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BIO & PRESS REVIEW

Conference « TEA PRESENTS BUT CAN WE BUILD IT » - IAPAA EUROPE 2026

Moderator: Executive Creative Director, EDD Musgrove (THEMED)

Speakers:

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Fabien Manuel IAAPA conference TEA 2026

RMC STORY
La techno des manèges à sensation: Walibi (2025)

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WALIBI BELGIUM

Dock World I The universe⚓ (2025)

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WALIBI RHÔNE-ALPES - DANS LES COULISSES DE MAHUKA - Épisode 3 - La thématisation (2024)

DANS LES COULISSES DE MAHUKA - Épisode 3 - La thématisation - Walibi Rhône-alpes - Fabien

WALIBI BELGIUM - Walibi Podcast - Dock World avec Fabien Manuel & Julien Simon

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WALIBI BELGIUM présente KONDAA
Episode 3 - LA GENESE D'UN MONDE

Walibi Belgium présente KONDAA - Episode 3 - LA GENESE D'UN MONDE Fabien Manuel Walibi Bel

WALIBI RHÔNE-ALPES - Le plan de développement du Parc avec Maxime Guény | 40 ans du Parc Walibi Rhône-Alpes

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On IMAcast, Compagnie des Alpes Creative Director Fabien Manuel shares his journey from advertising to theme park design. He explains how constraints fuel creativity, outlines insights on leadership and mental health, and argues that passion and dedication matter far more than raw talent.

On La File d’Attente, creators Fabien Manuel and Julien Simon reveal behind-the-scenes insights into Walibi Belgium's Dock World. They explore designing the harbor zone and its Mecalodon family coaster, answering fan questions about the challenges of bringing this immersive area to life.

Does creativity need limits - podcast imamotion Fabien Manuel Xaver Willebrand
La file d'attente podcast avec Fabien Manuel et Julien Simon pour Walibi Belgium Mecalodon

Blooloop 50 Theme Park Influencer 2021
Named multiple times (including part of the Judges for 2023 and 2024) as one of the top 50 most influential individuals worldwide in the visitor attractions industry for outstanding achievement in Creative Direction.​

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TEA EMEA Board Director: Elected member of the Board of Directors for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa division of the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), the leading global organization for the themed entertainment and attractions industry.​​

Fabien ManueTEA EMEA Board Director: Elected member of the Board of Directors for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa division of the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), the leading global organization for the themed entertainment and attractions industry.​​

Fabien Manuel : Creative Director
& Theme Park Designer, Immersive experiences

I am a creative director, scenographer, and theme park designer specializing in immersive experiences for the entertainment industry. Grateful to be featured in Blooloop’s industry rankings as Theme Park Influencer, I support the creative strategy and thematic development for several leisure destinations across Europe.

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Current Role: Creative Director -
La Compagnie des Alpes

Leading a team of Designers on global artistic direction, designing, and on-site construction supervision for major theme park projects from blue-sky concepts to reality:

  • Parc Astérix: hotel rebranding, show set design, and themed environments 

  • Walibi Parks (France, Belgium): Complete creation of immersive lands (Festival City, Exotic Island, Dock World, Explorer Adventure) and themed award-winning roller coasters (Mystic, Mahuka, Macalodon,…)

  • Cultural Scenography & Media: Musée Grévin (Paris) with major TV show set designs (The Voice and Kho-Lanta).

 

 

 

Core Expertise:
Brand Storytelling
& Creative Leadership

A unique spatial design methodology forged by 10 years of experience as an Art Director in the advertising industry:

  • Branding & Guest Experience: Blending brand identity with spatial design to maximize visitor emotional engagement.

  • The "Adsland Park" Pivot: A viral, self-initiated theme park concept based on commercial brands that bridged graphic design and large-scale entertainment architecture.​

🏆 Theme Park Industry Awards​​

  • European Star Award – "Best New Ride" (2020): Awarded to the AirBoat attraction (Walibi Rhône-Alpes) for its exceptional design and integration into the heart of the Festival City zone.

  • European Star Award – "Best New Coasters" (2019): Won by the Mystic roller coaster (Walibi Rhône-Alpes), for which he fully imagined the storytelling and New Orleans bayou atmosphere.

  • Parksmania Award "Best Use of Theming" (2024): Specifically awarded to the Mahuka roller coaster (Walibi Rhône-Alpes) for its highly immersive Pacific archaeological site decor.

  • Parcs World Excellence – "Best Use of Theming" (2025): More broadly awarded to Walibi Belgium for the complete aesthetic overhaul of its themed areas, including the Dock World harbor zone.

  • Parcs Actus Award – "Best New Attraction France" (2024): Won by Mahuka (Walibi Rhône-Alpes) during its opening year, celebrating its overall art direction.

  • European Star Award – "Best Regional Park"(2025): A global award recognizing the decade-long masterplan transformation of Walibi Rhône-Alpes. This major revitalization started with the Explorer Adventure zone in 2016 (featuring the wooden coaster Timber!), followed by Festival City (2018–2020) and Exotic Island (2022–2024).
     

🏅 Individual Professional Distinctions
🎬 Early Career Awards (Advertising)

  • 1st Prize at the "Génération Pub" National Competition (2005): creative underground poster campaign in the Paris Metro raising awareness about childhood obesity.

  • RégionsJobs "Originality Award" (2010): Awarded to illustrated comic blog « Quelle Vie de Pub ! », which humorously depicted his daily life as an advertising art director.

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