Citysaurus, an Amsterdam-based technology company providing AI-powered souvenir experiences for museums, visitor attractions and immersive venues, is celebrating a significant milestone with the opening of its 50th Photobooth location.
This swift growth highlights the company’s transformation from a local Amsterdam visitor attraction operator into a worldwide provider of location-based entertainment technology.
Citysaurus started in 2021 with the launch of the Rembrandts Amsterdam Experience. While managing this immersive multimedia attraction, Citysaurus used the venue as a live testing ground to develop and improve its proprietary photo systems.
Citysaurus' first photobooth was the AI Portrait Souvenir Kiosk at the Rembrandts Amsterdam ExperienceImage courtesy of Citysaurus
“It all started with the AI Portrait Souvenir Kiosk at Rembrandts,” say Martin Poiesz and Simeon van Tellingen, the team behind Citysaurus.
“Due to limited floor space, we needed an alternative to the traditional green screen. The solution came from AI, making it possible to instantly transform guests into themed, high-quality portraits.
"The concept proved to be an immediate success, with a large proportion of our visitors leaving with a purchase. This gave us the confidence to install the system at other locations, each featuring its own unique themes.”
Expanded reach
Citysaurus then expanded its reach across North and South America, Europe, and Australia by forming strategic partnerships with major international entertainment operators Fever and Exhibition Hub.
Major touring exhibitions such as The Art of the Brick, Titanic: An Immersive Voyage, Mind of a Serial Killer: The Exhibition, and Formula 1 La Exhibición Mexico City are using the kiosk to increase merchandise sales.
Visitors at Formula 1 La Exhibición Mexico City show off ther personalised Citysaurus photobooth souvenirsImage courtesy of Citysaurus
Other international collaborations include Beyond Van Gogh and Beyond Monet in the UK, produced by Annerin.
Citysaurus is also expanding into museums and high-end virtual reality (VR) exhibitions, including the Birka Island Museum, the Horizon of Khufu Experience, and Smithsonian Starstruck (at the London Science Museum and in several US cities).
Since the hardware doesn't require bulky green screens, operators can easily install a plug-and-play kiosk into any existing exit route or merchandise counter. The software and AI art styles can be quickly tailored to match the branding of any intellectual property.
Next-generation of guest engagement
Citysaurus is launching its next phase of guest engagement: a new two-station Group Photo Souvenir kiosk. This design divides the traditional photo process into two touchpoints, enhancing visitor flow.
Guests start at an entry Capture Station for their group photos and finish at an exit Buying Station to view and purchase prints, boosting revenue for venues worldwide.
At Bubble Planet in Cologne by Semmel Exhibitions, visitors interact with the next-gen Citysaurus photo kioskImage courtesy of Citysaurus
Cutting-edge AI quickly separates guests from the background and places them into themed scenes, removing the need for physical green screens.
The system is already operational at several Bubble Planet experiences and at Rembrandts Amsterdam Experience.
What began as a local pilot in Amsterdam has grown into a scalable global tech platform. This milestone positions Citysaurus to engage visitors effectively and boost impulse souvenir sales worldwide.
