Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
Reprinted from The New York Times
The Walt Disney Company, with the help of Steven P. Jobs and his retailing team at Apple, intends to drastically overhaul its approach to the shopping mall.
At a time when many retailers are still cutting back or approaching strategic shifts with extreme caution, Disney is going the other way, getting more aggressive and putting into motion an expensive and ambitious floor-to-ceiling reboot of its 340 stores in the United States and Europe — as well as opening new ones, including a potential flagship in Times Square.
Disney Stores, which the media giant is considering rebranding Imagination Park, will become more akin to cozy entertainment hubs. The chain’s traditional approach of displaying row after row of toys and apparel geared to Disney franchises will be given a high-tech makeover and incorporated into a new array of recreational activities. The goal is to make children clamor to visit the stores and stay longer, perhaps bolstering sales as a result. Over the next five years, analysts estimate that Disney will spend about $1 million a store to redecorate, reorganize and install interactive technology. (more…)
Tags: Apple, branding, Disney, Disney Store, entertainment, malls, redevelopment, shopping, shopping center
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
Sindibad Parc, the only theme park in Morocco, has been closed for close to 2 years. But now there is new life for the park. After a year and a half of proposals and negotiations the Ministry of Culture in Morocco has chosen a developer for the closed Sinbad Park in Casablanca.
A group of five companies, including Compagnie des Alpes, will invest DH2.3 billion (US$300 million) to redevelop the park. Plans for the 70-hectare (173-acre) site include an amusement park, zoo, hotel, commercial park and residences. As part of the project, the developers must agree to set aside land for an archaeological museum and preserve excavated areas.
The redevelopment will be built on 24 hectares (59 acres), with the remaining 114 acres likely going towards the archeological museum and excavation sites. The excavation sites and archeological museum are intended to be working archeological sites simultaneously servings as a sort of open-air museum for visitors.
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Monday, October 26th, 2009
Reprinted from CrainesNewYork.com
The Limited’s SoHo pop-up shop, doing brisk business, will stick around through the holidays.
More than just a limited engagement, trendy apparel retailer The Limited is extending its four-day pop-up shop in SoHo through the end of December, the company said Thursday.
Last week, Limited opened a temporary, store at 134 Spring St., between Wooster and Greene streets, after a decade-long absence from the New York market. But executives of the Columbus, Ohio-based firm were “pleasantly surprised, as it performed at the same level as one of their top-tier stores,” according to a spokeswoman. Sales, which were not disclosed, were high enough to persuade the company to extend the 3,400-square-foot shop through Dec. 28. It’s a sign, retail brokers say, that the retailer might be closer to taking a permanent location here. (more…)
Tags: Christmas, Limited, new york, pop-up shop, Retail, shopping, Soho
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Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
Reprinted from Ameinfo.com
With events such as The Formula One Grand Prix on the docket, Abu Dhabi is rapidly emerging as a world-class tourism destination and is threatening to overtake Dubai as the top tourism hot spot in the UAE.
The capital of the UAE has long taken a back seat to Dubai on the tourist map, preferring to take a more low-key approach and focusing on business tourism rather than the leisure market. (more…)
Tags: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, tourism, UAE
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Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
Reprinted from channelnewsasia.com
Island resort Sentosa will soon be home to the world’s tallest duel roller-coaster ride and movie stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Shrek and the motley mob of Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria last spotted in Madagascar,the movie.
The Universal Studios theme-park which will be housed on the 49 hectares Resorts World at Sentosa, revealed Tuesday its two dozen attractions, including 18 rides and attractions specially created or adapted for Singapore. (more…)
Tags: amusement, attraction, Retail, Sentosa, singapore, Universal Studios
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Thursday, October 15th, 2009
Reprinted from MTI-ECONEWS
Hungarian construction company TriGranit will spend EUR 1.5bn to build Europe’s biggest shopping and entertainment centre near Bratislava, TriGranit development director Simon Bayley said at a press conference in the Slovakian capital on Tuesday.
The 1.2m-square-metre shopping and entertainment centre, dubbed Metropolis, will have a water park, golf courses, hotels, casinos and cultural and conference centres, Mr Bayley said. (more…)
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Thursday, October 15th, 2009
Reprinted from People’s Daily Online
Beijing is going to raise 50 billion yuan to build up Chinese Animation and Game City as China’s “animation Hollywood and Disneyland”.
Besides, Beijing will provide 100 million yuan each year as financial suport for the Animation city which is located in the former site of Shougang Group, China’s eighth largest steel maker.
In the 83-hectare area, the Animation city will include six major function areas such as theme park, trade management center, research and production center, business service platform, office building, hotel and living area.
At the moment, some online game companies have already entered the Animation city, such as sohugame and Linekong. Famous internet companies like Netease, Tencent and Giant are also listed on the business plan.
Beijing government vows to provide favorable policies on taxation, land development, infrastructure construction, financial support and talents recruitment.
By People’s Daily Online
Tags: amusement, Animation City, Beijing, China
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Thursday, October 15th, 2009
Reprinted from Orlando Sentinel
The ‘Sum of All Thrills’ uses robot-arm technology that Universal Orlando is also believed to be using for a new Harry Potter ride
Guests ride the Sum of All Thrills simulator ride at Epcot, during the grand opening of the attraction at Walt Disney World, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. The giant robotic arm –the KUKA RoboSim 4-D Simulator– powers the riders’ experience, in which guests custom design their own thrill ride using math and science principles, and then ride the simulator. (JOE BURBANK, ORLANDO SENTINEL / October 14, 2009) (more…)
Tags: amusement, Disney, Industry News
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