Michel Linet-Frion has launched his own global consultancy firm
After more than 30 years in the leisure and attractions industry working for Walt Disney Imagineering, Pierre & Vacances-Center Parcs, Grévin & Cie and Compagnie des Alpes, architect, designer and concept innovator Michel Linet-Frion has launched his own global consultancy firm.
Studio Concepts and Innovations provides consultancy and design services for eco friendly and storyline-led family leisure destinations and resorts.
“I’ve been intensively involved in designing world class attractions that create long lasting emotions and memories for many years,” Linet-Frion told Attractions Management. ”My main aim is to trigger imagination – I want to make people happy, to give them the opportunity to disconnect from their daily life and reconnect with those they’ve chosen to visit our destinations with.
“Nature is part of my signature philosophy; we care for her, she cares for us.”
GOING IT ALONE With his new venture, Linet-Frion says he will use his expertise to help clients create memorable and original experiences.
“From the initial concept to the opening day, I can support developers at each stage of the process, providing the advice and expertise necessary to transform their visions and dreams into destinations,” he said. “I will make it simple for them, allowing them to focus on the big picture while I stay focused on the details.”
“To accomplish this, I’m assembling and partnering up with leading worldwide specialists in all fields to make sure all ‘our’ creations become success stories.”
THE DISNEY YEARS After training as an architect, Linet-Frion deviated from classic architecture early on in his career when he joined Disney to help translate its concept for the European market. After eight years as a Disney Imagineer, he left for Parc Asterix, where he was in charge of developing concepts and masterplans for newly-acquired family entertainment sites.
A range of other projects followed, including the reinvention of the St Malo Aquarium, the design of the award-winning Nautibus underwater ride and the Grévin wax Museum.
In 2006 he joined Pierre & Vacances-Center Parcs, where he worked as creative director, developing new sites and innovations for the company.
After working for Center Parcs for almost 15 years, Linet-Frion said he’s ready for a change. “I’m not past-orientated; I like the future. I’m ready for the next new adventures and surprising encounters,” he explained.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE Studio Concepts and Innovations provides consultancy and design services for eco friendly and storyline-led family leisure destinations and resorts. “Indoor waterparks and wellness centers are among my favourite specialties,” said Linet-Frion. “Family Fun Centers are also what I enjoy putting together because I like to surprise and go beyond the expectations of those that will come and enjoy them.”
LOOKING AHEAD “My dream project is always the next one,” Linet-Frion said. “I’ve acquired a lot of expertise, allowing me to free up my imagination.
“My international experience and never-ending desire for travel and discovery have given me deep insight into a wide variety of local cultures and atmospheres around the world. This diversity of experiences led me to a very specific, blended approach to the guest experience: staging it based on storytelling and authenticity above all.
“The older I get, the more I hate anything fake. I hate fake people. I hate fake plants. I hate fake political situations,” Linet-Frion concluded.
“My strongest driver in all I do is a quest for authenticity.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2021 issue 1
Editor's letter: Doing better
The Black Lives Matter movement has challenged museums professionals to ask testing questions about their role in reparative history and the way we display and interpret racist and colonial collections
People: Brent Bushnell
Two Bit Circus has pivoted to an innovative online model aimed at keeping its community in touch
People: Michel Linet-Frion
After decades creating for Disney, Grévin and Center Parcs, Linet-Frion has launched his own consultancy
People: Anthony Rawlins
The Digital Visitor CEO explains a new whitepaper on how attractions can survive 2021 and beyond
Interview: Sarah Roots
Warner Bros’ Sarah Roots shares exciting details of the second Harry Potter Studio Tour, set to open in Japan in 2023
Inspired: Alone with Vermeer
The Mauritshuis in The Hague has allowed visitors one-to-one time with Vermeer’s <i>View of Delft</i>, ‘the most beautiful painting in the world’
Aquariums: Into the deep
Merlin and the Sea Life Trust share the highs and lows of the epic journey to get two whales to their new home in the world’s first beluga whale sanctuary in Iceland
Innovation: Sea change
Edge Innovations’ incredibly
life-like robot dolphins could spell the end of marine mammals in aquariums, says CEO Walt Conti
Interview: Bob Rogers
As BRC Imagination Arts celebrates 40 years in business, its founder celebrates his team’s achievements
Sponsored: Technically Creative
With clients including the Xplore
Family Entertainment Centre in Athens,
Technically Creative provides a one
stop, in-house solution to create
memorable and magical experiences.
We talk to CEO, Marc Broadbent
Sponsored: Fun Spot: Providing turnkey solutions
Industry innovator, Fun Spot, is on a roll, with a new EMEA
office and a range of innovative new products to help operators
deliver excellence to the family fun market. We find out more
Interview: Phil Hettema
The Hettema Group president on weathering the pandemic and creating powerful experiences
Linet-Frion worked with brand architects Dan Pearlman on the concept design for Center Parcs Allgäu’s Family Action factory in Germany / illustration: Dan Pearlman
COMPANY PROFILES
QubicaAMF UK
QubicaAMF is the largest and most
innovative bowling equipment provider with
600 employees worldwi [more...]
Clip 'n Climb
Clip ‘n Climb currently offers facility owners and
investors more than 40 colourful and unique
Cha [more...]
Polin Waterparks
Polin was founded in Istanbul in 1976. Polin
has since grown into a leading company in
the waterpa [more...]
Sally Corporation
Our services include: Dark ride design & build; Redevelopment of existing attractions; High-quality [more...]
