OE Experiences, a financial consulting and business management firm that specialises in the experience economy, was created to help developers and land-owners to make the best use of their property, in the face of new and difficult challenges. The experience economy is in full swing, and the battle between in-home and out-of-home entertainment is becoming increasingly hazy as consumer expectations keep rising.
Previously, attraction owners have needed a full team of consultants and representatives to get projects launched, developed, and generating the revenue that they need to succeed. Developers need demand generators, but their need exceeds the supply of tenants available to fill the role of anchor. As a result, Tennessee-based OE Experiences has grown to fill the role of a turn-key developer owner’s representative, addressing this evolving market.
Forging good ideas into great ideas
For the first time ever, OE Experiences provides owner’s representation services with a solid understanding of creative execution and a financial foundation. The premise that successful delivery of a transforming experience is very profitable and also extremely difficult to execute is central to its business belief system. With the help of an effective developer-for-fee model and the essential skills from OE Experiences, the owner will then be able to maintain the development on their own.
Matthew Cross, co-founder and CEO of OE Experiences, said, “OE Experiences’ clients can’t build out each discipline they need in-house – usually – so OE offers an integrated solution that creates the necessary tension between disciplines that forge good ideas into great ones.”
Cross adds that the purpose of each key discipline is:
- Creative design’s job is to uphold the vision of the owner and to make the experience unique and stand out against an increasingly commoditized guest experience.
- Operations make sure that what’s designed can be run efficiently and effectively while also maintaining profitability.
- Finance’s job is to package everything in a way that secures funding – and then execute the plans within budget.
These three disciplines are managed by OE Experiences as a turn-key solution. The organisation collaborates with creative companies as the best fit for each project and draws on the collective experience of its team to assist and manage them on behalf of owners. OE Experiences respects the fundamentals of each discipline while legitimising its partners, assisting vendors, and ensuring that each crucial discipline has the opportunity to develop.
The 407: Gateway to Adventure
In 2021, Sam Russo joined the firm as vice president of themed entertainment and project management, bringing with him decades of experience in creative execution. During his career, he has worked with leading owner-operators and creative design firms around the world. Russo provides both support and accountability on projects.
OE Experiences is currently working on The 407: Gateway to Adventure, a 200-acre development with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Located at the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, this features an anchor attraction and a major hotel, alongside restaurants and small attractions. It will also include the largest Buc-ee’s Travel & Convenience Center in the US with 74,000 square feet of convenience store space, more than 120 gas pumps, and a car wash over 250 feet long.
Chief Richard Sneed of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians says:
“The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is proud to partner on this exciting new opportunity and the vision behind it. Working together, we are uniquely poised to bring an experience not currently seen in Eastern Tennessee, providing an additional source for employment and tourism to the region.”
The whole OE Experiences team will be at IAAPA Expo 2022, seeking new clients in need of owner representation and finding projects that need assistance. Co-founder and CFO Lewis Frazer is also leading a session for the IAAPA Institute of Managers during the conference.
Earlier this year, OE Experiences revealed that $75 million has been secured for The 407: Gateway to Adventure, following approval by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Tribal Council.
