The Case

The founder of Monolit, one of Romania’s leading real estate investors, is taking a bold strategic turn expanding beyond real estate into the entertainment and retail industries with a visionary new development: Dracula Land.

Dracula Land, a major entertainment district located just north of Bucharest, draws inspiration from Romania’s most iconic myth. This ambitious project will include a world-class theme park, outlet mall, arena for festivals and esports, hotels, an aqua park, a business accelerator for innovations and a racing track. (www.draculaland.com )

TDAC has been appointed to assess the feasibility of the theme park and to act as the client’s representative throughout its design and development.

The Approach

Although the client had an existing feasibility study, they engaged us to conduct an independent assessment as part of our long-term advisory role. We chose to develop our own comprehensive study to benchmark against the existing research.

Our process began with an on-site visit to Bucharest, where we met with the Creative Studio Berlin design team and conducted market research. Drawing on this firsthand knowledge, desktop research, and our extensive database of European theme parks, we delivered a feasibility study that included:

• An overview of the current European theme park market
• Analysis of the Romanian leisure market
• Assessment of the tourism potential
• Projected attendance figures
• A 10-year EBITDA forecast

We compared our findings with the existing study and provided strategic recommendations based on this analysis.

As the park moves into detailed development over the coming years, TDAC will continue supporting the project as client representative, providing services including:

• Review and evaluation of design agency deliverables
• Vendor selection support (ride manufacturers and suppliers)
• Production process oversight
• Operations setup and staff training

We look forward to continuing this exciting journey with Dracula Land.

For more information on our services for theme park development, please check here.

The Case

Karls Erlebnis-Dörfer began as a modest farmer’s market at a single strawberry farm in Rövershagen, North-East Germany. While the original Rövershagen location now draws approximately 1.7 million annual visitors annually and features numerous attractions, including rollercoasters, carousels, a permanent ice sculpture festival, and more, the strawberry remains the core of everything experienced at Karls.

Since the success of the first park, Karls has rapidly expanded to several additional locations across Germany, with new sites opening soon. This rapid expansion raised a critical question for the client: With central control overseeing multiple distinct locations, was the quality of the park experience at different locations still consistently meeting the high standards expected by the owner?

The Approach

Our distinctive tool for approaching the operations optimization at Karls Erlebnis-Dörfer is SNAP!. This tool developed by TDAC provides within a short time frame great professional insights on status of the park and its operations.

Our work began with a focus on truly understanding the principles, vision, and operational ethos of the company. First, we conducted a comprehensive two-day immersion visit.

• Day 1: We held several intensive brainstorm meetings with the core team at the Rövershagen location. This session was designed to collaboratively connect with the essence of the Karls brand experience.
• Day 2: Following an overnight stay at their hotel, we toured the second location in Elstal (near Berlin) alongside the top management. This provided us with perfect insight into their current operational thoughts, expectations, and future plans.

For our second visit, we conducted a two-day Mystery Guest Audit across both locations.

• Acting as normal, unannounced guests, we thoroughly tested the Karls concept on both Design and Operational execution. This was carried out using our extensive SNAP! 100+ point checklist.
• Beyond simply experiencing the parks as typical visitors to feel how guests are treated, we applied our deep professional experience to evaluate every detail.

During our final visit we delivered our final report. This didn’t just identify areas for improvement; we also provided concrete, actionable advice during the presentation of our findings for operations optimization at Karls Erlebnis-Dörfer.

For more information on how TDAC can help you with optimizing your operations , please check here.

The Case

Balashi, the top beer brand on the Caribbean island of Aruba, is launching a new Brand Experience Center. The center will be a key addition to the Gloria Entertainment complex, which already features a cinema, an IMAX theater, and several restaurants.

The Balashi Beer Experience is being designed and built by Sandenburg-DST. Our role at TDAC is to manage the operational planning and integration, as well as to train the staff in preparation for the grand opening.

The Approach

To ensure a smooth and effective launch, our team first traveled to Aruba to get a firsthand understanding of the Balashi brand, the local culture, and the island’s unique dynamics.

We then began drafting essential operational documents and procedures for both the start-up phase and long-term success. This includes creating a staffing program, job descriptions, operational handbooks, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Throughout this process, we work in close collaboration with the design team, suppliers, and the client.

