International Leisure Project Experience

White Hutchinson has worked on the feasibility, design and production of entertainment, edutainment, eatertainment, leisure and retail projects in 31 countries. Projects include:

Achrafief Mall, Beirut, Lebanon

Designing a new family entertainment center for Beirut, Lebanon’s most upscale mall. The FEC will include attractions never introduced to Beirut and will take advantage of the vertical store space to maximize both entertainment value and entertainment capacity.

Luanda, Angola, Africa

Angola, and especially its capital Luanda, has one of Africa’s fastest growing economies. Completed full market and financial feasibility study and preliminary plans for a hybrid bowling center and FEC that will include open-play bowling, two different VIP bowling lounges, large group function areas, a destination restaurant, a game room and laser tag area.

Cairo, Egypt

(6th of October) Completed market and financial feasibility study and now completing full architectural and interior design of a 2,300-square-meter ladies club and children’s edutainment center that will also include outdoor dining terraces, a roof top terrace and party center and an outdoor children’s naturalized adventure playground. Our work includes specifying and procurement assistance for all furniture and equipment and assisting client with start-up management.

India

Market analysis, concept and brand development and design for a chain of family entertainment-edutainment centers to be located in malls throughout India.

Accra, Ghana

Site selection, market feasibility study and concept development for a family entertainment center (FEC).

Nicosia, Cyprus

Feasibility and concept development for a 3.000 square meter family entertainment center adjoining the Mall of Cyprus.

Hanoi, Viet Nam

Working with a real estate developer on concept plans to integrate entertainment, edutainment, retail-tainment and education facilities and venues into a large urban mixed-use project

Kuwait City, Kuwait

Completed market and financial feasibility and concept development and design for a two-story, 7,300-square-meter children's edutainment and enrichment center that includes 25 different play activities for children, an upscale café, a multi-purpose movie and live performance theatre, private birthday party rooms and five children enrichment workshops.

Dubai, U.A.E.

Concept development and design for a 1000-square-meter Children's Academy with 12 children's enrichment workshops for school field trips, scheduled classes and drop-in classes.

Astana, Kazakhstan

Completed market feasibility study and currently developing preliminary design plans, cost estimates and financial feasibility for a 6,000 square meter family buffet-entertainment center (restaurant + family entertainment) to be built on a site in the rapidly growing modern capital city of Astana, Kazakhstan in this ex-Soviet territory.

Uralsk (Oral), Kazakhstan

Developing design plans, cost estimates and financial projections for renovation of 24,000-square-meters of industrial buildings in the northwest Kazakhstan city of Uralsk (also known as Oral or Ural'sk) as a mixed-use adult and family entertainment and restaurant anchored retail trade (shopping) center.

Ukraine, Eastern Europe

Assisted with the retail store design of a 9,300-square-meter (100,000-square-foot) children’s store with experiential entertainment and destination edutainment play design components targeting families with children.

Lagos, Nigeria

Completed preliminary plans, cost estimate and financial projections for a 4,190- square-meter (45,000 square foot) indoor-outdoor children’s play and discovery (edutainment) and enrichment center that will also includes a learn-to-swim pool and an outdoor discovery playground.

Hong Kong, SAR China

Assisted client in Hong Kong SAR, China, with initial feasibility, site evaluation and concept development of a family lifestyle club that will cater predominately to mothers and children of expat families. The concept incorporates a café, women's salon and children's edutainment and play and children's enrichment workshops.

Manama, Bahrain

Feasibility and design for a 3.700 square meter children's edutainment, entertainment and enrichment (play & discovery) center that will include a discovery play garden and rooftop zero-depth spray grounds (spraypads) in the Seef District.

Amman, Jordan

Concept development and site selection for a mixed-use family-oriented center that will include retail shops, restaurants, family entertainment center, birthday party center and cinemas, in both an enclosed mall and outside landscaped garden settings

Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Assisting the Al Hokair Group with design, operations consulting and curriculum development for Smart Kids in Jarir Mall. Smart Kids is a new concept that includes walk-in children's enrichment workshops, a children's play and discovery (edutainment) pretend village, games, a toy store and a coffee shop.

Doha, Qatar

Completed a market and economic feasibility study, master plan and design concepts for development of an 80,000 square meter family leisure project targeted to Qataris and Gulf Arabs that includes retail, restaurants, cinemas and theater, family entertainment, children's edutainment, offices, ladies club and spa, teenage girls club and a children's enrichment center.

Sana'a, Yemen; Yemen Trade Center

The owners of the Sana'a Trade Center, the only modern mixed-use retail, office and apartment project in Sana'a, Yemen, retained WHLLG to conduct a feasibility study and develop plans for a three-story, 45,000 sf addition to the Trade Center which will include a family entertainment center and a celebration/hospitality hall. Click here to learn about our CEO's travel in Yemen

China & Singapore,

Working the ACOR International on development of a chain of children's edutainment centers.

Querétaro, Mexico, Children's Discovery Play Center(sm)

Working with a group on market feasibility for the development of an indoor/outdoor children's discovery play centersm.

Managua, Nicaragua, Children's Edutainment Center

Working on the development of a children's edutainment center.

Beirut, Lebanon, CIC NGO

Assisted the Children's Interactive Community (CIC) NGO with development of their strategic plan, mission and planning for their new headquarters facility.

