Innovator, designer, concept developer, strategic thinker, and just plain "Big Idea" guy, Hugh Darley, founder and President of IDEA, Inc., an award-winning international design association, is a true visionary with superior creative skills, highly-tuned leadership capabilities, and a solid business acumen.

Hugh's career has taken him from Walt Disney World's Main Street USA to Seoul, Korea, creating compelling Hospitality and Entertainment Attractions, Ports of Call, and Resort Destinations, around the world. As a member of Disney's WED Enterprises (Walt Disney Imagineering) at Walt Disney World, Hugh was instrumental in graphic design and area development signage for the final build-out of the World Showcase in Disney's legendary Epcot Center. Later, Hugh was tapped to apply his creative skills as Art Director for the original Disneyland Park in California.

Imaginative Technologies (ITEC)

In 1986, Hugh spread his entrepreneurial wings and co-founded his own creative shop - Imaginative Technologies (ITEC). ITEC provided "Imagineering-type" services to the new and rapidly growing world-wide Family Entertainment market. While serving as President of ITEC Productions, Hugh also co-founded Entertainment Properties Inc. in 1992 to design and create joint venture development opportunities. ITEC's Client roster included some of the biggest Brands in the world including the Hilton Nevada Corporation, Mirage Resorts, The Biltmore Estate, The Boston World Trade Center, NASCAR, and Caribbean Restaurant Partners.

Further expanding his creative and leadership portfolio, Hugh served in several Executive level positions with Paramount Parks between 1993 and 1995, including assuming the duties of Executive Vice President during the acquisition by Paramount Pictures and the subsequent merger with Viacom and Blockbuster Entertainment. Hugh was responsible for Paramount Park Corporate systems' development, including the implementation of a five-year plan for all five North American parks, and the integration of all the Intellectual Properties of Viacom's family of Brands, including MTV©, Nickelodeon©, Blockbuster Entertainment©, and Paramount Pictures, Properties. This experience placed Hugh in the middle of one of the largest mergers in the Family Entertainment industry and led to his role as creator and Executive Producer of "Star Trek: The Experience" with the Las Vegas Hilton.

An IDEA is Born

In 1995, Hugh founded IDEA, Inc., (International Design and Entertainment Associates). Actively serving as President and Executive Producer, Hugh has created and developed storylines and thematic approaches for Branded Destinations, world-wide. Many of IDEA's design and thematic concepts incorporate comprehensive new urban programs of Residential, Mixed-Use Commercial, Retail and Entertainment Venue property development. Hugh provides high-concept design and Destination Branding services through the company's three international offices in Orlando, London, and Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

Hugh and the IDEA team have most recently been working extensively in the Caribbean and Mexico; partnering closely with governmental agencies such as The Port Authority of Jamaica, several Saint Lucian Governmental Agencies, The Barbados Tourism Authority, and The Virgin Islands Port Authority, to create the most exclusive, efficient, and viable concepts for Tourism and Urban Development Planning. Hugh and IDEA continue to provide specialized consulting and design services for two major cruise industry leaders, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines. In addition to his expertise in the Cruise Industry, Hugh has also successfully teamed with numerous land-side Boutique Hotel, Resort, and Shore Excursion developers.

As a distinguished member of the Urban Land Institute, Hugh has spoken on behalf of developers on defining new concepts in Resort and Urban Design, Planning and Entertainment programming. He is a spokesperson for the Organization of American States regarding Cruise Port Development and an invited lecturer at the Harvard Design School Executive Education Program where he speaks regularly regarding his approaches and experiences in Branding Destinations. Hugh also serves on University Advisory Boards with Georgia Southern University and the University of Central Florida.