We Project Manage/Deliver & Operate Immersive Entertainment Venues

Firm to Provide Concept-to-Operations Services to the Retail Property Sector

A group of leaders from the Out of Home Entertainment industry have formed a new organisation that provides a full suite of services to help retail destinations create, open and operate new attractions.

Rob Hetherington and Kevin Williams have founded Spider Entertainment, which simultaneously opens globally with offices in London, LA and Hong Kong. The co-founders are joined by a consortium of founding partners who are experts from the Location Based Entertainment industry.

Hetherington said “We provide landlords with turnkey solutions for operating attractions. The seismic changes to the retail landscape mean that locations need to enhance their entertainment mix to attract footfall, improve visitor experience and increase asset value - we solve this major pain point with innovative solutions and the resources to operate them immediately”.

The company aims to differentiate itself by advising landlords on entertainment strategies, operating attractions for IP owners and uniquely, bringing their own attractions to market, as Hetherington adds “this approach gives us a unique insight that truly benefits the clients we serve”.

International Out of Home Entertainment expert Kevin Williams, speaker, and publisher of The Stinger Report, joins as Co-Founder and Technology Director. A former Walt Disney Imagineer and part of the creative team for London Paramount, Williams said “The vision combined in this new operation offers an amazing opportunity, and I am honored to play a part in shaping its direction. I feel many across the industry will be surprised by what Spider Entertainment represents, in driving a new direction for the industry.”

The founding partners include;

•  Kevin Smith, Operations Director – formerly Director of Attractions at Continuum Attractions in the UK
•  Tracy Balsz, Director, Business Development, USA – Balsz is a Board member of the Themed Entertainment Association and brings 25 years in the Location    BasedEntertainment industry
•  James Orchard, Director of Projects and Programming – formerly lead Project Manager on the International roll-out of Kidzania
•  Ashley Lynch, Director of Design – formerly Head of Design at Lappset Creative on FEC projects such as Mattel Play and Peppa Pig World of Play
•  Sean Curtis, Group Marketing Director and Retail Strategy – Curtis held the position of Marketing Director for retail developers LandSec, Lendlease, Westfield and M&S
  

Kevin Smith said “Operations is at the heart of everything we do. Retail destinations want to quickly introduce new entertainment attractions to drive footfall, increase dwell time and enhance the guest experience and we help landlords and developers achieve this at pace, by offering a turnkey operations solution”.
Hetherington concluded, “Our aim is to become the industry leader in Out of Home Entertainment. We have assembled a truly stellar line-up and I am delighted with the talent and experience Spider is now offering to clients. The team have unrivalled expertise in running profitable, pop-up and permanent attractions for IP owners, investors and landlords ”.