George Wade

Biography: George Wade Principal Bay Laurel Advisors Los Angeles, CA With close to 30 years in the entertainment and leisure industry, George Wade has become a leading innovator in the development of high-end, mixed-use entertainment projects including theme parks, themed attractions and location-based entertainment venues. Mr. Wade is also a leading expert in branding and brand development within the entertainment industry. During his career, he has been recognized for his contributions to some of the industry’s most prestigious projects including Tokyo Disneyland, Universal Studios Florida, The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, EPCOT Center, Luxor Hotel and Casino and MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. As Principal of Bay Laurel Advisors, Mr. Wade is working on a number of confidential mixed use international projects that are merging office, residential and retail development with destination entertainment. His prior experiences have allowed him to become a leading expert in high profile entertainment brand development and in unique consumer oriented real estate projects that desire entertainment elements. From 2001 to 2009, Mr. Wade led the MGM Studios expansion into leisure-based licensing, developing the strategic vision and execution of this initiative. During his eight-year tenure, first as a consultant and for the last four years as Senior Vice President Location Based Entertainment, the company licensed the MGM brand and film portfolio for a retail, dining and entertainment destination in Shanghai China, a mixed use tourist destination in Korea and a umber of theme park attractions in domestic and international markets. Prior to joining forces with MGM, Mr. Wade consulted to a wide range of entertainment, leisure, retail and technology companies including Paramount Parks, GTE Government Systems, Debartolo Corporation, Landmark Entertainment Group, Marriott Corp., Simon Development, BRC Imagination Arts, Entertainment Technologies Corporation, Alliance Retail Group, Iwerks Entertainment and Canadian Niagara Hotels. From 1991 to 1995, Mr. Wade served as Vice President Business Development, leading Iwerks’ growth into new markets including location-based entertainment (LBE). Mr. Wade initiated Iwerks’ relationships with both Six Flags Theme Parks and Paramount Parks Theme Parks. Mr. Wade also established key relationships for Iwerks with many entertainment industry leaders including Universal Studios Parks & Resorts, Busch Entertainment/Sea World, Caesar’s World, Bass Plc. and Itochu Corp of Japan. Mr. Wade also served as Production Executive for Landmark Entertainment Group, eventually rising first to Vice President Production and later Vice President Development for this leading independent theme and leisure designer/developer. Key clients included Busch Entertainment, Six Flags Corp., MCA/Universal, Caesars Palace, Hilton Hotels and Casinos and The Gordon Company (for the highly successful “Forum Shops” development at Caesars Palace), projects during this tenure included The Forum Shops in Las Vegas, Universal Studios Florida and Busch Gardens Williamsburg Mr. Wade started his career Walt Disney Imagineering and worked on the development of EPCOT Center and Tokyo Disneyland providing him a unique perspective on the merging of real estate and entertainment. (August 2010)