As the opening date approaches, senior members of our team will be on-site to train the staff and get everyone ready. A few weeks after opening, we will return to verify that operations are running smoothly and to make any necessary adjustments to the systems.

For more information on how TDAC can help you with Operational planning and integration in your new leisure location, please check here.

The Case

Ukrainian retailing powerhouse Epicentre K has come a long way since its department store origins 20 years ago. They’ve transformed themselves into a trendsetting wholesale leader not just in Ukraine, but beyond its borders.

Now, with their sights set on further growth, Epicentre K is embarking on an exciting new chapter: developing entertainment areas within their stores. This initiative marks the beginning of a comprehensive mall entertainment strategy, promising to redefine the shopping experience for their customers.

The Approach

To craft the perfect entertainment strategy for Epicentre K, the TDAC team went beyond a desktop analysis. We embarked on a comprehensive journey, starting with a visit to Lviv itself and immersed ourselves in the local experience:

• We explored the city, absorbing the rich Ukrainian culture.
• We analyzed the competitive landscape to understand the market dynamics.
• A visit to the impressive Epicentre K mall provided invaluable insights.

This combination of on-site research and market analysis formed the foundation for a detailed market report. 

Building on this knowledge, TDAC, in collaboration with TconcepT architects, organized a two-day brainstorming session. We actively engaged with the Epicentre K owner, delving into their vision and aspirations. This collaborative approach, along with the built up understanding of local culture, laid a strong foundation for the next stage.

Recognizing the evolving Ukrainian leisure market, we created three distinct mall entertainment scenarios for Epicentre K. Each scenario explored different possibilities, tailored to their specific needs, which provides the owners a great insight in the possibilities. We also provided a clear recommendation, guiding them towards the most impactful option.

For more information on how TDAC can help you with entertainment in malls, please check here.

The case

Bommelwereld is a new cultural based indoor theme park development in The Netherlands. One of the TDAC the theme park consultants is involved as client representative. In this role, he advises the developer so that he can make the right decisions during the development.

Background

Located in the east of the Netherlands, Marveld recreatie is a large resort with a hotel, luxury cottages and campsites. The owner, despite the park’s popularity among the Dutch, wanted to identify the resort with a real Dutch icon. The idea of creating an attraction around one of the most known comic strips in The Netherlands, “Meneer Bommel and Tom Poes” was born.

Cultural heritage

Maarten Toonder created 177 stories about their adventures. They ran daily in newspapers for half a century, are part of the Netherlands’ cultural heritage. Generations grew up with Meneer Bommel and Tom Poes.

The plans include a building of around 9000 square meters in which guests can explore the world created by Maarten Toonder. The centrepiece will be Meneer Bommel’s castle. The world of Meneer Bommel and Tom Poes will be the central theme for all the attractions. The indoor theme park will include the magical atmosphere of Rommeldam, the Black Mountains and the Dark Trees Forest.  Marveld recreation asked TDAC as theme park consultants, to guide them as client representatives through the entire process: master planning, implementation and operation.

At the moment the Bommelwereld theme park is under construction. The construction crews have nearly completed the building, and interior work will begin soon.

For more information on our services for theme park development, please check here.

The Case

The Dutch province Drenthe liked to attract a big theme park to the region. After evaluating several options they approached the French storytelling showpark Puy du Fou. Puy du Fou conducted a feasibility study on possible locations in the Provence. The city of Meppel was selected as the preferred location. Meppel municipality asked TDAC as theme park consultants and specialist in regional tourism development, for a second opinion market study for Puy du Fou theme park Meppel.

The Approach

Based on previous work for the city of Meppel, TDAC was well acquainted with the specific situation at this location. This knowledge, in combination with the our extensive knowledge of the theme park business, formed the basis for further database market research on the existing tourism market and population in the region. 

From Puy du Fou, TDAC received valuable input on the performance of the existing parks in France and Spain. Analyzing the input from these two sources gave TDAC a relatively good picture of the potential for a Puy du Fou park at that location. Based on the historical data, the TDAC team created an analysis of the potential market on the expected opening day for Puy du Fou in Meppel.

The second opinion market study or Puy du Fou theme park Meppel was delivered in a comprehensive digital report and explained verbally during several meetings.

For more information on our regional / city consultancy, please click here.

