Thinkwell Group Named “Most Honored Theme Park Design Company” At 2013 Theme Park and Attractions Summit & Awards in Beijing

Thinkwell Chief Creative Officer Craig Hanna accepts the award on Thinkwell’s behalf; Earlier in the day, Hanna delivered a presentation on how to compete in a new world class theme park industry in China
November 1, 2013 (Beijing, China) – Thinkwell Group, a worldwide entertainment design and production firm that specializes in theme parks, major attractions, museum exhibits and live shows, was named “Most Honored Theme Park Design Company” at the 2013 Theme Park and Attractions Summit and Awards in Beijing, China. The award was presented to Thinkwell Chief Creative Officer Craig Hanna by Mr. Li Mingde from the Tourism Research Centre of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences during a special reception at the conclusion of the first day of the conference.
Earlier in the day, Hanna delivered a presentation titled “Competing in a New World-Class Theme Park Industry in China.” The session highlighted China’s potential as the next leading market for theme park development and addressed the importance of immersive storytelling and placemaking in distinguishing an amusement (rides) park from a world-class theme park. Hanna also talked about the importance of custom attractions, unique experiences, retail and dining, guest services, quality and attention to detail, cleanliness and proper maintenance as hallmarks of theme park that can compete in the increasingly competitive Chinese landscape. Hanna’s presentation largely centered on the arrival of Shanghai Disneyland and aimed to educate developers about how they can take the sophistication of their theme parks to new levels.
“Thinkwell has been involved in the creation and development of multiple theme park projects in China for many years and being recognized for our work is an honor,” stated Hanna. “In addition, being able to lead the conversation about China’s rapid growth in this arena and what can be done to improve the guests’ experience was a highlight for me.”
Thinkwell Group’s current projects in China include Monkey Kingdom, a theme park currently in development in Beijing, and Jurassic Dream, an indoor theme park that Thinkwell designed in Daqing, China. Other high profile projects include the highly acclaimed Thea Award-winning Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter; Universal 360 – A Cinesphere Spectacular; the Show at the Pier Shops at Caesar’s Atlantic City; the Snow Play Zone at Ski Dubai; Sesame Street Presents: The Body and Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s NatureQuest children’s exhibit, to name a few.
The Theme Park and Attractions Summit & Awards 2013 was conceived as a meeting ground for industry stakeholders, thought leaders, decision makers, government officials, representatives of industry associations, real estate developers, theme park operators and entertainment facility suppliers from all over the world to discuss the fundamental issues inherent in, and opportunities available for, capitalizing on China and its spending power as the next leading market for theme park development. Produced by China Decision Makers Consultancy (CDMC), the conference is set to take place on October 31-November 1, 2013 in Beijing, China.
About Thinkwell Group
Founded in 2001, Thinkwell is a full-service experiential design and production firm that collaborates with its clients to envision, strategize and create immersive, one-of-a-kind guest experiences. Thinkwell develops and produces attractions, master plans, brand experiences, exhibits, live shows, environments, multimedia and digital integration for clients around the world. The award-winning company has become a leader in experiential design by bringing a unique holistic approach to every creative engagement, delivering extraordinary results to notable clients over the years, including Fortune 500 companies, studios, museums, theme parks and destination resorts. For more information visit: www.thinkwell.staging.work.
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Download a PDF of the press release here.