On Thursday 16th June 2016, Shanghai Disneyland (actually Shanghai Disney Resort) opened to much fanfare and attention around the world.
After 7 years of planning, $5.5 billion, 700 imagineers and 2.4 million plants, the gates opened to the public, and those attending the Asian Attractions Expo (AAE) (and half of Shanghai) went to visit.
Shanghai Disneyland comprises the park, Disney opened two hotels, Disneytown dining and shops, and the first Mandarin speaking broadway-style Lion King Show.
I toured the new park with two Disney World cast members, who gave me an ongoing commentary on the operations and similarities between the two resorts. What struck me was just how different this new park was for Disney - 12 years after Hong Kong Disneyland opened, and the first in mainland China.
Bob Iger (white T shirt) spotted touring the park on the second day of the Grand Opening Weekend
Marty Skylar, retired Head of Imagineering, has been quoted saying Shanghai Disneyland is the "best park we've ever done". However, I think as each park is designed specifically for a certain audience, it is hard compare them directly. Here is what I think makes Disneyland Shanghai unique for Disney.
1. Cultural Sensitivity
With 95% of guests from mainland China, the park is no doubt "authentically Disney and distinctively Chinese". There is no "American" Main Street USA, but rather a character-themed Mickey Avenue to funnel guests into the park. Queue lines are shorter as the Chinese don't mind close proximity to each other. There are more shows as well as character meet and greets, passive activities and lots of picture taking! There is no Haunted Mansion, as ancestor worshiping is a common practice in China and this would be deemed disrespectful. Even the size and shape of Mickey Mouse's eyes have been changed, though it is not clear this is a development designed to resonate more with an Asian audience or simply the start of the roll-out of a new look. Minnie too appears to have lost her blue eye-shadow.
As one of the 5% of guests who were non-chinese it was helpful that many signs had an English translation, though some of the rides had no English at all. This was particularly bemusing on the "Once Upon A Time Adventure" where an animated 3D Snow White and her animal friends (I think) told us to point and interact with them but we were unable to really engage as we didn't understand her instructions! However this was the only point in the whole park where the meaning/message was missed, as the theming and story-telling translates on all rides in a very Disney way.
The new Gardens of Imagination "land" features seven gardens including the Garden of Twelve Friends: mosaics of 12 Disney animals all a different Chinese Zodiac- which in turn allowed for an entire merchandise range for the 12 animals ( $ kerching Disney!).
2. New Technology
"You are going to be blown away by Pirates"
All week we kept hearing this on the show floor - and if industry veterans are excited for a ride then I knew it must be good- and it did not disappoint.
The re-imagined ride uses ENORMOUS high definition screens that are blended with the scenery to support the story, but are not completely dependent on it. Throughout the ride are new AV effects such as one that changes a skeleton into an animatronic Captain Jack Sparrow. Nearly 50 years after the original ride opened in Disneyland California, technology has moved on and Disney have utilised this to give a much loved attraction some oomph!
3. New Patented Rides
Rising above Tomorrowland was the new Tron Lightcycles Power Run, an ultra-futuristic coaster with what is in essence a motorbike coaster design. Guests sit on the seat motorbike-style , ("light cycles") and by pulling the handles towards you the back restraint moves and keeps you safely in place, yet you don't feel trapped.
The ride then goes from a standing start to shoot outside the ride building to go back in and "race" a competitor bike on projection screens. Though such a system is not unique, this is a beautifully conceived and designed ride from Vekoma, with the theming, the AV, the smooth, rapid ride and the atmospherics delivering a truly futuristic experience.
The Pirates of the Caribbean boat vehicles are unique to Shanghai Disneyland too - for the first time, the boat's movements are not controlled by the water current, therefore the boat can speed up, turn, and go backwards allowing much greater control of the story and what the guests see.
4. The Size
Shanghai Disneyland is MASSIVE at 963 acres. Larger than Disney World's Animal Kingdom, the park is big, so wear comfy trainers and put your Fitbits on! The streets are very wide and there seems a lot of space to enjoy the theming of the park including grass spaces and gardens. The largest ride is Pirates of the Caribbean, taking up a whopping 175, 000 square feet.