Michel Linet-Frion has launched his own global consultancy firm
After more than 30 years in the leisure and attractions industry working for Walt Disney Imagineering, Pierre & Vacances-Center Parcs, Grévin & Cie and Compagnie des Alpes, architect, designer and concept innovator Michel Linet-Frion has launched his own global consultancy firm.
Studio Concepts and Innovations provides consultancy and design services for eco friendly and storyline-led family leisure destinations and resorts.
“I’ve been intensively involved in designing world class attractions that create long lasting emotions and memories for many years,” Linet-Frion told Attractions Management. ”My main aim is to trigger imagination – I want to make people happy, to give them the opportunity to disconnect from their daily life and reconnect with those they’ve chosen to visit our destinations with.
“Nature is part of my signature philosophy; we care for her, she cares for us.”
GOING IT ALONE With his new venture, Linet-Frion says he will use his expertise to help clients create memorable and original experiences.
“From the initial concept to the opening day, I can support developers at each stage of the process, providing the advice and expertise necessary to transform their visions and dreams into destinations,” he said. “I will make it simple for them, allowing them to focus on the big picture while I stay focused on the details.”
“To accomplish this, I’m assembling and partnering up with leading worldwide specialists in all fields to make sure all ‘our’ creations become success stories.”
THE DISNEY YEARS After training as an architect, Linet-Frion deviated from classic architecture early on in his career when he joined Disney to help translate its concept for the European market. After eight years as a Disney Imagineer, he left for Parc Asterix, where he was in charge of developing concepts and masterplans for newly-acquired family entertainment sites.
A range of other projects followed, including the reinvention of the St Malo Aquarium, the design of the award-winning Nautibus underwater ride and the Grévin wax Museum.
In 2006 he joined Pierre & Vacances-Center Parcs, where he worked as creative director, developing new sites and innovations for the company.
After working for Center Parcs for almost 15 years, Linet-Frion said he’s ready for a change. “I’m not past-orientated; I like the future. I’m ready for the next new adventures and surprising encounters,” he explained.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE Studio Concepts and Innovations provides consultancy and design services for eco friendly and storyline-led family leisure destinations and resorts. “Indoor waterparks and wellness centers are among my favourite specialties,” said Linet-Frion. “Family Fun Centers are also what I enjoy putting together because I like to surprise and go beyond the expectations of those that will come and enjoy them.”
LOOKING AHEAD “My dream project is always the next one,” Linet-Frion said. “I’ve acquired a lot of expertise, allowing me to free up my imagination.
“My international experience and never-ending desire for travel and discovery have given me deep insight into a wide variety of local cultures and atmospheres around the world. This diversity of experiences led me to a very specific, blended approach to the guest experience: staging it based on storytelling and authenticity above all.
“The older I get, the more I hate anything fake. I hate fake people. I hate fake plants. I hate fake political situations,” Linet-Frion concluded.
“My strongest driver in all I do is a quest for authenticity.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2021 issue 1
Editor's letter: Doing better
The Black Lives Matter movement has challenged museums professionals to ask testing questions about their role in reparative history and the way we display and interpret racist and colonial collections
People: Brent Bushnell
Two Bit Circus has pivoted to an innovative online model aimed at keeping its community in touch
People: Michel Linet-Frion
After decades creating for Disney, Grévin and Center Parcs, Linet-Frion has launched his own consultancy
People: Anthony Rawlins
The Digital Visitor CEO explains a new whitepaper on how attractions can survive 2021 and beyond
Interview: Sarah Roots
Warner Bros’ Sarah Roots shares exciting details of the second Harry Potter Studio Tour, set to open in Japan in 2023
Inspired: Alone with Vermeer
The Mauritshuis in The Hague has allowed visitors one-to-one time with Vermeer’s <i>View of Delft</i>, ‘the most beautiful painting in the world’
Aquariums: Into the deep
Merlin and the Sea Life Trust share the highs and lows of the epic journey to get two whales to their new home in the world’s first beluga whale sanctuary in Iceland
Innovation: Sea change
Edge Innovations’ incredibly
life-like robot dolphins could spell the end of marine mammals in aquariums, says CEO Walt Conti
Interview: Bob Rogers
As BRC Imagination Arts celebrates 40 years in business, its founder celebrates his team’s achievements
Sponsored: Technically Creative
With clients including the Xplore
Family Entertainment Centre in Athens,
Technically Creative provides a one
stop, in-house solution to create
memorable and magical experiences.
We talk to CEO, Marc Broadbent
Sponsored: Fun Spot: Providing turnkey solutions
Industry innovator, Fun Spot, is on a roll, with a new EMEA
office and a range of innovative new products to help operators
deliver excellence to the family fun market. We find out more
Interview: Phil Hettema
The Hettema Group president on weathering the pandemic and creating powerful experiences
Linet-Frion worked with brand architects Dan Pearlman on the concept design for Center Parcs Allgäu’s Family Action factory in Germany / illustration: Dan Pearlman
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.
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.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
+ More news
COMPANY PROFILES
QubicaAMF UK QubicaAMF is the largest and most
innovative bowling equipment provider with
600 employees worldwi [more...]
Clip 'n Climb Clip ‘n Climb currently offers facility owners and
investors more than 40 colourful and unique
Cha [more...]
Polin Waterparks Polin was founded in Istanbul in 1976. Polin
has since grown into a leading company in
the waterpa [more...]
Sally Corporation Our services include: Dark ride design & build; Redevelopment of existing attractions; High-quality [more...]
