Feeling connected with others can spark peak experiences / Photo: disney david roark
Peak experiences, as defined by psychologist Abraham Maslow, are rare, exciting, deeply moving, exhilarating, elevating moments of wonder and awe. These memorable moments stand out from the everyday – if a visitor has a peak experience in your attraction, they will never forget it. The advantages of providing the right environments to spark these moments are obvious. The question is, how? Are there certain elements that increase the likelihood of such experiences? Is there a science to it all?
Chip and Dan Heath, authors of The Power of Moments, sum up the elements that make moments special – elevation (of the senses), pride, insight (learning something new) and connection. According to the Heath brothers, peak experiences require at least one of the four elements, with the best having all four.
In our feature on peak experiences on page 60, Nathaly Kambakara, associate director at consumer insight consultancy BVA BRDC explains that recent research shows that while visitor attractions are excellent at delivering moments of insight and elevation, they’re not always so good at creating feelings of pride (which comes when visitors feel valued and recognised) and connection.
When it comes to helping visitors feel recognised and part of something bigger, emotion is key. As BRC’s Christian Lachel says: “In crafting unforgettable moments... the industry must evolve to deliver experiences that resonate on a deeper emotional level.”
A sense of connection is vital as well – whether that’s Harry Potter fans finding their community at the Warner Bros Studio Tour or museums connecting deeply with the communities they sit in.
My own peak experience moment came during a visit to Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam when I was 14. There, in the place she had hidden for more than two years, I felt something shift. It hit me in a visceral way – this wasn’t some abstract story from history. This was a real girl, like me, who had lived in this actual place. I felt my neck tingling; everything else faded away. That moment will stay with me forever.
You can’t make visitors have a peak experience with you, but you can create the conditions that make it more likely. Then, whether they have a peak experience or just an amazing, memorable time, it’s a win-win for everyone.
Interview: Sabrina de Carvalho
Changes are coming for Italian theme park Gardaland, with the launch of a major new attraction and an upcoming milestone. Its CEO lets us into the plans
Theme parks: Adventure unleashed
Some seriously exciting new rides and theme parks are taking shape across the globe. We highlight a few of our favourites
Immersive attractions: Sam Bompas
From fireworks displays that you can taste to a breathable cocktail cloud, Bompas & Parr redefine immersive experiences. We hear about their latest project
Technology: Beyond the rides
How can holographic technology be used to wow visitors and connect with audiences? We get an expert opinion
Talking point: Peak experiences
People are increasingly searching for experiences that transcend their daily lives. How can attractions create environments that spark joy and transformation?
Immersive attractions: Tom Lionetti-Maguire
In 2015, an unemployed actor caught the public mood when he launched the Crystal Maze Live Experience. Now the CEO of Little Lion is moving into the world of live video games
First person: Mastering the magic
When it comes to using architecture to evoke emotion in theme park design, none do it better than Disney, argues Justyn Smith. Here’s what we can learn from the magic-makers
Feeling connected with others can spark peak experiences / Photo: disney david roark
Peak experiences, as defined by psychologist Abraham Maslow, are rare, exciting, deeply moving, exhilarating, elevating moments of wonder and awe. These memorable moments stand out from the everyday – if a visitor has a peak experience in your attraction, they will never forget it. The advantages of providing the right environments to spark these moments are obvious. The question is, how? Are there certain elements that increase the likelihood of such experiences? Is there a science to it all?
Chip and Dan Heath, authors of The Power of Moments, sum up the elements that make moments special – elevation (of the senses), pride, insight (learning something new) and connection. According to the Heath brothers, peak experiences require at least one of the four elements, with the best having all four.
In our feature on peak experiences on page 60, Nathaly Kambakara, associate director at consumer insight consultancy BVA BRDC explains that recent research shows that while visitor attractions are excellent at delivering moments of insight and elevation, they’re not always so good at creating feelings of pride (which comes when visitors feel valued and recognised) and connection.
When it comes to helping visitors feel recognised and part of something bigger, emotion is key. As BRC’s Christian Lachel says: “In crafting unforgettable moments... the industry must evolve to deliver experiences that resonate on a deeper emotional level.”
A sense of connection is vital as well – whether that’s Harry Potter fans finding their community at the Warner Bros Studio Tour or museums connecting deeply with the communities they sit in.
My own peak experience moment came during a visit to Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam when I was 14. There, in the place she had hidden for more than two years, I felt something shift. It hit me in a visceral way – this wasn’t some abstract story from history. This was a real girl, like me, who had lived in this actual place. I felt my neck tingling; everything else faded away. That moment will stay with me forever.
You can’t make visitors have a peak experience with you, but you can create the conditions that make it more likely. Then, whether they have a peak experience or just an amazing, memorable time, it’s a win-win for everyone.
Interview: Sabrina de Carvalho
Changes are coming for Italian theme park Gardaland, with the launch of a major new attraction and an upcoming milestone. Its CEO lets us into the plans
Theme parks: Adventure unleashed
Some seriously exciting new rides and theme parks are taking shape across the globe. We highlight a few of our favourites
Immersive attractions: Sam Bompas
From fireworks displays that you can taste to a breathable cocktail cloud, Bompas & Parr redefine immersive experiences. We hear about their latest project
Technology: Beyond the rides
How can holographic technology be used to wow visitors and connect with audiences? We get an expert opinion
Talking point: Peak experiences
People are increasingly searching for experiences that transcend their daily lives. How can attractions create environments that spark joy and transformation?
Immersive attractions: Tom Lionetti-Maguire
In 2015, an unemployed actor caught the public mood when he launched the Crystal Maze Live Experience. Now the CEO of Little Lion is moving into the world of live video games
First person: Mastering the magic
When it comes to using architecture to evoke emotion in theme park design, none do it better than Disney, argues Justyn Smith. Here’s what we can learn from the magic-makers
London Museum will open four new food and drink destinations when it launches its new home
at Smithfield on 28 November, making hospitality a central part of the visitor experience at one
of the capital's biggest cultural openings of the year.
OMA has completed a major transformation of New York's New Museum, creating a larger
cultural campus that combines expanded exhibition spaces with learning, performance,
hospitality and public programming.
A US$50 million (£44.2 million, €51.2 million) transformation of Chicago's historic McCormick
Mansion has created a new destination that combines live magic, immersive theatre, dining and
private membership under one roof.
The Montana Historical Society has officially celebrated the opening of its new Montana
Heritage
Center, a US$107 million (£79 million, €92 million) destination that combines immersive
storytelling with cutting-edge audiovisual technology to bring the sta
San Antonio Zoo has reported a US$283 million economic impact for 2025, following a decade-
long transformation programme that has seen almost US$200 million invested into the Texas
attraction.
Plans for the AU$180 million redevelopment of Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville, Australia, are
progressing, with the project set to transform the attraction into a global centre for reef
education and conservation.
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Disney has reaffirmed its commitment to investing US$30 billion in its US parks and cruise
business by 2033, using new America250 celebrations to underline the role its attractions play
in supporting jobs, tourism and economic growth.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