5. A focus on newer IPs
Not surprisingly Disney has used a lot of its resources on newer IPs that are more familiar to the Chinese audience. Frozen is just as huge in China, with an entire Anna and Elsa dedicated show. The first Marvel area of any Disney Park utilises the newly purchased franchise, allowing guests to meet Captain America, Spiderman and friends, as well as take cover inside from the heat/rain.
Even the Pirates of the Caribbean ride has shifted its focus to be squarely on the film IP and the story of Jack Sparrow, however there are still some nods to the original ride (such as the skeleton dog with the keys).
With only some slight hiccups in operations and having to adjust to mass Chinese culture, I have no doubt Disney are onto a winner with mainland Chinese tourists, city locals and tourists. Hardcore Disney fans will also want to see and compare the new re-imagined Disney park. With 10-12 million visitors expected in the first year this is a hugely impressive endeavour and I can't wait to go back!
Bristol Zoo Project has set an opening date for its new 'African Forest' gorilla habitat, home to some of the world’s most threatened species.
Launching on 1 April, the new habitat houses the zoo's troop of critically endangered western lowland gorillas, as well as a new group of endangered cherry-crowned mangabeys.
Joining the gorillas and mangabeys in the habitat are critically endangered slender-snouted crocodiles, and endangered African grey parrots.
Also, guests will get to see several extremely threatened species of West African freshwater fish in a special underwater viewing area.
Justin Morris, chief executive at Bristol Zoo Project, said: "Bristol Zoo Project is not a typical zoo. It is a conservation project with a powerful mission to protect threatened species and habitats.
"Today, 85 percent of the animals in our care are both threatened in the wild and part of targeted conservation programmes. Every visit supports vital work in the UK and overseas – helping to safeguard species for future generations."
Verity McGuire
Set within a local British woodland, African Forest is four and a half times the size of the gorilla troop’s previous home at the former Bristol Zoo Gardens site.
"By creating larger, more natural habitats that prioritise animal welfare at Bristol Zoo Project, we hope to connect people with wildlife in meaningful ways and inspire the next generation of conservationists," Morris said.
"One of the most exciting features of African Forest is the opportunity to witness the unique interactions between species that share the same habitats in the wild. It’s their world on your doorstep."
John Penny
As part of the habitat's opening, a special tribute will be paid to the gorilla troop's silverback Jock, who recently passed away.
Like the zoo's Bear Wood environment, the new habitat includes a learning space integrated into the gorilla house.
Images courtesy of Bristol Zoo Project
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Embed, a leading worldwide supplier of point-of-sale and revenue management systems, is marking International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month with the release of Rise & Renewal: Women’s Stories of Strength.
This is a tribute to the remarkable women who are embracing their power: rising, adapting, and reshaping what’s achievable across technology, business, and beyond.
Rise & Renewal celebrates women's courage, perseverance, and leadership in turning challenges into opportunities, inspiring future generations. From innovators and entrepreneurs to creators and change-makers, these stories highlight resilience and strength.
Empowering women at every level
“At Embed, we believe in the value and power of cultural and gender diversity in our talent pool; we’re proud to be the change that other companies, both large and small, aspire to achieve," says Renee Welsh, CEO of Embed. "We believe that when women rise, industries transform and strengthen.”
“Rise & Renewal is about celebrating the women who have shaped our journey, challenged the status quo, and continue to build the future of the business of fun with courage, creativity, and conviction.”
As a leading global technology company driving the world’s most popular family entertainment centres, Embed is deeply committed to empowering women at every level of the organisation and industry.
Embed’s gender parity now stands at 66% female at the chief executive level (up from 50%), an unprecedented achievement in technology and a testament to Embed’s dedication to gender equality across all organisational levels.
Through the women@embed platform, Embed continues to champion diversity, equity, and opportunity and to celebrate women's journeys.
“Every March during Women’s History Month and on International Women’s Day, we celebrate women in tech and the business of fun. And this year is no different," says Sara Paz, CMO of Embed.
"Every woman’s journey is a story of strength, navigating life’s challenges, rising to the challenge, stepping into their power, and the renewal, transformation, and growth resulting thereof. It’s the hero’s journey.
