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NEWS
Serial entrepreneur Luke Johnson to headline VAC 2016
POSTED 12 Sep 2016 . BY Tom Anstey
Johnson has headed organisations such as Channel 4, Pizza Express and Strada Credit: Risk Capital Partners
Business mogul Luke Johnson will deliver the keynote address at this year’s Visitor Attractions Conference (VAC) in London, sharing his insights on how to manage a successful venture.

Johnson, who has headed organisations such as Channel 4, Pizza Express and Strada, is co-founder of investment company Risk Capital Partners. Through his chairship of the Eclectic Bar Group, one of Johnson's most recent high-profile acquisitions was that of Brighton Pier, which was sold in April in a deal worth £18m (US$25.6m, €22.5m).

In addition to managing multiple successful business ventures, Johnson is the chair for both The Institute of Cancer Research and StartUp Britain, and created a think tank in 2013 called The Centre for Entrepreneurs. In the media world, he also writes a weekly business column for The Sunday Times.

Run by the industry and for the industry, VAC has been firmly established since its inception as the key place to meet and network with contemporaries, while also featuring a series of thought-provoking sessions to the attractions market.

A number of leaders in the visitor attractions and tourism sector are also scheduled to speak at this year’s event, including VisitBritain interim director Andrew Stokes, Tourism Alliance director Kurt Janson and Eleanor Harris, chief executive of the recently opened world-first i360 tower in Brighton.

VAC 2016 takes place at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre on 6 October. For more information, click here.
RELATED STORIES
  Risk Capital to control Patisserie Valerie


Luke Johnson’s private equity fund Risk Capital Partners has purchased a majority stake in Patisserie Valerie.
  Johnson takes the chair at Channel 4


PizzaExpress founder and chair of Signature Restaurants, Luke Johnson, has been named as the new chair of Channel 4 television.
  Johnson drops offer for PizzaExpress


Luke Johnson, via his Venice Bidder bid vehicle, has decided against increasing his offer for PizzaExpress.
  Pizza Express agrees to takeover


Pizza Express has agreed an initial takeover from a group, which includes one of its founders, Luke Johnson.
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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.
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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.
Montana Heritage Center opens with immersive exhibits and US$107 million investment
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
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Universal Destinations and Experiences has launched a new regional theme park model with the opening of Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas.
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NEWS
Serial entrepreneur Luke Johnson to headline VAC 2016
POSTED 12 Sep 2016 . BY Tom Anstey
Johnson has headed organisations such as Channel 4, Pizza Express and Strada Credit: Risk Capital Partners
Business mogul Luke Johnson will deliver the keynote address at this year’s Visitor Attractions Conference (VAC) in London, sharing his insights on how to manage a successful venture.

Johnson, who has headed organisations such as Channel 4, Pizza Express and Strada, is co-founder of investment company Risk Capital Partners. Through his chairship of the Eclectic Bar Group, one of Johnson's most recent high-profile acquisitions was that of Brighton Pier, which was sold in April in a deal worth £18m (US$25.6m, €22.5m).

In addition to managing multiple successful business ventures, Johnson is the chair for both The Institute of Cancer Research and StartUp Britain, and created a think tank in 2013 called The Centre for Entrepreneurs. In the media world, he also writes a weekly business column for The Sunday Times.

Run by the industry and for the industry, VAC has been firmly established since its inception as the key place to meet and network with contemporaries, while also featuring a series of thought-provoking sessions to the attractions market.

A number of leaders in the visitor attractions and tourism sector are also scheduled to speak at this year’s event, including VisitBritain interim director Andrew Stokes, Tourism Alliance director Kurt Janson and Eleanor Harris, chief executive of the recently opened world-first i360 tower in Brighton.

VAC 2016 takes place at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre on 6 October. For more information, click here.
RELATED STORIES
Risk Capital to control Patisserie Valerie


Luke Johnson’s private equity fund Risk Capital Partners has purchased a majority stake in Patisserie Valerie.
Johnson takes the chair at Channel 4


PizzaExpress founder and chair of Signature Restaurants, Luke Johnson, has been named as the new chair of Channel 4 television.
Johnson drops offer for PizzaExpress


Luke Johnson, via his Venice Bidder bid vehicle, has decided against increasing his offer for PizzaExpress.
Pizza Express agrees to takeover


Pizza Express has agreed an initial takeover from a group, which includes one of its founders, Luke Johnson.
MORE NEWS
OMA completes New Museum transformation with landmark expansion and Oberon restaurant
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.
David Rockwell creates immersive magic destination, The Hand and The Eye
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.
Montana Heritage Center opens with immersive exhibits and US$107 million investment
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
Universal launches new theme park model with Kids Resort
Universal Destinations and Experiences has launched a new regional theme park model with the opening of Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas.
San Antonio Zoo reports $283 million economic impact as expansion plans progress
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.
Great Barrier Reef attraction set for AU$180 million reinvention
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.
+ More news   
 
COMPANY PROFILES
iPlayCO

iPlayCo was established in 1999. [more...]
DJW

David & Lynn Willrich started the Company over thirty years ago, from the Audio Visual Department [more...]
Taylor Made Designs

Founded in 1993, Taylor Made Designs supply corporate clothing and brand-enhancing merchandise to [more...]
IAAPA EMEA

IAAPA Expo Europe was established in 2006 and has grown to the largest international conference and [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
28-29 Sep 2026

Wellness Destination AI Tech Summit – Tourism, Hospitality & Real Estate, 28-29 Sept 2026

Grand Ballroom, METT Singapore, Singapore
+ More diary  
 


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Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
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