Al Hokair Group for Tourism and Development said it has signed a licence agreement with International Merchandising Promotion and Services (IMPS) that will see the duo launch the first Smurfs FECs in Dubai followed by more locations across the Mena region.
IMPS, together with Lafig Belgium, are the official licensors of the little blue-skinned characters "The Smurfs" and manage the rights of their world and the other characters created by Pierre Culliford, aka Peyo.
Founded in 1984 by Véronique Culliford, Peyo’s daughter, the company is based in Belgium.
Mohamed Attia, Al Hokair Group’s General Manager of Entertainment, Philippe Glorieux, IMPS Head of Marketing and Communications, and Fabienne Gilles IMPS Head of Consumer Products., signed the agreement in the presence of several officials at the Brand Licensing Europe tradeshow held recently in ExCel London.
"We are excited about this new collaboration with IPMS, which will add a great value to our entertainment portfolio, and it will mark another success story for Al Hokair Group," stated Attia.
Smurfs FEC guests will enjoy meeting with the beloved Smurfs characters and they will experience state of the arts and unique games and attractions all Smurfs themed, he added.
A major player in the entertainment scene, IMPS is involved in offering a wide range of copyright licensing services, film productions, film-makers cartoons, patent and trade.
Al Hokair Group has been a dominant force in hospitality and entertainment for decades and is the recognized leader in tourism for Saudi Arabia and the wider Arabic world.
It had recently signed a deal with Moonbug Entertainment to develop the CoComelon Family Entertainment Centers across several countries in the Mena region, where guests and their kids could meet JJ and his friends and enjoy a unique approach to entertainment and fun.
An award-winning global entertainment company, Moonbug is behind some of the most popular kids’ titles in the world. Its shows are on more than 150 platforms globally, bringing an unrivaled level of global scale to its ultra-popular shows like CoComelon and Blippi.
The company aims to be a natural part of every child’s upbringing, regardless of geography, culture or background. By inspiring and engaging children with fun and responsible storytelling, Moonbug encourages kindness, compassion and resilience in the next generation.
As per the deal, Al Hokair group will be setting up the first CoComelon park in Saudi Arabia which will then be followed by other parks across the region.
The group with its wide leisure and entertainment experience will transform the success of the CoComelon brand to a one of its kind FEC for the little ones.
Founded in 1975, the Group has invested in the entertainment and hospitality sectors under Sheikh Abdulmohsin Al Hokair’s leadership.
Over the past five decades, the group's projects have expanded to include 80 entertainment centers and 35 hotels, and many cinemas, and restaurants across Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt.-TradeArabia News Service