"The Rise & Renewal series is a reminder that our strength is not just in what we build and accomplish, but in how we lift and bring others with us as we grow, which can happen directly or indirectly through the gift of our example. When it comes to celebrating, we’re equal opportunity; we celebrate everyone! ”
Inowize, a creative company delivering interactive experiences, presents QBIX Play, the latest version of the QBIX immersive gaming room platform, designed to appeal to younger audiences and serve as a compelling visual and experiential centrepiece in modern entertainment venues.
QBIX Play builds on QBIX's proven success to make group play more accessible, spontaneous, and flexible for operators. While QBIX has become a global leader as the high-performance Pro version for immersive group gaming, QBIX Play expands this concept.
Responding to operator demand
QBIX Play is the open-edition version of QBIX, created for younger audiences, family venues, and day-pass entertainment settings.
The attraction preserves the core gameplay of 6 players playing simultaneously, all within a compact 4 x 4 metre (13 × 13 feet) area. It features nine themed multiplayer titles.
The new edition has been developed in response to a clear operator demand: to increase session frequency, to seamlessly integrate into free-play models, and to reduce friction for younger demographics.
“QBIX Play was born from listening carefully to both operators and guests,” says Claudia Mihalache, co-founder of Inowize.
“The market doesn’t need more complexity. It needs immersive attractions that are easier to deploy, easier to access, and easier to monetize.”
QBIX Play eliminates structural obstacles and adopts an open, highly visible design to encourage spontaneous participation while ensuring high throughput per square meter.
Initially unveiled as a concept at IAAPA Expo in November 2025, it was introduced as a new edition of the immersive gaming room. Due to significant industry interest, the product has now been installed in two U.S. locations: FunVille and AR's Entertainment Hub.
The team also revealed its ninth game title for QBIX, Last Defense, at IAAPA Expo 2025.
Venues can now choose between QBIX, QBIX Play, or scale with QBIX Multi-units, allowing them to build layouts that fit their traffic, space, and business model.
SSA Group has been working on a transformative approach to operations. By weaving its signature 452 Hospitality ethos, rooted in a legacy of welcome and human connection, into Scout, a new AI-driven operating system, the company demonstrates how AI can enhance rather than replace the human side of hospitality.
For nearly 60 years, SSA Group has been a staple in the cultural attractions sector, collaborating with zoos, aquariums, and museums to provide comprehensive guest services. As a family-owned business, the company has continually adapted, but its core mission remains centred on a simple, powerful concept: hospitality.
We speak with CEO Sean McNicholas and vice president of people and culture, Jason Stover, to unpack Scout's mission and learn how it can open the door to both greater efficiency and more memorable moments.
SSA reimagines the industry
Starting by looking at the bigger picture, McNicholas says: “What I love about SSA and our family business is our curiosity for continuing to reimagine the industry.
"Those are pillars of our plan. We approach 60 years as a family business in 2030, and what’s exciting to us is continuing to innovate, not just our business, but the guest experience for our clients and partners.”
Sean McNicholas and Jason Stover
This culture of curiosity is what prompted McNicholas and Stover to investigate the potential of artificial intelligence long before it became the industry buzzword it is today.
"Five or six years ago, Jason came to me as one of the early adopters of AI. We started talking about it, and the more we looked at tools like AI, we asked a very simple question: what one, two, or three areas could AI positively impact our business?"
For SSA, the goal was not to replace staff or remove the human element from the museum or zoo experience through automation. Instead, the emphasis was on liberation.
"The thing that became clear was how tools like AI could help us become more efficient with data, back-end systems, and administrative work," adds McNicholas.
"If we can be more efficient there, we can spend more time meeting guests where they need us, which is on the front line.”
The outcome of this exploration is Scout, an AI-assisted tool and ‘unified intelligence layer’ designed specifically for cultural attractions.
Scout is positioned not as a replacement for human workers, but as a co-pilot. It is an operating system that gathers data from across the industry to provide real-time insights. Unlike general-purpose AI tools, Scout has been built for the sector's operational realities.
"AI is trending now, but it’s not new," says Stover.
"I’ve been with SSA for almost 30 years, and my journey with AI in this company has existed since day one. When I first became a manager, we were already experimenting with predictive analytics, trying to forecast attendance and staffing.
