understand what matters most to these clients, so we can help them succeed in the best possible way.”
SUMMER PART 4 2022
chief marketing officer and director of marketing for San Diego Zoo Global (now San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance), where he served for a combined 22 years. Some of his accomplishments during his tenure include leading the marketing team through a successful re-structuring garnering over $80 million in annual sales revenue, as well as leading an organization-wide re-brand resulting in increased awareness and donations. “Connect&GO has an outstanding company culture and a truly revolutionary product that can change the future of zoos and attractions management,” said Ted Molter. “Their Konnect all-in-one management platform presents a unique opportunity for zoos to step into the future of attractions management, and I'm excited to help them embrace the full potential of their operations.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
