Experiential Media Group (E/M Group), an industry leader in creating travelling exhibitions and experiences, together with Ben Thompson, chief strategy officer at global experience design and strategy firm, Storyland Studios, is setting a new course for the Titanic brand.
This will include refreshed strategic focus on international development, collaboratively driven expansion, and experiential innovation. Thompson and his team will lead Titanic’s global brand expansion as part of this development.
Unifying creative vision with a long-term expansion strategy, this move results from a year-long partnership between Storyland Studios and RMS Titanic, Inc. (RMST), the salvor in possession and steward of the Titanic wreck site. By bringing new energy and fostering innovative collaborations, this ambitious approach marks the beginning of a new era for the Titanic brand.
Most visited touring exhibition of all time
Titanic is brought to life through touring exhibitions, permanent venues, and digital experiences by E/M Group, which continues to drive the vision for the brand’s global expansion.
Kris Soder, CEO of E/M Group and sole director of RMST, says: “We believe strongly in the power of collaboration and imagination to carry Titanic’s legacy forward. The next chapter will expand our reach while honoring the stories and history that continue to resonate with millions worldwide.”
Thompson has over 25 years of experience across theme parks, immersive experiences, travelling exhibitions, hospitality, brand experiences, consumer goods, and retail.
Under his leadership, Storyland Studios has moved from a predominantly US-focused design and fabrication company into an international experience design practice. It now works with IP owners such as Legoland, Hasbro, M&M’s, and Sports Illustrated to create dynamic experiential destinations across North America, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.
In his new capacity, Thompson will advise on RMS Titanic Inc.’s international experiential strategy by identifying the ideal formats, collaborators, and real estate prospects to bring Titanic’s legacy to visitors across the globe.
Thompson says: “I’m incredibly excited that Kris and the team at RMS Titanic are continuing to place their trust in Storyland as a strategic partner as we set out on this new adventure together.
“TITANIC: The Artifact Exhibition is by most accounts the most visited touring exhibition of all time, with over 36,000,000 visitors and counting. And yet we see so many more opportunities for growth, both in developed markets like the USA and Europe, and especially in the transforming experiential destinations in Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to have been given this opportunity to lead the strategic development of this iconic property.”
See also: The record-breaking success & evergreen appeal of Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition
Partnership opportunities
Collaborations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, and Asia form the foundation of the new approach.
RMST and Storyland Studios are actively looking for partners to help bring the next generation of Titanic experiences to life, from museums and cultural institutions to licensing partners and real estate developers.
Opportunities include immersive installations, museum exhibits, and themed attractions, among other formats and business models. RMST and Storyland Studios are confident that with the right partners, Titanic will have its most exciting decade yet. The brand is ready to expand its footprint and enhance its emotional resonance for international audiences through meticulously delivered, highly immersive experiences.
To find out more or discuss partnership opportunities, please contact Ben Thompson.
E/M Group recently announced that TITANIC: The Artifact Exhibition will launch in Toronto, Canada, on 27 June and will feature never-before-seen immersive and VR experiences. The exhibition follows a blockbuster run in Boston, US.
