Charlotte Coates is blooloop's editor. She is from Brighton, UK and previously worked as a librarian. She has a strong interest in arts, culture and information and graduated from the University of Sussex with a degree in English Literature. Charlotte can usually be found either with her head in a book or planning her next travel adventure.
Red Raion, the CGI studio specialized in media-based attractions, is exhibiting at IAAPA Expo Asia 2023, which takes place at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore from 14 - 16 June. Last month, the firm announced details of its new horror CGI for licensing at the Saudi Entertainment and Amusements Expo (SEA) 2023, and now attendees at IAAPA Expo Asia can enjoy a sneak peek demo of the title, Van Helsing - Rise from the Dark.
After a successful presence at SEA Expo 2023, Red Raion says it is looking forward to meeting with industry professionals in Asia, and the team will showcase the firm's latest offerings tailored for this market during the trade show.
Preview of Van Helsing - Rise from the Dark
Companies are actively looking for engaging CGI content as the Asian market continues to pick up steam, in order to give customers memorable experiences. Red Raion has continued to be at the forefront of this demand by regularly creating superb CGI content that is designed specifically for media-based attractions.
The premiere of a sneak peek demo for Van Helsing - Rise from the Dark, will be one of the event's standout features. Coming soon in 5D, VR, and Dome formats, this new production—which was developed in conjunction with Emmy-nominated screenwriter Lorien McKenna —promises to give viewers an unmatched cinematic experience.
IAAPA Expo Asia attendees will get the chance to experience the captivating visuals and immersive storytelling that have made Red Raion a dependable CGI partner for digital attractions all over the world.
"We are excited to return to the Far East and be a part of the IAAPA Asia Tradeshow," says Valeria Rizzo, business development director at Red Raion. "Our goal is to provide attractions in the Asian market with cutting-edge CGI content that leaves a lasting impact on their guests. We invite attendees to connect with us and discover the exceptional storytelling and visual artistry that sets Red Raion apart."
To secure a dedicated time slot and arrange a meeting with Red Raion during the event, please click here.
The company also recently celebrated the launch of its newest title, Around the World in 80 Days – Journey of Wonders.
Charlotte Coates is blooloop's editor. She is from Brighton, UK and previously worked as a librarian. She has a strong interest in arts, culture and information and graduated from the University of Sussex with a degree in English Literature. Charlotte can usually be found either with her head in a book or planning her next travel adventure.
This funny, heartfelt adventure offers an exciting reimagining of one of the world's best-loved stories.
By bringing together high-quality animation with immersive storytelling, the brand-new CGI film invites audiences to experience the story of Beauty and the Beast like never before.
5D, VR, dome, and fly formats
In Beauty and the Beast – Once Upon a Mess, Belle and her Prince are enjoying their happily-ever-after. But one day, while they’re cleaning the castle, a naughty magpie takes the enchanted gem that keeps the Prince in his human form, turning him back into a beast.
With aerial acrobatics, mischief and magic, Belle, the Beast, and the magpie embark on their frantic mission to catch the gem. But who will win?
Available in 5D, VR, dome, and fly formats, the film has been developed to seamlessly adapt to a broad range of immersive attractions, from motion-based theatres to full-dome installations and flying simulators.
Each version has been crafted to guarantee that every visitor, whether seated, standing, or flying, feels part of the story.
Valeria Rizzo, chief brand officer at Red Raion, says: "We wanted to reimagine a timeless story through a modern lens: one that speaks to today’s audiences while staying true to the charm of the original tale.
"With Beauty and the Beast - Once Upon a Mess, we combined humor, emotion, and visual spectacle to deliver an experience that feels both familiar and completely new. It’s the kind of story that reminds us why people fall in love with storytelling in the first place."
Reflecting Red Raion’s signature style, Beauty and the Beast – Once Upon a Mess is notable for its innovative narration, stunning visual direction, and technical accuracy.
From richly detailed environments to lively camera movements, every frame enhances the storytelling and draws viewers into a world where fantasy and fun mix.
