As 2024 draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on a year filled with groundbreaking achievements, exciting collaborations, and remarkable growth at Falcon’s. From designing immersive experiences in Saudi Arabia for the world’s first city built for play to forging sweet partnerships that expand our creative reach, this year showcased our team’s passion for pushing the boundaries of entertainment. Join us as we look back on the highlights of our past year.
Falcon’s Intends to Operate Oceaneering Entertainment Systems in 2025
We had a mic-dropping moment in front of a standing-room-only audience at IAAPA Expo 2024, where we shared some big company growth news on the tradeshow floor. Falcon’s Beyond and Infinite Acquisitions Partners have entered into a letter of intent for Falcon’s to operate Oceaneering Entertainment Systems (OES) in early 2025. OES, the entertainment division of Oceaneering International, Inc., has been an award-winning industry leader in developing complex ride and show systems for more than 25 years and is a trusted provider to the world’s top theme park developers and operators. We’re excited to usher in a new era with them as we expand our ride technology and sales capabilities by operating the OES brand.
Advisory Board Activates with Industry Legend
This year, we formed an Advisory Board and welcomed our first strategic advisor, Mike Hightower, the former president of Universal Creative. Over the next year, Falcon’s Beyond will continue to expand its Advisory Board, broadening its influence in the themed entertainment industry and beyond. By bringing in distinguished industry leaders with diverse expertise to offer their strategic guidance and insights, Falcon’s is set to drive the business towards sustained success and future growth.
Master Plans and Designs for the Experience Economy
Falcon’s Creative Group has been involved in an extensive scope of work for the Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC). The team has been designing, master planning, and supporting in shaping the creative vision and direction of Aquarabia, the first water theme park of its kind in Saudi Arabia and the largest in the Middle East. The team is also supporting the experience design and technology development for the world’s first Gaming and Esports district. All of these immersive entertainment experiences are being developed for Qiddiya’s “first city built for play,” located near the capital, Riyadh.
Images courtesy of Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC)
A Sweet New Deal
In January, we revealed a licensing agreement with The Hershey Company (“Hershey”) to develop new Hershey-themed experiential attractions. This expansive contract allows Falcon’s to design and create new Hershey-branded Location Based Entertainment (LBE) experiences featuring the industry-leading confectionary and snack company’s iconic IP, such as Hershey’s, Reese’s, Jolly Rancher, and Twizzlers, in both the United States and international markets.
FBYD Celebrated One Year on Nasdaq
We were absolutely thrilled to celebrate the one-year anniversary of our Nasdaq Listing Day on October 6, 2024 and take a moment to reflect on an incredible year of growth. This is just the beginning as we prepare to soar even higher, solidifying our place as a visionary leader in immersive storytelling. We’re deeply grateful to our Falcon’s team members and everyone who’s been part of this journey. Here’s to many more milestone moments—and beyond!
Expansion into the Japanese Market
Falcon’s has teamed up with Tanseisha to combine their creative forces in Japan, aiming to develop new immersive experiences based on Anime and Manga. Tanseisha, a Tokyo-based designer and creator of commercial and cultural facilities with deep roots in the Japanese market, has a strong track record of working with globally-recognized brands. Falcon’s plans to activate its robust slate of proprietary attractions and technologies in Japan for the very first time to bring new experiences to life. Details about projects developed through the collaboration will be announced in the future.
Celebrating an Award-Winning Year
We were honored to receive a multitude of awards recognizing our company, projects, and team members. Here are a few highlights:
- Our Experience Imagination podcast brought home a MUSE Award. We want to send a huge thank you to all of our listeners, and we look forward to further exploring the themed entertainment industry in 2025.
- David Schaefer, chief development officer, was named a Blooloop Power 10 Influencer on this year’s Blooloop 50 Theme Park Influencer List.
- Bruce A. Brown, chief legal officer & corporate secretary, was named as one of the 2024 Most Influential Lawyers by Savoy Magazine
- Simon Philips, president of Falcon’s Beyond, was named one of the Most Influential Leaders by the Orlando Business Journal.
- Jason Batista, unreal technical artist at Falcon’s Creative Group was an honoree of the Orlando Business Journal’s 2024 Veterans of Influence.
Doubled Workforce
In 2024, Falcon’s grew substantially, doubling our size to 200 team members. The growing demand for our services has driven this expansion, empowering us to take on more creative projects worldwide.
A Spirit of Giving
Falcon’s remains deeply committed to giving back to the community. Here are some highlights of our philanthropic initiatives from the past year.
- Operation Shoebox: Our team sent care packages full of goodies, cards, and artwork to deployed soldiers.
- A Gift for Teaching: We supported education and local teachers through A Gift for Teaching, an organization that makes sure students have the fundamental resources needed to learn and succeed.
- Audubon Center for Birds of Prey: From one flock to another – we volunteered at the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey. The Audubon Center focuses on the rescue, medical treatment, rehabilitation, and release of Florida’s raptors in Maitland.
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida: Donated more than 250 lbs. of food to the Second Harvest Food Bank Drive.
- Give Kids the World: We were thrilled to once again participate in the Annual IAAPA Footprints from the Heart 5k Fun Run & Charity Motorcycle Run benefiting Give Kids The World, a nonprofit resort that provides cost-free vacations for children with life-threatening illnesses.
Falcon’s Around the World
It’s been an eventful year for our team members, some of whom have traveled across the globe for various projects, trade shows, research opportunities, and more. Here are some of the standout excursions.
- Cecil D. Magpuri, CEO, and Daryl White, EVP of Global Licensing and Business Development, traveled to Hong Kong to meet with K11 Group and visit the construction site for the future virtual ocean adventure experience. This groundbreaking project promises to redefine location-based themed entertainment across China. Stay tuned for exciting updates!
- Our Unreal Technical Artist, Jason Batista, and EVP of Creative Development, Eric Calderon, attended Comic-Con International in San Diego, California.
- EVP of Global Licensing & Business Development, Daryl White, and EVP of Marketing & Branding, Toni Caracciolo, attended the Licensing Expo in Las Vegas. We were thrilled to support the Expo and the licensing industry by sponsoring the Retail Lounge.
- Geoffrey Platt was a panelist at the Theme Park Makers Panel of this year’s Maker Faire Orlando.
- David Consolo had the opportunity to visit the first-ever Esports World Cup at Riyadh Boulevard City in Riyadh, KSA.
- Design Director, Chito Ignacio, and Senior Design Manager, Miguel Antonio, from our incredible Falcon’s Creative Philippines team, were invited to speak at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde to teach students about the Themed Entertainment industry.
- Our Falcon’s Creative Group Philippines team celebrated their 2nd anniversary with a team-building event at Enchanted Kingdom.
- We exhibited at IAAPA Expo in Orlando, Florida for the 15th consecutive year. The Expo was a whirlwind of excitement, filled with meaningful connections with colleagues, current and prospective clients, friends, and students who share our passion for themed entertainment. The highlight of the week came when we made a major company growth announcement in true Falcon’s style.
