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CALE HEIT With two newly opened rides at Motiongate Dubai and a raft of exciting projects in development, FORREC is riding the wave of a pent up demand for shared experiences, says its CEO
W
hen Cale Heit took over as CEO of global entertainment design
We see a pent-up demand for transformational
firm FORREC in 2017,
experiences connecting us all. Socialisation and
he’d already been
shared experiences with family and friends among
working for the company for 25 years. Heit
larger crowds are paramount to who we are as
joined as a landscape architect in 1993
human beings. Experiences that allow for these
and worked his way up through the ranks
interactions are critical as a shared community.
to lead the theme parks business, before
We feel whole when we have opportunities to
taking the helm from former president and
share joy, be in awe, learn, laugh, and cry.
CEO Gordon Dorrett five years ago. 2022 has seen the opening of two new
We continue to hear the question regarding online versus in-person experiences. Why
FORREC-designed attractions at Motiongate
debate when I ask, “why can’t there be both?”
Dubai’s expanded Lionsgate Zone: the John
Better integration of these two will lead to
Wick Open Contract 4D free-spin rollercoaster
more immersive and repeatable experiences.
and Now You See Me: High Roller spinning
The online experience has jumped years ahead
rollercoaster. Last year’s projects included the
since the pandemic started. This includes how
opening of the Niagara Parks Power Station as an
we live, work and play. There’s no going back, but
immersive tourist attraction – FORREC worked
rather moving forward with how we combine the
closely with the client team to repurpose the
new way of meeting our needs. The possibilities
hydroelectric power plant as an attraction. As part
of increasing connections through in-person
of this ongoing project, Thinkwell Group created
and online engagements can’t be overlooked.
an immersive light show and Science North the
However, opportunities to be in the moment
exhibit design – both opened in January 2022.
is something we continue to be challenged to
Further experiences will launch this summer.
deliver and this has been exacerbated by the
Here, Cale Heit shares his insights with Attractions Management.
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What trends do you see emerging in the attractions industry?
attractionsmanagement.com Vol 27 / ISSUE 1
lines of life and work being blurred as we move towards a more flexible work environment.