Red Raion first unveiled the title of this movie for licensing at IAAPA Expo Asia.
This reinterpretation offers a comedic take on the traditional tale. Unexpected humour, mischievous plot twists, and a quirky tone offer a refreshing perspective of its iconic characters.
Valeria Rizzo, chief brand officer of Red Raion, says: "We wanted to do something truly unexpected with one of the most recognizable fairy tales of all time.
"This isn’t the Beauty and the Beast we all grew up with: it’s louder, funnier, and wonderfully chaotic adventure for the characters we all know and love. It’s a whole new storytelling on an iconic, classic IP, and we couldn’t be more excited to share it."
Fun for 5D, VR, dome, & flying theatre formats
Beauty and the Beast - Once Upon a Mess will soon be released for 5D, VR, dome, and flying theatre formats, so that guests across the globe can experience the fun from every angle.
This release highlights Red Raion’s continued dedication to innovation and genre experimentation within the attractions sector, and marks the latest addition to the studio’s growing catalogue of CGI titles designed for entertainment venues around the world.
Red Raion recently announced the official keynote presentation for its latest CGI title: Jurassic Jungle – Wild Escape. The keynote brings together leading industry figures to explore the creative process that shaped this new cinematic experience and reveal exclusive insights into the film’s journey from concept to screen.
Speakers will include Rizzo, Sara Menegazzi, creative director, and Björn Heerwagen, director of show design and production.
Jurassic Jungle – Wild Escape is LBE's most recent CGI dinosaur experience and offers guests a thrilling journey through a prehistoric world, where survival is precarious. Featuring immersive storytelling and advanced CGI, the film is available for licensing in 5D, VR, dome, and flying theatre formats.
Red Raion, the CGI studio formedia based attractions,has announced the official keynote presentation for its latest CGI title: Jurassic Jungle - Wild Escape.
First shown during a private online live event last week, the keynote unites leading industry figures to explore the creative process that shaped this new cinematic experience and share exclusive insights into the film's journey from concept to screen.
The keynote, led by Valeria Rizzo, chief brand officer at Red Raion, and Sara Menegazzi, creative director, explores the film’s narrative, technical evolution, and storytelling techniques.
It also includes exclusive insights from Björn Heerwagen, director of show design and production, who previously worked at Walt Disney Imagineering and is a distinguished figure in the entertainment and themed attractions sector.
A dinosaur adventure
Jurassic Jungle – Wild Escape is the latest CGI dinosaur experience in location-based entertainment, offering audiences an adrenaline-fueled journey through a prehistoric world where survival is precarious. Featuring immersive storytelling and state-of-the-art CGI, the film is available for licensing in 5D, VR, Dome, and Flying Theater formats.
“After so many requests from our clients, we finally decided to produce a dinosaur-themed movie”, says Rizzo.
“ Jurassic Jungle – Wild Escape is based on our constant research to continuously improve our offer, tailoring every new movie to the current market trends and our clients’ needs, with a focus on storytelling and, as always, on the emotional curve that is designed to excite audiences.”
This keynote is essential for theme park operators, attraction developers, and industry experts seeking to provide a top-notch, impactful experience at their venues.
The Red Raion team is exhibiting at SEA Expo 2025 in Riyadh this week, and can be found at booth 4C419.
Earlier this year, Red Raion published a new video to mark the launch of CGI film Adventures of Chikku – Wild Ride at Wonderla amusement parks. The attraction opened at the operator’s parks in Bangalore and Hyderabad last December.
SSA Group has been working on a transformative approach to operations. By weaving its signature 452 Hospitality ethos, rooted in a legacy of welcome and human connection, into Scout, a new AI-driven operating system, the company demonstrates how AI can enhance rather than replace the human side of hospitality.
For nearly 60 years, SSA Group has been a staple in the cultural attractions sector, collaborating with zoos, aquariums, and museums to provide comprehensive guest services. As a family-owned business, the company has continually adapted, but its core mission remains centred on a simple, powerful concept: hospitality.
