Global Experience Specialists And Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products Announce The James Cameron's AVATAR™ Global Exhibition

GLENDALE, Calif., April 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Experience Specialists, Inc. (GES) announced today a partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products (Fox) to develop and tour an exhibition based on James Cameron's AVATAR™.  The state-of-the-art global touring exhibition, which will kick off in the fall of 2016, is inspired by the amazing creatures and environments of the world of Pandora first introduced in the record-breaking film. Fox and GES are developing the interactive attraction in consultation with James Cameron and Jon Landau's Lightstorm Entertainment. 

"This unprecedented global exhibition will create a truly memorable experience for fans," said Jeffrey Godsick, president of Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products. "Bringing the world of Pandora to life and comparing it to the wonders of our own planet, the AVATAR exhibition will bring together immersive new storytelling and science in a tangible, engaging forum."

"We have been longtime fans of James Cameron's visionary work and this is a unique opportunity to showcase AVATAR to fans around the world," said Eddie Newquist, chief creative officer and executive vice president of GES.  "We are thrilled to be able to provide visitors the opportunity to learn more about the wonders of Pandora through this exhibition."

"The world of AVATAR, made possible by James Cameron's vision and ingenious technological advancements, fits perfectly with GES' philosophy of storytelling through art and science," said Steve Moster, president of GES and president and CEO of Viad. "We couldn't be more excited to present Cameron's world of Pandora to film fans, school groups and families around the world."

"As we expand the AVATAR story world, we look for compelling ways to connect with our current – and future – fans.  This exhibition is an ideal way to share new and exciting insights into life on Pandora that we hope will inspire guests during their visit and beyond," added Kathy Franklin, president of franchise development for Lightstorm Entertainment.

The AVATAR exhibition will include immersive, interactive displays that highlight Pandora, the alien world created by James Cameron, putting it in the context of science here on Earth. The exhibition will treat Pandora as a real place that can be studied and visited. The 10,000 square foot experience will allow for a dynamic 45-minute guest engagement offering a wide range of exciting explorations and captivating environments highlighting bioluminescence, connectivity among Pandora's living things as well as its incredible and diverse flora and fauna. A unique look at the complexity of indigenous peoples and cultures through the lens of the Na'vi, Pandora's native inhabitants, will be a key component of the exhibition.  By showcasing the science and wonder of Pandora, the exhibition will allow guests to better understand the beauty - and fragility - of our own planet Earth.

Highlights of the 10,000-square-foot exhibition include:

• An examination of the Alpha Centauri system, home to the fictional planet Polyphemus and its moon Pandora, that offers visitors a multimedia journey into the world's discovery and the challenges of space travel to reach it from Earth.
• A Bioluminescent Theater, where visitors experience a recreation of Pandora at night and learn about its beauty, danger and the connections among the many organisms that inhabit the moon.
• An Amplified Mobility Platform suit for guests to step inside to experience the challenge of surviving on Pandora as a human.
• Na'vi culture depicted through careful reproductions to provide an in-depth look at these humanoid inhabitants and how their clans have created unique ways of connecting with nature.
• More than a dozen hands-on interactive components that will appeal to everyone from the most avid fan to newcomers to this compelling world.

GES, producer of blockbuster touring-themed attractions and world-class live events across the globe, will design, produce and tour the AVATAR exhibition to multiple global markets to be announced at a later date.

Released in 2009, James Cameron's AVATAR is the highest-grossing film in motion picture history, with a box office gross of nearly $2.8 billion. Mesmerizing all ages across the globe with its otherworldly visuals and groundbreaking special effects, the film quickly became a worldwide phenomenon so popular it will be followed by three sequels, with the first sequel due for release in late 2017. AVATAR was named best drama at the Golden Globes and won Academy Awards for cinematography, visual effects and art direction.

About Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products
A division of 21st Century Fox and recognized industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products licenses and markets properties worldwide on behalf of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Twentieth Century Fox Television and Fox Broadcasting Company, as well as third party lines. The division is aligned with Twentieth Century Fox Television, the flagship studio leading the industry in supplying award-winning and blockbuster primetime television programming and entertainment content.

James Cameron's AVATAR™& © 2015 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

About GES
Global Experience Specialists, Inc. (GES), a Viad Corp (NYSE: VVI) company, is a global, full-service provider for live events, producing exhibitions, conferences, congresses, corporate events, exhibits and entertainment experiences. GES provides a wide range of services, including official show services, audio visual, cutting-edge creative and design, marketing and measurement services, and event accommodations – all with an unrivaled global reach. GES partners with leading shows and brands, including Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products, Spring Fair Birmingham, MAGIC, International Woodworking Fair, CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE, Bell Helicopter, L'Oreal, and Simon Property Group. GES' National Servicenter® has been recognized with certification under the J.D. Power and Associates Certified Call Center Program℠ for the past six years, and for the fifth year in a row Ad Age has named GES as one of the "World's 50 Largest Agency Companies." For more information visit www.ges.com.

About Viad
Viad Corp is an S&P SmallCap 600 company. Viad operates through its Marketing & Events Group, composed of Global Experience Specialists and affiliates, and its Travel & Recreation Group, composed of Brewster, Glacier Park, Inc. and Alaska Denali Travel. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.viad.com.

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SOURCE Global Experience Specialists

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