"That was AI at the time."
However, the leap to generative AI offered a new opportunity to support SSA's secret sauce: its people.
Stover employs a cinematic analogy to describe Scout’s role within the workforce:
"I compare it to Tony Stark," he says. "He’s brilliant, but he doesn’t become Iron Man until he has Jarvis. That’s what Scout is. It’s a co-pilot that takes away routine, monotonous work so our people can focus on what matters."
Real-time, useful insights
Designed to support guest-journey walkthroughs, the platform collects real-time observations and converts them into actionable insights tailored to each attraction.
The tool was created in accordance with SSA’s core belief that technology should never replace connection; it should enhance it. The idea is that data and design can collaborate to create memorable guest experiences.
This supports SSA’s wider focus on innovation, which aims to turn curiosity into meaningful change that advances partners' missions. By automating data analysis, Scout helps operators make more informed decisions about designs, platforms, and revenue strategies.
"Guest expectations are evolving faster than ever," says Stover. "Scout was built to meet this moment as a tech-forward AI tool that allows us to keep experiences deeply personal.”
The heart of the system: 452 Hospitality
Although the technology is impressive, the engine driving Scout remains entirely human. At the centre of Scout’s design is 452 Hospitality, the cultural ethos that defines SSA Group’s purpose and character.
Named after 452 Leyden Street, the Denver home where SSA’s founders first lived and practised hospitality, 452 has since become both a numeric and philosophical code for what the company stands for: a spirit of welcome, belonging, and genuine human connection.
At 452 Leyden Street, anyone could come in for a meal, a chat, or a place to rest. And that sense of genuine warmth now lives on in every SSA service encounter.
Today, 452 Hospitality reflects SSA’s ongoing dedication to creating authentic, memorable moments that uplift guests, partners, and colleagues alike.
That same spirit guides Scout’s purpose: rather than replacing people, the AI system aims to enable staff to embody 452 Hospitality more fully, freeing them from administrative burdens so they can provide the personal engagement that makes guests feel welcome and valued.
In practice, this involves a particular method for engaging with guests and monitoring operations. Scout develops a digital framework for this using the SOQ model: Observation, Opinion, and Question.
"Scout is being trained by the entire zoo, aquarium, and cultural attraction industry," Stover says. "Every conversation, every audit, every partner insight gets ingested and shapes how Scout operates.”
Within the Scout ecosystem, there are various ‘agents’ dedicated to different tasks, such as labour optimisation and inventory management. However, the ‘452 agent’ is unique.
"It has vision and voice capabilities. As you walk through operations, it analyses images and observations in real time and evaluates them against our hospitality standards. It acts as a co-pilot for auditors and operators, making observations, offering insights, and matching them with best practices and solutions.
“You might miss something as a human, but Scout won’t.”
Scout in action
The deployment of Scout is already producing tangible outcomes, progressing from theoretical ideas to solving complex on-site issues. This highlights SSA’s focus on turning insights into action by combining data, technology, and human connection.
McNicholas emphasises that the team is "continually evolving Scout by testing it across multiple attractions," noting that "every new site adds more data and sharper insights.”
Stover offers an example of Scout’s operational intelligence in action from a working session with the Detroit Zoo. The team was exploring a complex “what-if” scenario: opening a new entrance near a new exhibit while navigating compliance considerations, budget constraints, and a nearby rail track.
“Using Scout as a sandbox alongside their team, we pressure-tested the constraints, surfaced relevant regulatory considerations, explored alternative approaches like repurposed shipping containers, and generated rough-order cost ranges. It was less about committing to a final plan and more about accelerating discovery.”
“What’s exciting is that every audit surfaces a new real-world question, and we ask: Should this become a new sub-agent? That’s how Scout keeps evolving.”
Another success story comes from the Dallas Zoo, where Scout was instrumental in helping the zoo team explore their own AI journey while SSA conducted an inter-department relationship audit.
Scout is tailored to each user’s psychology
What makes Scout different from typical business AI tools is its incorporation of behavioural psychology. Acknowledging that strong operations don't happen by accident, SSA has combined leadership development with its technological roadmap.