We speak with CEO Sean McNicholas and vice president of people and culture, Jason Stover, to unpack Scout's mission and learn how it can open the door to both greater efficiency and more memorable moments.
SSA reimagines the industry
Starting by looking at the bigger picture, McNicholas says: “What I love about SSA and our family business is our curiosity for continuing to reimagine the industry.
"Those are pillars of our plan. We approach 60 years as a family business in 2030, and what’s exciting to us is continuing to innovate, not just our business, but the guest experience for our clients and partners.”
Sean McNicholas and Jason Stover
This culture of curiosity is what prompted McNicholas and Stover to investigate the potential of artificial intelligence long before it became the industry buzzword it is today.
"Five or six years ago, Jason came to me as one of the early adopters of AI. We started talking about it, and the more we looked at tools like AI, we asked a very simple question: what one, two, or three areas could AI positively impact our business?"
For SSA, the goal was not to replace staff or remove the human element from the museum or zoo experience through automation. Instead, the emphasis was on liberation.
"The thing that became clear was how tools like AI could help us become more efficient with data, back-end systems, and administrative work," adds McNicholas.
"If we can be more efficient there, we can spend more time meeting guests where they need us, which is on the front line.”
The outcome of this exploration is Scout, an AI-assisted tool and ‘unified intelligence layer’ designed specifically for cultural attractions.
Scout is positioned not as a replacement for human workers, but as a co-pilot. It is an operating system that gathers data from across the industry to provide real-time insights. Unlike general-purpose AI tools, Scout has been built for the sector's operational realities.
"AI is trending now, but it’s not new," says Stover.
"I’ve been with SSA for almost 30 years, and my journey with AI in this company has existed since day one. When I first became a manager, we were already experimenting with predictive analytics, trying to forecast attendance and staffing.
"That was AI at the time."
However, the leap to generative AI offered a new opportunity to support SSA's secret sauce: its people.
Stover employs a cinematic analogy to describe Scout’s role within the workforce:
"I compare it to Tony Stark," he says. "He’s brilliant, but he doesn’t become Iron Man until he has Jarvis. That’s what Scout is. It’s a co-pilot that takes away routine, monotonous work so our people can focus on what matters."
Real-time, useful insights
Designed to support guest-journey walkthroughs, the platform collects real-time observations and converts them into actionable insights tailored to each attraction.
The tool was created in accordance with SSA’s core belief that technology should never replace connection; it should enhance it. The idea is that data and design can collaborate to create memorable guest experiences.
This supports SSA’s wider focus on innovation, which aims to turn curiosity into meaningful change that advances partners' missions. By automating data analysis, Scout helps operators make more informed decisions about designs, platforms, and revenue strategies.
"Guest expectations are evolving faster than ever," says Stover. "Scout was built to meet this moment as a tech-forward AI tool that allows us to keep experiences deeply personal.”
The heart of the system: 452 Hospitality
Although the technology is impressive, the engine driving Scout remains entirely human. At the centre of Scout’s design is 452 Hospitality, the cultural ethos that defines SSA Group’s purpose and character.
Named after 452 Leyden Street, the Denver home where SSA’s founders first lived and practised hospitality, 452 has since become both a numeric and philosophical code for what the company stands for: a spirit of welcome, belonging, and genuine human connection.
At 452 Leyden Street, anyone could come in for a meal, a chat, or a place to rest. And that sense of genuine warmth now lives on in every SSA service encounter.
Today, 452 Hospitality reflects SSA’s ongoing dedication to creating authentic, memorable moments that uplift guests, partners, and colleagues alike.
That same spirit guides Scout’s purpose: rather than replacing people, the AI system aims to enable staff to embody 452 Hospitality more fully, freeing them from administrative burdens so they can provide the personal engagement that makes guests feel welcome and valued.
In practice, this involves a particular method for engaging with guests and monitoring operations. Scout develops a digital framework for this using the SOQ model: Observation, Opinion, and Question.