The Case

The southernmost province of the Netherlands boasts a rich beer culture, home to several distinguished smaller breweries.

TDAC was engaged by one such establishment: a family-owned brewery and the producer of Alfa beer. This brewery is a popular destination, attracting many visitors annually for a guided tour of its facilities. Our mandate was to:

• Review the existing tour experience.
• Develop upgrade plans and recommendations.
• Train the brewery’s tour guides.

The Approach

Our strategy focused on gaining a comprehensive, 360-degree understanding of the tour’s current status and future potential:

1. Guest Immersion: We began by experiencing the tour firsthand as normal guests. This provided us with a crucial, unbiased impression of the current experience.
2. Guide Collaboration: Following the tour, we held a dedicated brainstorm session with the tour guides. Leveraging their first-hand interactions with guests, they offered invaluable insights into what visitors truly enjoy and pinpointed areas ripe for improvement.
3. Management Alignment: We then conducted a session with the brewery’s management to fully understand their overarching mission and specific objectives for the tour experience.
4. Actionable Plan & Training: Based on all gathered information, we developed a comprehensive document detailing improvement ideas for the tour. This was followed by implementing our unique TDAC 9+ hospitality training for the tour guides, ensuring they could deliver the elevated experience.

One of the largest theme parks in Asia (which requested that its name not be published for confidentiality reasons) approached the theme park consultants of TDAC to execute a theme park performance review, as they were underperforming compared to the average theme park industry performance numbers as published by IAAPA.

The Approach

The assignment started by reviewing the theme park business figures, including the theme park planning / investments in new attractions / expansions / ROI / sponsorship / HR-related questions / facility planning and costs / and park operations. We reviewed their pricing strategies and their long-term planning.

Loaded with all the theoretical data, we traveled to Asia to visit the park for a few days and interview the management. Experiencing the park as a guest provided us with great insights on how the park is operating, the emotional connections with guests and their hospitality.

Back at the office, our of team theme park consultants discussed the guest experience we had undergone in the park during our visit. Combined with all the theoretical analysis, it provided us a solid platform to draw conclusions about the current park performance and operations. Based on our long term experience we developed an improvement strategy. A comprehensive theme park performance review report captured all this information, including an improvement plan for the future.

For more information on our services as theme park consultants, please check here.

The Case: 

An IT entrepreneur, driven by a passion for leisure parks, sought TDAC’s strategic guidance after acquiring a strategically positioned plot of land along a major highway in the South West of The Netherlands. At this plot he was planning a new leisure park development.

The TDAC Approach: 

Our collaboration commenced with a strategic phase focused on establishing clear short-term and long-term Objectives and Vision. This framework provided the client with a crucial roadmap to maintain focused throughout the entire new leisure park development process. Since the project’s inception, TDAC has provided consistent monthly support to the client’s team. Our role has encompassed maintaining project focus and offering expert advice across all critical elements required for establishing serious and efficient operations. This included assisting in the recruitment of key management personnel and delivering comprehensive hospitality training for their new staff.

Guest experience in number one at Maple Farm. Merely for that reason Maple Farm Adventures already launched a small playground, one year before the large climbing park opened. This strategic move allowed the team to gain valuable experience in guest handling. Based on TDAC’s advice, Maple farm included a soft opening phase for the spectacular high ropes course. This proactive, balanced and phased approach was crucial in ensuring they were fully prepared for the Maple Farm Adventures successful launch in April 2025.

For more information on our consultancy services for (real estate) investors, please click here.

The Case:

Our client owns an amazing location in Croatia. On the edge of a canyon, overlooking a steep mountainside, this piece of land was one of the locations where famous films were shot in the past.

These specific movies are still immensely popular. This made our client wonder if there is a small theme park based on the movies logical at this location, or are there other approaches that would improve the feasibility?

Approach:

TDAC, after extensive research in the region, many interviews and of course close cooperation with the client, created a balanced mix of attraction ideas. The attraction ideas still included a small theme park (which still might include the movie theme) in combination with other attraction ideas that focussed on the unique characteristics of this location. The ideas were turned into a business plan including a feasibility study for the theme park, the other attractions and combinations of the different elements. Based on these studies the ideas can further be further elaborated by specific design studios.

TDAC as theme park consultants, will continue to guide the client as client representative through the next phases of the site development.

Look here for more information on TDAC services for investors.