Ben Thompson has spent the last 25 years in marketing, strategy and new business development roles in major global organisations. A graduate of the accelerated management training program at Mars Inc, Ben spent 11 years at the company including the last 3 years as Director of Category Leadership. In 2011 Ben moved to the Walt Disney company where in under 5 years he rose to become Marketing Director for Retail EMEA, leading the region’s marketing strategy on Star Wars VII, Marvel, Frozen, and several Pixar titles. In 2015 Ben moved to Merlin Entertainments as Global Marketing Director, New Openings where he had responsibility for the launches of 4 LEGOLAND® parks and 40 Indoor attractions. This included the development of new brands; Little Big City, the Bear Grylls Adventure and Peppa Pig World. In 2018 Ben founded his own strategy consultancy and enjoyed great success working with clients including KidZania, Tony’s Chocolonely, the Cataratas Group and Europa Park. Ben joined Storyland Studios as Chief Strategy Officer and Head of International in August 2020 and runs Storyland’s International office just outside London. In this role Ben handles all Storyland’s relationships with global IP partners, and was the lead executive responsible for the partnership with Ubisoft Entertainment.

Ben’s Projects

Ubisoft Entertainment

FORGING A LANDMARK PARTNERSHIP TO BRING VIDEO GAME WORLDS TO LIFE

At Storyland Studios, Ben spearheaded the partnership with Ubisoft Entertainment, leading the charge on creating immersive theme park experiences inspired by some of the world’s most beloved gaming franchises.

Tony’s Chocolonely

CREATING A CHOCOLATE-THEMED IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH A POWERFUL MISSION

Ben worked with Tony’s Chocolonely, the ethical chocolate company, to develop an immersive brand experience that educates and engages visitors in Tony’s mission to create a 100% slave-free chocolate industry through story-driven, interactive experiences.

Ben’s Projects at Previous Firms

LEGOLAND® Parks

DRIVING GLOBAL EXPANSION WITH FOUR NEW LEGOLAND® PARK OPENINGS

As Global Marketing Director, New Openings at Merlin Entertainments, Ben led the strategic planning and execution behind the launches of four LEGOLAND® parks, expanding the beloved brand into new regions and elevating guest engagement worldwide.

Madame Tussauds

ELEVATING AN ICONIC BRAND THROUGH NEW MARKET EXPANSION

During his tenure at Merlin, Ben contributed to Madame Tussauds’ strategic expansion, helping evolve the brand’s appeal through innovative marketing and new attraction openings.

Tyler is an accomplished Theme Park and Hospitality Executive with twenty years of experience, working with some of the industries most notable names. With a results-driven track record across multiple facets of the industry and an MBA in International Business Management, Tyler has a wealth of experience leading teams in multi-national settings.

Before joining Storyland Studios and Storyland Consulting, he served as corporate director at SeaWorld Entertainment, overseeing $600m of revenue across 12 theme and water parks. He also led in-park revenue analysis for Cedar Fair Entertainment.

Tyler also writes a monthly column, “Rizzo Reviews” for attraction industry news platform Blooloop. Each month, he explores and takes a deep dive into some of the latest news and trends of strategy in the world of themed entertainment.

Tap here to read Tyler’s “Rizzo Reviews”.

Tyler’s Projects

PORTO BOEGA

A WORLD-CLASS RESORT, WORKING IN HARMONY WITH THE LOCAL CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT

Storyland Studios are developing Porto Boega – a theme park driven heavily by a story that can evolve over time.

The 50-hectare Boega Island was previously a farming settlement but has been unoccupied for many years. It is located on the Minho River, along the Portuguese-Spanish border.

The island has since been left untouched but still holds a vital role in the maintenance and flow of the river. It requires management and intervention, with occupancy key to ensuring its longevity.

As part of the early stages of the project, Tyler led the in-depth feasibility study for the clients, commanding a high-level view of strategic planning, demographics and projected financial figures.

Tap here to learn more!

Tyler brings a wealth of experience – over twenty one years – working in the entertainment industry to bear leading projects at Storyland Studios. Prior to joining the SLS team, Tyler worked in various roles at Thinkwell Group in the media, project management and project development departments and has been involved in many signature, global Thinkwell Group projects, including the Google Customer Experience Center in Redwood City, CA, the Jaguar Land Rover Brand Experience Centre, Ski Dubai: Snowfari, and The Hunger Games: The Exhibition. His career has developed through both themed and on-screen entertainment, working as a Show Producer creating blockbuster traveling exhibitions, running promotional events for major entertainment brands, and as a freelance Film/Television/Commercial production professional.