"Scout is being trained by the entire zoo, aquarium, and cultural attraction industry," Stover says. "Every conversation, every audit, every partner insight gets ingested and shapes how Scout operates.”
Within the Scout ecosystem, there are various ‘agents’ dedicated to different tasks, such as labour optimisation and inventory management. However, the ‘452 agent’ is unique.
"It has vision and voice capabilities. As you walk through operations, it analyses images and observations in real time and evaluates them against our hospitality standards. It acts as a co-pilot for auditors and operators, making observations, offering insights, and matching them with best practices and solutions.
“You might miss something as a human, but Scout won’t.”
Scout in action
The deployment of Scout is already producing tangible outcomes, progressing from theoretical ideas to solving complex on-site issues. This highlights SSA’s focus on turning insights into action by combining data, technology, and human connection.
McNicholas emphasises that the team is "continually evolving Scout by testing it across multiple attractions," noting that "every new site adds more data and sharper insights.”
Stover offers an example of Scout’s operational intelligence in action from a working session with the Detroit Zoo. The team was exploring a complex “what-if” scenario: opening a new entrance near a new exhibit while navigating compliance considerations, budget constraints, and a nearby rail track.
“Using Scout as a sandbox alongside their team, we pressure-tested the constraints, surfaced relevant regulatory considerations, explored alternative approaches like repurposed shipping containers, and generated rough-order cost ranges. It was less about committing to a final plan and more about accelerating discovery.”
“What’s exciting is that every audit surfaces a new real-world question, and we ask: Should this become a new sub-agent? That’s how Scout keeps evolving.”
Another success story comes from the Dallas Zoo, where Scout was instrumental in helping the zoo team explore their own AI journey while SSA conducted an inter-department relationship audit.
Scout is tailored to each user’s psychology
What makes Scout different from typical business AI tools is its incorporation of behavioural psychology. Acknowledging that strong operations don't happen by accident, SSA has combined leadership development with its technological roadmap.
Stover, whose background is in people and culture, insisted that if they were to create co-pilots, they had to understand the humans who would use them. So, instead of providing generic recommendations, Scout adapts its guidance to each leader's thinking and communication style.
"One of the first things we decided was that if we were going to build AI co-pilots, they needed to integrate Behavioural Essentials," Stover says. "We already use behavioural assessments that give leaders a 21-point profile, with strengths, tendencies, and blind spots. We’ve now incorporated that into Scout.”
This means that when a manager logs into Scout, the system is tailored to their specific personality profile.
"It understands how I communicate, where I might need softer language, or where I might need more structure," Stover says.
He adds that McNicholas served as the ‘guinea pig’ for this feature:
"We merged his traits and blind spots into Scout as he was working through our future roadmap. Scout isn’t just an AI tool; it understands your psychological makeup and helps cover your blind spots as you operate in your role.”
The future of the workforce
A common concern about AI is the risk of job displacement. However, SSA’s leadership firmly states that their investment in technology aims to safeguard, not eliminate, their workforce.
"As CEO, culture is my responsibility, and culture starts with values," McNicholas says. "Hospitality, human-to-human interaction, has always been our foundation. I don’t want a world of all robots and automation. I love people too much.
“That’s why Scout exists. It helps us live what we love to do: creating special moments for people.”
Stover shares this view, considering AI as a safeguard against the decline of interpersonal skills observed in other industries:
"We have to be proactive in shaping the future. Many companies will use AI purely to impact the bottom line. That’s their choice. But SSA has always been people-focused. We’re adopting AI safely and intentionally to better our people. As interpersonal skills decline elsewhere, we’re protecting them by freeing people up to reconnect.”
The efficiency gains are clear. Stover notes that tasks like scheduling, which previously took hours to analyse against weather and sales history, now happen in seconds. "That frees managers up to spend time with their team. That’s the point.
“We’re hospitality people. We want to be in front of guests, not behind a screen.”
A vision for 2030
Looking ahead, SSA has set bold goals for the next five years. As the company approaches its 60th anniversary in 2030, the vision is for a fully enabled workforce where each employee has a digital partner.
