Merlin Entertainments and Mojang Studios have announced plans for the world’s first Minecraft-themed land at Chessington World of Adventures, scheduled to open in 2027.
Minecraft World represents another major step in the convergence of gaming IP and location-based entertainment, transforming one of the world’s most recognisable digital brands into a permanent themed attraction environment.
The development will include a Minecraft-themed coaster, interactive adventures, themed retail, play zones, and dining experiences designed around participation, creativity, and exploration.
For the visitor experience sector, the project highlights how gaming franchises are increasingly influencing theme park strategy, family entertainment investment, and immersive design.
#Minecraft #ThemeParks #VisitorExperience #LocationBasedEntertainment #ImmersiveExperiences #GamingIndustry #AttractionsIndustry #ExperienceEconomy #MerlinEntertainments #Chessington
/blog/merlin-and-mojang-to-launch-first-minecraft-theme-park-land-at-chessington
Plans for Xanadoo, a proposed major visitor attraction in South Wales led by Eden Project co-founder Gaynor Coley, continue to progress as site discussions advance across Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Swansea.
The project combines immersive learning, sustainability, arts, science, food, digital innovation and participatory play into a large-scale visitor destination designed to support regional regeneration and economic growth.
With projections of 600,000 annual visitors, £15m annual revenue and hundreds of jobs, Xanadoo could become one of the UK’s most significant regeneration-led attraction developments outside major cities.
The proposal also highlights growing demand for attractions that combine education, entertainment, community engagement and sustainability within a single destination model.
#VisitorEconomy #TourismDevelopment #ExperienceEconomy #SouthWales #DestinationDevelopment #VisitorAttractions #Regeneration #ImmersiveExperiences #TourismIndustry #UKTourism
/blog/eden-project-co-founder-advances-xanadoo-visitor-attraction-plans-for-south-wales
York Theatre Royal has announced a diverse new wave of 2026 productions and live events, highlighting how regional cultural venues are evolving programming strategies to attract wider audiences and reduce calendar risk.
The new programme blends food-led storytelling, interactive family entertainment, music theatre and touring comedy, reflecting growing demand for multi-format venue schedules that appeal across demographics and interests.
Highlights include Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks bringing Spinning Plates: LIVE! to the Main House, interactive family production Dinosaur Adventure Live, the touring music theatre production Wilko: Love And Death And Rock ‘N’ Roll, and comedian Sean Walsh.
For the visitor experience sector, the line-up demonstrates how theatres are increasingly combining recognised talent, immersive formats and crossover themes such as hospitality, live music and family engagement to strengthen year-round audience appeal.
#Theatre #LiveEvents #ExperienceEconomy #VisitorAttractions #CulturalVenues #Hospitality #FamilyEntertainment #TouringProductions #Experiential #EntertainmentIndustry
/blog/york-theatre-royal-sets-varied-2026-programme-across-food-family-music-and-comedy
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition opens in London this summer, bringing large-scale reproductions of the iconic Vatican frescoes to UK audiences at 1 America Square near Tower Bridge.
Running from 18 May to 6 September, the exhibition offers an important case study for the visitor experience sector. Rather than relying on projection-led immersion, the format uses high-resolution physical reproductions to create accessible cultural engagement around one of the world’s most recognised heritage assets.
For museums, touring exhibition producers, venue operators and cultural brands, the project highlights how reproduction-based experiences can extend access to globally significant works without moving the originals. It also reinforces the continued demand for thoughtfully designed, commercially viable cultural formats built around strong storytelling and venue strategy.
#VisitorExperience #ExhibitionDesign #CulturalTourism #ImmersiveArt #Museums #ExperienceEconomy #LondonEvents #TouringExhibitions #Heritage #ArtsBusiness
/blog/full-scale-sistine-chapel-exhibition-brings-renaissance-reproductions-to-london
Hendrick’s Gin is bringing immersive theatre into retail with Anotherland, a new experiential activation at Selfridges designed to launch its latest permanent flavour addition, Another Hendrick’s.
The three-act experience blends performance, hospitality and sensory storytelling, highlighting how premium brands are increasingly using live experiences to create memorable product engagement and strengthen retail partnerships.
For the visitor experience sector, the activation demonstrates the growing crossover between theatre, hospitality, retail and brand entertainment — with temporary installations becoming valuable tools for audience engagement and commercial impact.
#ExperientialMarketing #ImmersiveExperience #VisitorExperience #BrandActivation #RetailExperience #Hospitality #LiveEvents #ExperienceEconomy #TheatreDesign #LuxuryBrands
/blog/hendrick%E2%80%99s-brings-theatrical-brand-activation-to-selfridges-for-new-gin-launch
Ephemera Group shows how immersive dining can move from one-off concept to scalable hospitality model.
With seven themed restaurants across France, the group combines projection, sound, lighting and scenography through integrated AV infrastructure to deliver consistent, narrative-led dining experiences at scale.
