IAAPA Expo Press Event Recap
At IAAPA Expo 2019, Falcon’s Creative Group had the opportunity to catch up with friends and clients and engage in exciting conversations with potential collaborators.
On Wednesday, November 20th, Cecil D. Magpuri, President and Chief Creative Officer, and David Schaefer, Vice President at Falcon’s, had the pleasure of hosting a press event with the co-founders of Katmandu Group, Scott and Juli Demerau, and the Senior Vice President of Development, Jay Pecotte.
From left to right: moderator Abhinav Narain and panelist Scott Demerau, Juli Demerau, Jay Pecotte, Cecil Magpuri, and David Schaefer
Katmandu‘s established intellectual property (IP) powers an award-winning entertainment brand in Spain. They have built a solid foundation on rich storytelling and beloved characters who live in a world of wonder, myth, and adventure. As a result of their incredible success in Spain, Katmandu, along with their worldwide hotel partner, Meliá, plan to extend their reach into North America. They selected Punta Cana, a slice of heaven along the eastern shoreline of the Dominican Republic.
The Demeraus created a wonderful culture at Katmandu Group. When Juli met Cecil more than a decade ago at IAAPA, she immediately recognized that he had built a similar culture at Falcon’s. She was also impressed with the spectacular offerings that Falcon’s brings to the table and hoped to one day have the chance to join forces. When it came time to choose a creative partner for the massive Punta Cana undertaking, there was no doubt which firm was best suited. At the press event, detailed plans for the first theme park in the Dominican Republic were unveiled. The relentless pursuit for quality that Katmandu Group and Falcon’s Creative Group have in common has forged a special synergy between the two organizations.
Press event attendees listen, eager to hear more about the partnership and soon-to-be theme park.
Scott told the audience at IAAPA that Katmandu made a conscious decision to avoid off-the-shelf rides in their new theme park, instead, opting for new ride delivery systems. Falcon’s felt this was a great opportunity to launch Suspended Theater™, a one-of-a-kind flying theater that utilizes patented technology to create a unique reveal, immersing guests in powerful 3D media in a way no one has ever before experienced.
The ride hardware for Suspended Theater™ is being provided by Oceaneering, and Kraftwerk Living Technologies will bring their audiovisual expertise to the attraction. Falcon’s is designing the custom media for the experience, which will bring Katmandu’s characters to vibrant life.
Falcon’s is well underway on master planning and attraction and media design for the entire park. In addition to the flying theater, there are several other unique environments that will serve as the home for fascinating experiences. The Katmandu IP will play a prominent role in all attractions. The stories will introduce a few new characters, but the spotlight will remain on established favorites like Kilgore Goode, the Desirata and Boro, the great yeti. Two other recognizable faces from the franchise, mythical yetis Maiya and Kumar, were on hand at the press event to introduce the sneak preview video of Katmandu Punta Cana.
To quote Scott Demerau, “Falcon’s has really been a game-changer for us.” Both teams are very excited about stretching the boundaries of this amazing brand and introducing this magical IP to audiences across North America.
Falcon’s Creative Group takes their job as IP ambassadors seriously, no matter how large or small the investment. In this case, Katmandu Group is injecting upwards of $80 million into this one project. Punta Cana could become a steppingstone to growing the brand in other ways. Who knows what the future holds, but with the strong bond between Katmandu Group and Falcon’s, the multiverse is the limit!
Watch the full press event here: Falcon's and Katmandu IAAPA Press Event
