February 4th-6th saw the largest ever gathering of existing and aspiring operators as Creative Works hosted its LaserTAG360 event. More than 65 attendees took part in an educational boot camp, where they learned how to add immersive attractions to their entertainment centres.
The event has continued to grow since its commencement in 2011. Last year, Creative Works had to turn guests away seeing as they couldn’t physically admit more attendees. The problem was solved for 2019 with a brand-new venue; one that will accommodate significant future growth.
The Creative Works team delivered the core of the attraction education including attraction size and selection, operations and marketing. They also invited multiple industry experts to speak on specialized topics such as project financing, food and beverage, site selection and demographics, group sales, and attraction technology.
The event kicked off with a keynote presentation from Jason Barnaby, founder of Fire Starters. He gave a heartfelt talk about leaving the corporate world, how to overcome fears and doubts, and why one should surround oneself with the right “tribe” of supporters.
Attendees had plenty of socialization time with other operators and vendors outside the educational sessions. They got a behind-the-scenes tour the Creative Works Theme Factory before visiting multiple entertainment sites. Moreover, everyone had a chance to play Hologate virtual reality and Voxel mixed reality, demo laser tag equipment, and try their hand at escape room puzzles.
The LaserTAG360 experience was well-received by attendees. Dan Hammond, co-owner of Lasertopia, said, “If you are looking to open an FEC or expand your existing FEC, then LaserTAG360 is a MUST to attend!”
“Well worth the investment of time and money,” added Ron Parmely, who plans to open a new center in Wyoming. “I’m taking away several ideas and action events to make my FEC the best in the state.”
Creative Works has two more LaserTAG360 events this year, on June 10-12 and October 7-9. They guarantee this event will be worth at least $100,000 in additional revenue and cost savings for operators.