Stover, whose background is in people and culture, insisted that if they were to create co-pilots, they had to understand the humans who would use them. So, instead of providing generic recommendations, Scout adapts its guidance to each leader's thinking and communication style.
"One of the first things we decided was that if we were going to build AI co-pilots, they needed to integrate Behavioural Essentials," Stover says. "We already use behavioural assessments that give leaders a 21-point profile, with strengths, tendencies, and blind spots. We’ve now incorporated that into Scout.”
This means that when a manager logs into Scout, the system is tailored to their specific personality profile.
"It understands how I communicate, where I might need softer language, or where I might need more structure," Stover says.
He adds that McNicholas served as the ‘guinea pig’ for this feature:
"We merged his traits and blind spots into Scout as he was working through our future roadmap. Scout isn’t just an AI tool; it understands your psychological makeup and helps cover your blind spots as you operate in your role.”
The future of the workforce
A common concern about AI is the risk of job displacement. However, SSA’s leadership firmly states that their investment in technology aims to safeguard, not eliminate, their workforce.
"As CEO, culture is my responsibility, and culture starts with values," McNicholas says. "Hospitality, human-to-human interaction, has always been our foundation. I don’t want a world of all robots and automation. I love people too much.
“That’s why Scout exists. It helps us live what we love to do: creating special moments for people.”
Stover shares this view, considering AI as a safeguard against the decline of interpersonal skills observed in other industries:
"We have to be proactive in shaping the future. Many companies will use AI purely to impact the bottom line. That’s their choice. But SSA has always been people-focused. We’re adopting AI safely and intentionally to better our people. As interpersonal skills decline elsewhere, we’re protecting them by freeing people up to reconnect.”
The efficiency gains are clear. Stover notes that tasks like scheduling, which previously took hours to analyse against weather and sales history, now happen in seconds. "That frees managers up to spend time with their team. That’s the point.
“We’re hospitality people. We want to be in front of guests, not behind a screen.”
A vision for 2030
Looking ahead, SSA has set bold goals for the next five years. As the company approaches its 60th anniversary in 2030, the vision is for a fully enabled workforce where each employee has a digital partner.
"By 2030, every person in our company will have a co-pilot that helps them be more efficient," predicts McNicholas. "We’ll also bring a unified revenue strategy to attractions, something the industry lacks.”
He also believes the metrics of success are shifting. It is no longer enough to simply count heads at the gate:
"The future metrics won’t just be attendance. They’ll be revenue, guest experience, and fulfilment," he says.
"There’s more competition than ever, and we have to be the place where guests leave thinking, 'That felt right.' To do that, our people need tools like Scout so they can spend more time creating those moments.
“That’s how we reimagine the industry.”
The future of hospitality
Summing up the benefits, COO Travis Kight says:
"AI is the future of hospitality, but not in the way most imagine. We see AI as a co-pilot, not a replacement, designed to protect the human connection that defines our industry.
“Tools like Scout allow us to turn data into real-time insights, freeing our teams from repetitive tasks so they can focus on creating unforgettable guest experiences.
"As Sean mentioned, by 2030, our vision is for every team member to have a digital partner that amplifies their strengths, covers blind spots, and helps us deliver hospitality at a level the industry has never seen.
“AI isn’t about automation. It’s about empowerment.”
As SSA Group looks towards the attractions of tomorrow, its message is clear: the path to the future is built on data, but the goal remains human connection.
By anchoring Scout in 452 Hospitality's philosophy of creating meaningful, human-centred moments, SSA isn’t just adopting AI for efficiency. It’s enhancing its ability to deliver heartfelt experiences that define its brand and shape the future of the guest experience.
"That’s the foundation of Scout," Stover says. "If a tool doesn’t protect hospitality or make us better people-facing operators, it doesn’t get built.”
When women step into construction, architecture, and design, they bring precision, patience, and a collaborative spirit that reshapes the built environment. Through mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and support across trades, they strengthen teams and elevate projects.
When we make space for women in construction, we build not only better spaces but stronger industries.
When we think about construction and architecture, many of us instinctively picture a male-dominated profession. For generations, architecture has been perceived as a field led primarily by men.
Yet, in interior design, a closely related discipline, the trend is strikingly different. The 2023/2024 diversity survey by the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) reports that approximately 90% of interior designers are female.
