The full agenda has now been revealed for the blooloop Festival of Innovation, which is taking place online from 15 to 16 January 2025.
Visitor attraction professionals are invited to discover the winners of the 2024 blooloop Innovation Awards, presented with AREA15, and hear from industry experts.
This year, we welcome speakers from The British Museum, International African American Museum, Six Flags, Merlin Entertainments, Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Orlando, Lionsgate, Netflix, MSC Cruises, AREA15, San Antonio Zoo, Efteling, CAMP, COSI and more, in 16 insightful sessions.
Attendees will also be able to vote in the Public Choice Award, join networking sessions, and be the first to discover who has won the Innovation Awards, with the winners announced following each category discussion.
Registration is free and is now open.
Expert speakers
The Festival of Innovation will explore the key trends for 2025, with the latest projects, technology and products that will drive our industry forward.
Speakers include:
- Kimberly Beneville, co-founder at Beneville Studios
- Sam Bompas, director at Bompas & Parr
- Ben Wilson, head of architecture and concept design at MSC Cruises
- Tom Lionetti-Maguire, founder Little Lion Entertainment and creator at The Games Arena
- Jeffrey Godsick, executive vice president, global partnerships, brand management, and head of LBE at Sony Pictures Entertainment
- Matt Palmer, chief marketing officer at Brite Management
- Nick Moran, co-founder / creative director at Phantom Peak
- Julie Swanston, executive creative director at Merlin Magic Making
- Michael Aiello, senior director, creative, live entertainment Universal Creative
- Jason McManus, principal, executive creative at TAIT
- Lora Sauls, assistant director, creative development and show direction Universal Orlando Resort
- John Burton, senior creative lead at Merlin Entertainments
- Philipp Edelman, head of production, Netflix Live Experiences
- Jenefer Brown, executive vice president and head of Lionsgate glo at Lionsgate
- Anthony Chong, group chief executive of Kingsmen Creative Ltd
- Jim Deny, VP of digital experience at Six Flags
- Adele Keane, COO & creative director at Imvizar
- Mark Locker, founder & CEO at Attractions.io
- Tim Morrow, president & CEO at San Antonio Zoo
- Jon Tozer, vice president of global delivery at Holovis
- Pearl Verzosa, executive director of marketing at AREA15
- Matt Usi, technical manager, experiences at Netflix
- Neil Lewin, owner at Semantic
- Ernest Yale, president, CEO and founder at Triotech
- Kees Rijnen, strategist at Efteling
- Ernest Backenie, senior director of entertainment at Christie
- Asa Kalama, executive, creative & interactive experiences at Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development
- Rachel Nakamura
- Jim Shumway, VP project delivery at TAIT
- Erica McCay, creative director, themed entertainment at Valtech Themed Entertainment Studio
- Felix Erdman, managing director, BeWunder
- Judith Zissman, executive creative director at Blue Telescope
- Malika Pryor, chief learning and engagement officer at International African American Museum
- Amanda Mayne, head of partnerships: international touring exhibitions at British Museum
- Erik Burdock, Sr. director of experience design at COSI
- Arik Lubkin, chief creative officer at CAMP
- Jacqi Sorvillo, chief retail officer at the SSA Group
- Sheena Khan, head of environment and culture programmes, education at Terra Pavilion, Expo City
Details about the sessions can be found here. Each session will be available on demand for 30 days after the event.
blooloop thanks the sponsors of the Innovation Awards, AREA15, and our Innovation Award category sponsors Attractions.io, Christie, TAIT, The Games Arena, Holovis, Kingsmen Xperience Ltd and Blue Telescope.