"By 2030, every person in our company will have a co-pilot that helps them be more efficient," predicts McNicholas. "We’ll also bring a unified revenue strategy to attractions, something the industry lacks.”
He also believes the metrics of success are shifting. It is no longer enough to simply count heads at the gate:
"The future metrics won’t just be attendance. They’ll be revenue, guest experience, and fulfilment," he says.
"There’s more competition than ever, and we have to be the place where guests leave thinking, 'That felt right.' To do that, our people need tools like Scout so they can spend more time creating those moments.
“That’s how we reimagine the industry.”
The future of hospitality
Summing up the benefits, COO Travis Kight says:
"AI is the future of hospitality, but not in the way most imagine. We see AI as a co-pilot, not a replacement, designed to protect the human connection that defines our industry.
“Tools like Scout allow us to turn data into real-time insights, freeing our teams from repetitive tasks so they can focus on creating unforgettable guest experiences.
"As Sean mentioned, by 2030, our vision is for every team member to have a digital partner that amplifies their strengths, covers blind spots, and helps us deliver hospitality at a level the industry has never seen.
“AI isn’t about automation. It’s about empowerment.”
As SSA Group looks towards the attractions of tomorrow, its message is clear: the path to the future is built on data, but the goal remains human connection.
By anchoring Scout in 452 Hospitality's philosophy of creating meaningful, human-centred moments, SSA isn’t just adopting AI for efficiency. It’s enhancing its ability to deliver heartfelt experiences that define its brand and shape the future of the guest experience.
"That’s the foundation of Scout," Stover says. "If a tool doesn’t protect hospitality or make us better people-facing operators, it doesn’t get built.”
Disney Cruise Line has unveiled a first look at its new Disney Adventure cruise ship following its arrival in Singapore.
As Disney Cruise Line’s largest-ever ship and its first to be homeported in Asia, the Disney Adventure is set to embark on its maiden voyage from Singapore on 10 March.
Sharing a first glimpse aboard the ship, Disney offered fans a look at its seven themed areas, which include elegant lounges for adults and immersive spaces designed for children and families
Guests aboard can explore seven uniquely themed areas, including Disney Imagination Garden, Town Square, San Fransokyo Street, Marvel Landing, Wayfinder Bay, Disney Discovery Reef, and Toy Story Place.
Featuring an open-air courtyard, Disney Imagination Garden includes a central Garden Stage for shows and events, along with two quick-service dining options.
A celebration of Disney Princesses, Town Square welcomes guests with makeovers, themed dining, Broadway-style shows, and nearby signature restaurants.
Inspired by Big Hero 6, San Fransokyo Street includes the Big Hero Arcade, Baymax Cinemas, the Alley Cat Café, and myriad shopping experiences, including a Duffy and Friends shop.
Set in the Marvel Landing area, an immersive Marvel-themed zone, guests can enjoy the Ironcycle Test Run, the longest roller coaster at sea, alongside the Pym Quantum Racers and Groot Galaxy Spin.
Located on the ship’s stern, Wayfinder Bay offers guests the opportunity to unwind by the pool while enjoying live entertainment, while Discovery Reef offers a collection of themed eateries, bars, and cafés inspired by Disney and Pixar's underwater tales.
Toy Story Place, a water play area on the ship’s upper decks, features pools, whirlpools, slides, and splash pads inspired by Pixar’s Toy Story films.
After arriving at its new home port, Marina Bay Cruise Centre in Singapore, on 3 March, the newest ship in the Cruise Line was welcomed to the fleet with a christening ceremony on 4 March.
"The arrival of the Disney Adventure in Singapore marks a significant milestone in our global expansion, introducing Disney cruising to Asia for the very first time," said Joe Schott, president of Disney Signature Experiences.
He added: "Honouring Disney Cruise Line’s legacy of unforgettable journeys, our newest ship brings together our signature storytelling and creativity in an exciting new region."
