MIDDLE EAST
“ We started a little over three years ago , and back then this site was nothing but desert ”
– Matthew Priddy , CTO
become an economic engine , driving growth in this direction .” The career experience that Priddy refers to includes a 20- year career at Disney , including serving as Senior Vice President of Worldwide Production for Walt Disney Imagineering . As Priddy says : “ My background really is the theatrical side of the theme park business .”
Describing his current team and its role in the strategy of Dubai Parks and Resorts , Priddy says : “ My group is an interesting mix of development and operations . We have procurement , contracts , media , R & D , control systems , creative , facilities management , show and ride engineering , technical services . Our role is diverse , but the important thing for us is to ensure the guest experience . “ A theme park and a resort is looking to offer a compelling experience that will make people want to come and it needs to be so compelling that they want to come back and next time they want to bring their friends and their grandparents and they want to stay longer . A longer stay equates to more per capita spending , and that ’ s the concept of an integrated resort – a theme park on its own , out of town , has a hard job with
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