This contrast raises an important question: why has architecture historically been male-led, and why are we now witnessing a meaningful shift?
A visible shift in leadership
The industry is evolving. We are increasingly seeing successful, high-profile projects led by women - projects that are not only ambitious but culturally significant.
Transformation plans for the National Gallery, London. Image courtesy of Selldorf Architects.
Meanwhile, the transformation of the National Gallery was entrusted to Selldorf Architects, founded by Annabelle Selldorf, who was named one of the 100 most influential people in 2025.
These are not isolated examples. They represent a broader shift in visibility, recognition, and influence. They also demonstrate something powerful: women are not just participating in architecture - they are shaping its future.
What women bring to the design process
In architecture, design and construction, the work goes far beyond creating buildings - it is about shaping human experience. It is about how people move, feel, gather, and connect within a space.
Female architects and designers often bring a strong emphasis on usability and comfort. They demonstrate greater sensitivity to safety and inclusivity, along with careful attention to human-scale details. Their work is often guided by empathetic, user-centred thinking.
Women frequently prioritise how diverse communities will interact with a space. From public institutions to commercial interiors, this approach ensures environments are not only visually compelling but also welcoming, safe, and accessible.
Design becomes less about monumentality and more about meaning.
The power of diverse teams
At Lumsden Design, diversity is embedded into how we operate. With 72% of the team being female and an international mix of backgrounds, collaboration becomes the foundation of success.
This diversity has an impact on the global projects we are involved in, particularly for cultural and visitor-attraction organisations such as Netflix, Natural History Museum of Denmark, and Warner Bros. Discovery.
Netflix House - the morning exterior facade of Dallas, showcasing the iconic Red Envelope entrance, creating an instantly recognisable brand moment
A combination of ethnicities, genders, and cultural experiences expands creative potential and allows for all voices to be heard. It enhances cultural sensitivity and strengthens problem-solving capabilities.
In an industry where design is a form of storytelling, this breadth of perspective prevents generic, one-size-fits-all solutions and makes it unique to a destination.
This approach directly aligns with the principles of the experience economy - where it’s not about delivering products or services alone, but it’s about creating meaningful, memorable experiences and curating emotional, immersive journeys.
Leadership beyond ego
Female-led design is often characterised by functionality, attention to detail, and innovation grounded in empathy. There is typically less focus on ego and more on collective success.
Mentorship plays a crucial role. Leadership becomes less about personal ambition and more about nurturing talent, elevating others, and creating space for growth. By fostering curiosity and collaboration, teams develop stronger commitment and long-term progression.
Inclusive organisations are significantly more capable of meeting financial goals, and a higher representation of women in leadership correlates with greater radical innovation.
Why? Because leadership styles complement one another.
Traditionally, male leadership has been associated with agentic qualities—goal-driven, decisive, performance-oriented. Female leadership often brings communal and empathetic strengths—emotional intelligence, communication, collaboration, and people-focused management.
When these approaches work together, they create a dynamic that outperforms homogeneous teams. Employee morale improves. Staff turnover decreases. Creativity increases.
The result is not compromised - it is a competitive advantage.
A new era for architecture, design & construction
Architecture and design are storytelling disciplines. They shape how we experience culture, commerce, and community. To tell richer stories, we need richer perspectives.
The growing presence of women in architecture is not about replacing one dominance with another. It is about balance. It is about recognising that the most innovative, resilient, and successful teams are those built on diversity—of gender, culture, experience, and thought.
The profession is evolving from a historically male-led industry to a more inclusive, collaborative field. And as the examples from the British Museum and the National Gallery demonstrate, women are not just contributing—they are leading at the highest level.
Gender-diverse leadership is no longer optional. It is essential to the future of architecture and business alike.
The buildings we design today will shape the world of tomorrow. It is only right that the people shaping them reflect the full diversity of the communities they serve.
Bob Iger (white T shirt) spotted touring the park on the second day of the Grand Opening Weekend
Verity McGuire
John Penny
Transformation plans for the National Gallery, London. Image courtesy of Selldorf Architects. 
Netflix House - the morning exterior facade of Dallas, showcasing the iconic Red Envelope entrance, creating an instantly recognisable brand moment
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo