Bruce Vaughn, former chief creative officer of Walt Disney Imagineering, has been tapped to run Airbnb’s new Experiential Creative Product team as the hosting giant tries to offer customers experiences “offline” — meaning beyond just a place to stay.
He reports to Catherine Powell, Airbnb’s Global Head of Hosting, a former longtime Disney parks executive who joined Airbnb last year. “I had the pleasure of working with Bruce at Disney and he is the master of immersive storytelling,” said Powell, previously president of the Disney Parks Western Region, which included Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, and Disneyland Paris. “He was able to bring a story to life through every aspect of the experience at the Disney Parks — from rides to food to shops. I look forward to working with him to bring these unique connections to our guests and hosts,” she said.
Vaughn comes to Airbnb from Dreamscape Immersive,...
He reports to Catherine Powell, Airbnb’s Global Head of Hosting, a former longtime Disney parks executive who joined Airbnb last year. “I had the pleasure of working with Bruce at Disney and he is the master of immersive storytelling,” said Powell, previously president of the Disney Parks Western Region, which included Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, and Disneyland Paris. “He was able to bring a story to life through every aspect of the experience at the Disney Parks — from rides to food to shops. I look forward to working with him to bring these unique connections to our guests and hosts,” she said.
Vaughn comes to Airbnb from Dreamscape Immersive,...
- 9/29/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Iris Knobloch, WarnerMedia’s former president of France, Benelux, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, is launching a €250 million ($300M) European Spac with Artemis, a holding company backed by François-Henri Pinault, the billionaire French businessman married to Salma Hayek.
Named I2PO, the special-purpose acquisition company claims to be the first outfit of its kind in Europe dedicated to investing in entertainment and leisure companies. I2PO is registered in France and is listing on Euronext Paris.
SPACs, also called “blank-check” vehicles, are basically shells that go public to look for private companies to buy. Selling to a Spac is generally seen as an easier and cheaper route to an IPO. There have been a rash of SPACs in recent months, with notable examples in entertainment including Forest Road Acquisition Corp, run by former Disney executive Kevin Mayer.
Knobloch, who announced her exit from WarnerMedia last month, will serve as I2PO’s chairwoman and CEO.
Named I2PO, the special-purpose acquisition company claims to be the first outfit of its kind in Europe dedicated to investing in entertainment and leisure companies. I2PO is registered in France and is listing on Euronext Paris.
SPACs, also called “blank-check” vehicles, are basically shells that go public to look for private companies to buy. Selling to a Spac is generally seen as an easier and cheaper route to an IPO. There have been a rash of SPACs in recent months, with notable examples in entertainment including Forest Road Acquisition Corp, run by former Disney executive Kevin Mayer.
Knobloch, who announced her exit from WarnerMedia last month, will serve as I2PO’s chairwoman and CEO.
- 7/14/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
The much-hyped Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge theme park seems to be performing well below Disney’s standards.
Bloomberg reports that Catherine Powell, president of Disney Parks West, is leaving the company after her post was effectively “eliminated.” Powell had been with the House of Mouse for more than a decade, during which time she oversaw the production of Disneyland Paris, Walt Disney World, and Disneyland. But the less-than-stellar attendance figures for both Galaxy’s Edge and the Star Wars attraction in California – both of which were orchestrated by Powell – appears to have trigged Disney’s decision.
It’s no secret that Disney had high hopes for Galaxy’s Edge, which features two rides — Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run — along with an assortment of sci-fi shops and themed restaurants. However, back in August, Deadline revealed a 3 percent quarterly dip in Disney’s domestic theme parks.
Bloomberg reports that Catherine Powell, president of Disney Parks West, is leaving the company after her post was effectively “eliminated.” Powell had been with the House of Mouse for more than a decade, during which time she oversaw the production of Disneyland Paris, Walt Disney World, and Disneyland. But the less-than-stellar attendance figures for both Galaxy’s Edge and the Star Wars attraction in California – both of which were orchestrated by Powell – appears to have trigged Disney’s decision.
It’s no secret that Disney had high hopes for Galaxy’s Edge, which features two rides — Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run — along with an assortment of sci-fi shops and themed restaurants. However, back in August, Deadline revealed a 3 percent quarterly dip in Disney’s domestic theme parks.
- 9/24/2019
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Catherine Powell, president of Disney Parks Western Region, is leaving the company after more than a decade.
Powell oversaw Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Disneyland Paris, but her position is being eliminated, Bloomberg reported Monday. The heads of each resort will now report to Bob Chapek, chairman of Disney’s Parks, Experiences and Products division.
A 15 year veteran of the company, Powell oversaw the openings of two “Star Wars” themed attractions this year.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened at Disneyland in Anaheim on May 29. A second attraction opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios park in Orlando, Florida, in August.
As Deadline reported in August, attendance declined at Disney’s domestic theme parks by 3% in the quarter. Management blamed the drop on visitors waiting out the rush for the massively-hyped Galaxy’s Edge. The company also “managed demand for the first few weeks in order to maintain a high level of guest satisfaction,...
Powell oversaw Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Disneyland Paris, but her position is being eliminated, Bloomberg reported Monday. The heads of each resort will now report to Bob Chapek, chairman of Disney’s Parks, Experiences and Products division.
A 15 year veteran of the company, Powell oversaw the openings of two “Star Wars” themed attractions this year.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened at Disneyland in Anaheim on May 29. A second attraction opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios park in Orlando, Florida, in August.
As Deadline reported in August, attendance declined at Disney’s domestic theme parks by 3% in the quarter. Management blamed the drop on visitors waiting out the rush for the massively-hyped Galaxy’s Edge. The company also “managed demand for the first few weeks in order to maintain a high level of guest satisfaction,...
- 9/24/2019
- by Anita Bennett
- Deadline Film + TV
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