Cirque du Soleil, a world-leading live entertainment and experiences company, is set to attend the 2026 International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF), where it will share insights on how world-class live entertainment collaborations transform hospitality assets.
The IHIF, which brings together the world's leading hospitality investors, is taking place in Berlin from 23 to 25 March. Attendees can meet members of Cirque du Soleil's business development team.
The key theme for this year will be How do hospitality assets differentiate in a saturated market?
Over the years, Cirque du Soleil has built strong, trusted partnerships that form the foundation of its business.
Its signature partnerships with MGM Resorts in Las Vegas, Disney in Orlando, and Grupo Vidanta in Mexico demonstrate an approach to this theme, backed by decades of successful operation.
Sustained, scalable, and spectacular
Cirque du Soleil's long-term, multi-show partnerships demonstrate how premium live entertainment can serve as a strategic asset for hospitality operators, driving visitor loyalty, raising average spend, and providing a unique destination identity.
Built on deep creative alignment and a shared belief that world-class entertainment transforms hospitality, these key partnerships deliver performance, consistency, and scalability.
At MGM Resorts in Las Vegas, Cirque du Soleil's five resident shows have entertained millions of guests during the decades-long collaboration.
This long-term entertainment platform drives repeat visitation and sustained demand across multiple properties, serving as a compelling example of how residents can serve as core destination infrastructure over the long term.
Bobby Baldwin, former senior executive with Mirage Resorts and MGM Resorts, says: "When we began our partnership with Cirque du Soleil, we had great respect for the creative ambition of Guy Laliberté, Gilles Ste. Croix and Franco Dragone.
"There was never a question they would create a special entertainment experience, even for Las Vegas, where the bar is quite high. What they did was immediately change the entertainment landscape of the city.
"And then Cirque du Soleil did it again. And then again. And I don’t doubt they will continue to do so for decades to come. They made history, and it’s gratifying to have been part of that."
See also: The future is live: how immersive experience design is shaping audience expectations
In Orlando, Cirque du Soleil has co-produced Drawn to Life with Disney, for which it was trusted to deliver creative integration into the brand's beloved universe.
This project brings the animator's world to life in spectacular style and serves as a model for long-term IP collaboration.
Josh D'Amaro, Disney CEO and former president of Walt Disney World Resort, says: "In creating this show, we’ve brought to life an extraordinary new entertainment experience for the whole family.
"It blends all the heart, humor and joy of Disney storytelling with dazzling new acrobatic performances and effects never before seen in a Cirque du Soleil production."
"For Cirque du Soleil, this is a beautiful way of celebrating Disney’s legacy in the art of animation," says Daniel Lamarre, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group president and CEO.
"This new and exciting production is most certainly the best way to highlight the privileged relationship we have with our colleagues at Walt Disney World and our joint commitment to continually bring audiences new experiences that surpass their expectations."
At Vidanta Riviera Maya in Mexico, Cirque du Soleil's first dinner show, JOYA, has been operating for 11 years. Following this success, a repeat investment has enabled the concept to be scaled and adapted for LUDŌ, an aquatic dinner show at Vidanta World Nuevo Vallarta, supporting long-term value creation.
Anne Belliveau, chief customer experience officer at Cirque du Soleil Entertainment, says: "VidantaWorld is an exciting new way to create unforgettable adventures, offering guests deeper and more immersive experiences than ever before.
"As part of our new customer experience promise, this partnership expands beyond live shows, diversifying how we bring our stories to life across different formats, ensuring that every moment feels extraordinary and limitless."
"At Grupo Vidanta, we are deeply proud of our decade-long partnership with Cirque du Soleil, a collaboration that has transformed the world of luxury entertainment," says Karla Chávez, director of marketing and Branding of Grupo Vidanta.
Long-term collaborations with entertainment operators are becoming a vital element in how resort destinations drive demand and differentiate over time.
Through these sustained collaborations, Cirque du Soleil has demonstrated how entertainment can be embedded in the destination strategy rather than treated as standalone programming.