For operators, the lesson is clear: immersive hospitality depends not only on creative design, but on reliable show control, adaptable content and simple day-to-day operation.
#ImmersiveDining #ExperienceEconomy #HospitalityInnovation #AVIntegration #ExperientialDesign #VisitorExperience #RestaurantDesign
/blog/immersive-dining-scales-across-france-with-integrated-av-and-media-server-infrastructure
Sydney’s upcoming Sistine Chapel: Revelations highlights how heritage content can be reimagined through immersive design, projection technology and institutional collaboration.
For operators, developers and cultural organisations, the project demonstrates the commercial and creative potential of scalable touring exhibitions that blend art, storytelling and spatial experience.
#ExperienceEconomy #ImmersiveExperiences #CulturalAttractions #ProjectionMapping #VisitorExperience #MuseumInnovation #HeritageTechnology
/blog/sistine-chapel-immersive-exhibition-signals-growth-of-large-scale-cultural-experiences
Warner Bros. Discovery’s Investigation Discovery is expanding beyond broadcast with a strategic move into live experiences at SXSW 2026.
Developed with Boston Experiential Group, the immersive activation at the Variety True Crime Summit demonstrates how media brands are translating content into physical environments.
The walkthrough experience brought investigative storytelling to life through interactive zones, reinforcing the power of narrative-led design in experiential formats.
As media companies look to deepen engagement, this activation highlights a broader shift toward integrated audience strategies that combine physical, digital, and social touchpoints.
For the experience economy, it’s a clear signal: storytelling doesn’t stop at the screen.
#ExperienceEconomy #ExperientialMarketing #MediaInnovation #SXSW #ImmersiveExperiences #BrandEngagement #LiveExperiences #Storytelling
/blog/investigation-discovery-extends-brand-into-live-experience-with-sxsw-activation
The role of real estate is changing. Today’s most successful destinations are no longer defined by square footage alone, but by the experiences, culture and communities they create.
From immersive leisure and experiential retail to food halls and wellness concepts, placemaking has become a critical driver of commercial value, footfall and long-term resilience.
On 18 May in Leeds, Experience UK brings together landlords, investors, operators, public sector leaders and creatives for an Afternoon Tea Roundtable exploring how the experience economy is reshaping towns, cities and mixed-use destinations.
The discussion will tackle the opportunities and challenges around partnership, investment, flexibility and the future of experience-led regeneration.
Find out more. /blog/placemaking-and-the-experience-economy-why-real-estate-must-think-beyond-space
#Placemaking #ExperienceEconomy #RealEstate #MixedUse #Regeneration #LeisureIndustry #ExperientialRetail #Hospitality #DestinationDevelopment #CommercialProperty #ExperienceUK
The role of real estate is changing. Today’s most successful destinations are no longer defined by square footage alone, but by the experiences, culture and communities they create.
From immersive leisure and experiential retail to food halls and wellness concepts, placemaking has become a critical driver of commercial value, footfall and long-term resilience.
On 18 May in Leeds, Experience UK brings together landlords, investors, operators, public sector leaders and creatives for an Afternoon Tea Roundtable exploring how the experience economy is reshaping towns, cities and mixed-use destinations.
The discussion will tackle the opportunities and challenges around partnership, investment, flexibility and the future of experience-led regeneration.
Find out more and register here: /events/experience-talks-placemaking-and-the-experience-economy
#Placemaking #ExperienceEconomy #RealEstate #MixedUse #Regeneration #LeisureIndustry #ExperientialRetail #Hospitality #DestinationDevelopment #CommercialProperty #ExperienceUK
Samsung is redefining the role of physical space in the experience economy.
At its Business Experience Studio in Gurugram, Samsung Electronics demonstrates how retail environments are evolving into intelligent, responsive platforms powered by AI, connected devices, and real-time content.
From glasses-free 3D spatial signage to centralised content management via VXT, the shift is clear: stores are no longer static—they are programmable, data-driven ecosystems.
For operators and designers, this signals a new era where spatial design, technology integration, and content strategy must work as one.
The question is no longer what does your store look like?
It’s how does your space behave?
#ExperienceEconomy #RetailInnovation #DigitalTransformation #SmartRetail #CustomerExperience #AI #ImmersiveTech #SpatialDesign #FutureOfRetail
/blog/samsung-gurugram-showcase-signals-shift-towards-adaptive-and-intelligent-retail-environments
Greater Kuala Lumpur’s retail market is shifting towards premium, experience-led destinations.
Landlords and tenants are prioritising flagship locations, curated tenant mixes, immersive formats and high-quality assets over broad footprint expansion.
With international brands entering the market, new supply increasing competition, and tourism expected to support footfall, prime retail destinations are becoming key indicators of long-term asset resilience.
#Retail #ExperienceEconomy #KualaLumpur #RetailProperty #ExperientialRetail #CommercialRealEstate #Tourism #Placemaking
/blog/experiential-retail-and-premiumisation-reshape-greater-kuala-lumpur-market
