Spider Entertainment, a leader in design, build, and operational management across the FEC and immersive entertainment sectors, has partnered with the Highland Council. This strategic collaboration will enhance operations before the opening of the eagerly-awaited visitor attraction, The Inverness Castle Experience, in 2025.
Sally Reynolds, chief experience officer and Kevin Smith, operations director, join the team with decades of experience between them, having worked with some of the most renowned attractions and brands across the globe. They have worked with and for well-known tourist destinations like Sea Life Centres, Mary King’s Close, Woburn Abbey, Spinnaker Tower, Legoland, Safari Park and Golf Club, and The Emirates Cable Car. They have also worked alongside and within organisations like Merlin Entertainments, Silverstone, Continuum Attractions, ITV, and Centre Parcs.
Spider Entertainment will provide support in each of the key areas that are necessary for establishing, launching, and running a profitable attraction. They will assist in ensuring that the project’s commercial potential is maximised and that, once it opens, guests at the Inverness Castle Experience enjoy a consistently excellent experience.
Operating expertise
Cllr Ken Gowans, chair of the Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, said: “I am delighted that Kevin and Sally are joining the team — both have exactly the right mix of operating expertise that is needed support our team with this immensely important Highland project that is due to open in 2025.”
The hiring and development of the staff team is essential to providing a first-rate guest experience. Spider Entertainment will help in conveying to the candidates the fulfilling career possibilities that exist in the tourist and hospitality industry – whatever their stage of life. Spider Entertainment will collaborate with the Highland Council and other organisations in order to support and encourage young people who are about to leave education or who are looking for employment to begin a rewarding career in tourism and hospitality at the Inverness Castle Experience.
Smith and Reynolds will assist in creating a customised training programme to make sure that all new hires are prepared to greet and host the hundreds of thousands of people who will soon be visiting the Inverness Castle Experience each year.
A prestigious project
Cllr Ian Brown, leader of Inverness City and Area and co-chair of the Inverness Castle Project Delivery Group, says:
“Sally and Kevin bring a wealth of experience in high-profile project delivery, portfolio management and operations across the visitor attraction sector. We are very excited about embarking, with them, on this exciting next chapter the story of the Inverness Castle Experience.”
Robert Hetherington, CEO of Spider Entertainment, adds: “Spider Entertainment are excited to be working on this prestigious project and look forward to working in partnership with the Inverness Castle Experience team to help open and operate what will no doubt be a world class must-see visitor attraction.”
The Inverness Castle project is a component of the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, a joint initiative aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth. The initiative has the backing of the Scottish and UK governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and the University of the Highlands and Islands. It has up to £315 million in funding.
