The blooloop 50 theme park influencer list 2019

Jenefer Brown is executive vice president and head of global live, interactive and location-based entertainment at Lionsgate.

After the launch of Lionsgate Entertainment World in 2019 in China, Brown and her team opened more themed entertainment experiences featuring the studio’s intellectual property. There are plans to roll out the Lionsgate Entertainment World format to other territories around the world.

What sets Lionsgate apart from other IP providers in the attractions industry is its focus on largely adult-led licensed properties. One of its key film franchises is The Hunger Games, as featured within the Lionsgate-themed land at Motiongate movie park in Dubai. Meanwhile, at Thorpe Park near London and in Las Vegas, horror fans can enjoy The Walking Dead and SAW-themed rides and experiences. In 2021, a new Blair Witch-themed escape room opened in Las Vegas.

Before joining Lionsgate, Brown worked for themed experience designer Thinkwell, after a previous career as an attorney. “Her leadership, expertise, and tireless problem-solving skills instil confidence and trust that the project vision and goals will be achieved,” said former Thinkwell colleague Kelly Ryner.

Thierry Coup, senior VP and chief creative officer at Universal Creative, boasts an exceptional pedigree when it comes to the creation of themed entertainment experiences. For the past 30 years, he has worked in a variety of creative roles with both Universal and Disney.

“It’s been an incredible ride for me,” he told the website of Universal’s parent company, Comcast. “Doing what I do, you feel lucky if you worked on one big attraction like The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man or The Simpsons Ride. But I’ve worked on a half of a dozen or so, and it keeps getting better and better.”

Comcast has revealed that Epic Universe, the fourth theme park at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida, is expected to open by summer 2025. Previously, the company opened Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan and Universal Beijing Resort. The Beijing destination includes the fourth global iteration of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, one of Coup’s crowning achievements.

Since the publication of this list, Coup left Universal for a position as chief experiential futurist at JOCOUP Creative.

Bill Ernest, a former senior Disney executive, is playing a major part in shaping Saudi Arabia's entertainment sector over the coming decade as the kingdom strives to become a top 10 global tourist destination by 2030.

SEVEN plans build to 20 multi-faceted entertainment destinations across the country, plugging in to a young population (60 percent of citizens under 30) crying out for recreation. Its budget is huge – $64 billion – but so too is the level of development required to bring the nation's attractions industry up to speed. One of Ernest's first tasks will be to develop a network of 50 cinemas. These will be Saudi's first public movie theatres for 35 years. The company also has theme park plans, including a park in the Kingdom's eastern province.

Ernest brings with him almost 25 years' experience with the Walt Disney Company. Most recently he served as president and managing director of Asia for Disney's parks, experiences and products division. He oversaw the operation and continued development of Hong Kong Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland and Shanghai Disney Resort. With a background in hotel and leisure resort management, he has also co-led the entire hotel division at Walt Disney World in Florida, as well as launching the first two ships and associated ports for the Disney Cruise Line.

Bob Iger is responsible for one of the largest media companies in the world, as well as being a leading global player in the theme park industry. Under Iger's watch, the Walt Disney Company has significantly expanded its portfolio of intellectual property (IP). From Marvel to Star Wars, much of the IP acquired over the past decade is now beginning to find its way into Disney's theme parks and resorts around the world.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opened at both Walt Disney World (WDW) in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California in May 2019. Like Pandora – The World of Avatar at WDW's Animal Kingdom, these themed lands provide a new level of storytelling and gritty immersion that is a world away from the cartoon worlds with which Disney made its name.

Mickey Mouse remains a powerful ambassador for the company, particularly in Disney's theme parks. Significant investment is now underway at Disney's parks and resorts in Paris, Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Disney's media content remains some of the most heavily consumed on the planet. With an even richer portfolio of IP to draw on than ever before, the company's theme parks should remain in pole position for the foreseeable future.

Since co-founding Europa-Park in 1975 with his late father Franz, Roland Mack has developed the property into Europe's busiest non-Disney theme park. Boasting six hotels, its resort status was consolidated with the opening of the €180 millionRulantica water park in 2019.

