PGAV Destinations

"Media is one of the most powerful storytelling tools," says PJ Tamayo, Media Designer and Illustrator at PGAV. Whether it’s a theme park, zoo, or digital interactive, PJ believes integrating media elements like video and audio can instantly immerse guests and reveal their purpose in the story. In this week’s Destinology, PJ shares his thoughts on the strategy of media. https://lnkd.in/gZMb6P8E

Celebrating the spirit of the Olympics 🎉 PGAV brought the excitement of the games to our studios with our office competitions! We may not have nailed our floor routine, but from trivia to paper airplane throwing, we embraced the Olympic spirit. Congrats to all the winners and participants for the friendly competition! We’re already figuring out how to turn the stairs into a slalom course for the Winter Olympics…

Shoutout to Javier Saumell! 🕺 Javier and his incredible dance crew are competing in the World Hip Hop Dance Championship in Arizona, and they are crushing it! PGAVers are there to cheer him on, and we’re all so proud of him. His team, The Squad, dances again tonight in the semi-final round. Good luck, Javi!!

INTERNS: the bright-eyed 😎, energetic crew that brings a burst of youthful energy every summer. They might debate you over the merits of ankle socks vs. crew and give your side part the side-eye, but they also infuse our team with fresh perspectives and innovative ideas. Beyond their lively presence, they serve as a valuable focus group for gauging the state of our industry. In this week’s Destinology, we caught up with them to hear their thoughts on attractions, the industry, and what they value in mentors. https://lnkd.in/gftZRuDy

DOUBLE TAKE! With a misprint comes a REPOST!📣 Three incredible decades...how did we almost miss this milestone?! August is a star-studded🌟month for work-versaries! This month, we’re giving special recognition to Al Cross, John Kasman, and Joyce Korte who have all been with PGAV for more than THREE DECADES 🎊 !! Not forgetting to mention James Dee as well with over two decades! 🎉 Thanks to everyone for your hard work, passion, and creativity. Happy work-versary Joyce, John, Jim, Al, Steven Mohesky, April-Dawn Gladu, Raymond J. Kane, Amy Stubenfoll, Taylor A. Baird, Jennifer Beaudean, Jacob Silbermann, and Margaret Gies.

We’re excited to announce our two new studio leaders! 🎉 Charlie Lutz is now the studio leader in St. Louis and Gary Rogowski now leads our Orlando studio. These roles were created two years ago as part of our multi-studio strategy and aim to strengthen our studio culture. Charlie and Gary will focus on boosting creativity, empowering growth, and enhancing our industry reputation. “The power of what a collaborative team can do is unmatched. I look forward to supporting my teammates in elevating the designers here and maintaining PGAV’s leadership in destination-focused projects.” – Charlie “As a former client, I have a unique perspective on the passion and dedication PGAV Destinations commits to the success of our clients and their projects. Witnessing this collective show of creative force from inside and outside the organization, I understand what it means to be the best.” – Gary Congratulations, Charlie & Gary! 🎊 🎉 https://lnkd.in/gx_Kvz2S

A Creative Writer's Perspective A.D. Gladu, PGAV Creative Writer, always has a cast of characters in her head. 🎭 Gladu understands guests bring myriad perspectives when they walk through the gate, and she considers this whether she’s developing the guest journey or a live play. Understanding the audience is the cornerstone of compelling storytelling in attraction design, the primary step before selecting communication methods to resonate with the guest. In this week’s Destinology, AD explains the Creative Writer’s perspective on approaching destination design. 🎨 https://lnkd.in/df8mj3Hv

Will you be at Comic-Con San Diego? If so, look for our team! Our amazing team members are headed to San Diego Comic-Con International! They'll explore the world of themed entertainment and share insights on transforming beloved comics, movies, and media into immersive attractions. Catch Al Cross, Ashley Edelbrock, and Josh Steadman as they join Allison Fox (co-founder, 88Twenty Group), Danielle Kramer (EVP land production, RWS Global), and moderator Camille Falciola (art and design supervisor, Universal Studios Hollywood) as they discuss the creative process and challenges in design destinations on July 26th at 1:30pm PT. https://lnkd.in/gxnFeEqD

Fire up the grill!🌭 National Hot Dog Day made a great excuse for delicious food, great company, and a beautiful day on our patio. Thanks to everyone who helped make it happen! 🎉

In case you missed the news, the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park, scheduled to open in 2027, announced last month that the project is projected to generate $660 million in economic activity over 10 years. That’s great news for the St. Louis region! https://lnkd.in/dPX-m6ve PGAV Destinations is proud to collaborate on this exciting project.