Regina, Canada

Completed preliminary market feasibility evaluation and site selection for an indoor/outdoor children's edutainment center.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Completed preliminary designs for renovation and expansion of the Space City family entertainment center.

Niagara Falls, Canada

HOCO Limited retained WHLLG to evaluate feasibility and design plans for a new 65,000 square foot indoor FEC which will be located in the popular Clifton Hill tourist area of Niagara Falls, Canada.

LouLou Al Dugong's, Dubai, U.A.E.

WHLLG designed and produced this 25,000 sf, $3.1 million children's edutainment center that opened May 2000 in Lamcy Plaza, one of the world's largest department stores. WHLLG developed a culturally-based theme for the center that embraces the multi-ethnic composition of the population, the area's heritage as both an Arab culture and an international trading port and local children's environmental values. The center's storyline is about a mascot character named "LouLou al DugongT" (Pearl of the Sea Cows) after the endangered Persian Gulf dugongs (related to manatees) and the city's pearl diving heritage. WHLLG's work included all aspects of design, production and management, including screening and training staff. Click here for more information.

Badajoz, Spain Family Leisure and Discovery Park

WHLLG recently completed feasibility and preliminary design for a 23 acre project called "Parque de Attraciones de Badajoz" which will be combination 'dry' family entertainment center and a water park targeted to families with children toddlers to teenagers. Due to the parks location one kilometer from the Spain/Portugal border, an important cultural consideration will be a design that appeals to both Spaniards and Portuguese, traditional rivals. This and other cultural considerations will be addressed through both a values-based storyline and design theme and the food and beverage selections at a destination restaurant. The mix and theme of the park will also incorporate a strong educational and cultural component.

Qatar, Children's Leisure, Learning & Cultural Center

WHLLG completed a market and financial feasibility study, cultural studies and concept plans for this Gulf state's first children's leisure, learning and cultural center. Unlike conventional Western family or children's entertainment centers, the center is planned to include more than just entertainment. Learning through play, scheduled workshops and discovery experiences, traditional artisans, artists and cultural events, and a model day care facility are planned as an integral part of the center's mix.

Dinotropolis™, Caracas, Venezuela

WHLLG was the development consultant, producer and collaborative designer for this new 60,000 s.f. children's entertainment center that opened July 1996 in Caracas, Venezuela. The center was designed as a Play Palace on the planet of Gemini, inhabited by a civilization of dinosaurs. WHLLG developed the center's storyline, name, characters and theme; oversaw the center's entire design and selection, sourcing and coordination of the installation of all entertainment events and is continuing to assist with operations and management consulting. The center features the world's first roller coaster that goes through the middle of a soft contained play unit. It also includes a children's maze, interactive water play, a hands-on/discovery area for preschoolers and six birthday party catering suites. Dinotropolis won the 1996 Newsmaker Award for the Best New International FEC.

XPlosion Family Leisure & Learning Center, Puerto Rico

WHLLG has been selected to assist with the design of this new 280,000 square foot indoor/14 acre outdoor FEC type center. The center will include upgrading and expansion of an existing waterpark, ice and roller rinks, bowling, an indoor FEC with multiple anchors, a children's edutainment center, a children's learning center, an adult entertainment center, iWERKS theater, baseball training center and outdoor attractions. WHLLG has completed market and financial feasibility studies and concept plans.

Wol-Ha FEC, Cancun, Mexico

This $7 million, 35,000 s.f. enclosed family entertainment center opened December 1994 to serve the residents of Cancun. WHLLG served as development consultant and designer. The center includes 20 lanes of bowling, a McDonald's and second restaurant, a large children's pay-for-play facility, a game room and party facilities. Wol-Ha translates to The Island in Mayan. Wol-Ha won the 1994 Newsmaker Award for Best International FEC. The owners have since retained WHLLG for on-going operations, evaluations and consulting and to assist them with development of additional Latin American FECs.

Adult Entertainment Center, Caracas, Venezuela

The owners of Dinotropolis retained WHLLG to develop concept plans and development recommendations for a 55,000 square foot adult entertainment center to be developed in an existing shopping mall.

Nassau, Bahamas

WHLLG has been selected to conduct feasibility studies and design an outdoor family entertainment center to be called Promiseland.

Rabat-Sal®, Morocco, North Africa

WHLLG conducted the market feasibility study and prepared a concept plan and cost estimate for new children's leisure & discovery center in Rabat-Sal®, Morocco. It will be that country's first family entertainment center. The project will target children between 2 and 9 accompanied by their parents.

Panama City, Panama

The owners of an existing shopping center retained WHLLG to evaluate the feasibility and develop concepts for development of a family entertainment center to serve as an additional anchor for the center.

San Jose, Costa Rico

WHLLG conducted market feasibility and developed concept plans for the development of an entertainment/retail mall.

Lima, Peru

Assisted with site selection, feasibility and concept development for a children's edutainment center.

Warsaw, Poland

Assisted the developers of the new Kids Play chain of children's entertainment centers with concept and mix development.

Rome, Italy

White Hutchinson has been selected to be the designer and producer for a new children's entertainment center called KidScape to be developed in Rome. We are currently assisting the owners with site evaluations.