Orlando, Wednesday, 15 October 2025.
Universal’s Epic Universe has driven a striking 19% revenue increase for the parks business earlier this year, proving large-scale IP‑led destinations still move the financial needle — and that’s reshaping the UK experiential market. While destination parks deliver scale and lift per‑capita spend across F&B, retail and premium upsells, UK malls and cultural sites are responding with lower‑capex, high‑margin activations: the Natural History Museum’s Jurassic World pop‑up, Holovis’ ApolloDomes at Gunwharf Quays, and Wake The Tiger’s Westfield London project. For retail operators this two‑tier dynamic matters: national destination investments justify heavier IP and phased capex strategies, while scalable pop‑ups and immersive overlays boost dwell time and monetisation without large capital outlays. Expect priorities to centre on IP licensing, phased investment, flow engineering, tech partnerships and diversified per‑capita revenue channels — a mixed portfolio approach that optimises spend capture and mitigates risk for landlords and operators.