As an IAAPA Hall of Fame inductee and former chairman, Mack's reputation reaches far beyond his native Germany. The Mack brand features in many of the world's leading theme parks thanks to the output of Mack Rides. Roland, a qualified engineer, serves as shareholder and former managing director of the family-owned manufacturer.

The family-owned destination in the state of Baden-Württemberg, close to the border of France and Switzerland, is a model of European unity. Europa-Park and Rulanticaare home to more than 100 attractions spread across themed lands representing differentEuropean nations and stories. The resort welcomed a record 5.7 million visitors in 2019 before the pandemic disrupted attendance.

"I'm really not prepared to retire," Mack told blooloop on the occasion of his 70th birthday in October 2019. Yet his three children – Michael, Thomas and Ann-Kathrin – are now involved with different elements of Europa-Park, allowing him to take a more supervisory role in the business.

Al Mubarak is a member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and the chairman of both Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC). The latter serves as the master developer of major tourism, cultural and residential projects such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

As chairman of Miral Asset Management, he sits at the helm of an organisation with assets in excess of $12 billion. Miral's showpiece development is Yas Island. The world-class leisure and entertainment destination is already home to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, and soon SeaWorld Abu Dhabi.

He is also chairman of twofour54, which ensures the growth and sustainability of the emirate's media industry and will have a new base at Yas Bay.

Authenticity is key to Joe Rohde’s vision with every project he creates for Disney, the world’s leading theme park operator. Whether he’s weaving Hawaiian culture into Disney’s Aulani resort or creating alien worlds at Animal Kingdom’s Pandora – The World of Avatar, the results are spectacular.

It was as lead designer of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney World's fourth theme park in Florida, that Rohde made a name for himself. He guided the creation of attractions such as Expedition Everest, as well as Pandora's Na'vi River Adventure and Avatar Flight of Passage. The latter is regarded by many as the industry's most authentic flying experience.

As creative lead for Marvel attractions at Disney parks, experiences and products, Rohde also oversaw the transformation of Disney California Adventure's Tower of Terror into Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! The Imagineer does not restrict his knowledge and insight to his Disney peers. His talks are as inspiring as his attractions, making him an in-demand speaker at events around the world.

Asia, and China in particular, is an important market for Los Angeles design firm Thinkwell. Kelly Ryner, who was Thinkwell Group's first employee back in 2001, leads its Beijing studio. Recent Chinese projects include Lionsgate Entertainment World at Henqin Island and Eon Time World in Harbin.

Prior to joining Thinkwell, Ryner held roles at major theme parks including Universal's Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan and Warner Bros. Movie World Germany. Her background as an art director and scenic artist allows her to help clients understand their needs and goals, while clearly communicating the complex development process with them.

Trowbridge was the creative force behind Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at both Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California. The expansion is home to two major attractions, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The latter is one of the most ambitious and advanced experiences that Walt Disney Imagineering has ever created.

Trowbridge is no stranger to turning fantasy film juggernauts into themed attractions. During a 15-year career with Universal Creative, he helped to create the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando.

He is acutely the aware of the responsibility he has in meeting fans' expectations. “People have been living and dreaming about Star Wars for 40 years,” he told the LA Times. “For the first time we are going to give them the opportunity to take what they have only seen on the screen and let them walk into it. Absolutely, it keeps me up at night.”

By leveraging several core attraction brands such as Legoland, Sea Life, Madame Tussauds and the Dungeons, CEO Nick Varney has turned Merlin Entertainments into the world's second-largest operator. With an ever-increasing footprint, it now operates 139 attractions, 23 hotels and six holiday villages in 24 countries.

The company's roots in the 'midway' (short stay) attraction business have helped it to develop efficient operations with a relatively quick return on investment. Yet Merlin has also enjoyed success in recent years at its theme parks, including Legoland, by adding themed accommodation. Merlin's 10th Legoland attraction, Legoland Korea Resort, opened in 2022.

In addition to building its own brands, Merlin is increasingly working with external intellectual property providers to bring fresh stories and characters to its guests. These include Peppa Pig-themed experiences. The world's first Peppa Pig Theme Park launched in Florida in 2022. Merlin and Hasbro are also creating the world’s first standalonePeppa Pig Resortin China, which is scheduled to open in 2024.

Varney retired in 2022