Robert Ward’s thirty-eight year career has centered on the leisure time, resort destination and entertainment industries worldwide. During his twenty plus years with Universal Studios Parks & Resorts he was a Co-Founder and key executive of Universal’s creative think tank development team that has conceptualized, designed and implemented Universal’s global entertainment projects.

Bob is acknowledged as being an instrumental leader in the creative repositioning of the Universal Studios Tour from its beginnings in Hollywood as a straight forward “industrial tour” into one of the recognized leaders of destination entertainment, theme parks and resorts world-wide. He led the conceptualization and master planning development of the Universal Orlando Resort, Universal’s $3.5 billion premiere entertainment resort destination in Orlando, Florida and then Universal’s product expansion into Japan, Asia and Europe.

The International Themed Entertainment and Experience Design Industry recently announced that Bob will receive the prestigious 2009 Thea Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of excellence in the creation of outstanding visitor experiences, attractions and places.

In 2005, Bob established his consulting practice where his diverse global development experiences, strategic business insights and creative imagination combine to create a unique brand of world-class “signature placemaking” for clients in the areas of large, mixed-use, leisure and resort destination developments, and urban town planning. Bob partners with Philippe Cousteau Jr. and Andrew Snowhite, co-founders of the environmental consulting firm, Azure Worldwide. He continues to explore new placemaking applications that empower individuals, communities and businesses to improve the health and sustainability of their environment and community, while adding value to partners and consumers.

Bob is presently active in greater Asia, Korea, Dubai, Europe, the Caribbean and the USA.