Episode 443: David Contreras talks about architecture as entertainment, balancing fantasy and reality, and developing leaders

Looking for daily inspiration?  Get a quote from the top leaders in the industry in your inbox every morning.   What’s your guest experience strategy?  You probably have a marketing strategy, recruitment strategy, and sales strategy, but what about intentionally turning first-time visitors into loyal advocates?  Liebman Leisure Group helps attractions do exactly that.  From creating a culture of “wow” moments to empowering staff to recover from service failures, great experiences don’t happen by accident. To schedule a consultation call, visit www.liebmanleisure.com/attractionpros.  Don’t leave your guest experience to chance.  You should be known for creating memorable experiences… on purpose. David Contreras is the COO of Pistil Consortia. A technical architect by trade, he has practiced architecture since 2006 and is licensed in multiple states and countries, with experience spanning healthcare, hospitality, restaurants, and commercial work. Pistil launched during the height of the pandemic with his wife as majority owner, then grew quickly by earning trust as a startup and specializing in spaces built for fun, leisure, and performance. In this interview, David talks about architecture for entertainment, balancing fantasy and reality, and developing leaders. Architecture for entertainment “It’s like you’re designing fun.” David explains that entertainment design starts with psychology and first impressions, not just drawings. He describes how teams must consider the guest journey from arrival to check-in to how families decide what to do next, while also accounting for safety, accessibility, and operational logistics. He also shares how his healthcare background shaped his approach, since both worlds require precision around equipment, clearances, and flow, but entertainment adds the challenge of building anticipation through what guests see, hear, and feel. Balancing fantasy and reality “You do want it to be the best space that you can possibly create, but you also have the real parameters of budget constraints and money is finite.” David breaks down how “whimsy and wonder” must fit inside real constraints like budget, ceiling height, existing structure, sprinkler lines, ductwork, and the ROI math of square footage. He describes designing with a “kit of parts” mindset, weighing attraction footprints, safety clearances, party room revenue versus dead zones, and food offerings that won’t trigger expensive kitchen requirements. The goal is to place dollars where they have the biggest impact on the experience, especially the arrival moment and the areas guests see most. Developing leaders “The more that I develop leaders, I feel like the better off we are as a group, as a company.” David shares how his leadership approach evolved from highly hands-on mentoring to more delegation as the firm grew. He wants emerging architects to learn by doing, make mistakes, and build decision-making tools they can own. He also frames leadership as guiding clients through an uncertain process, building confidence, and shepherding stakeholders through complex choices that affect operations, cost, and the long-term success of the venue.   To learn more about the company, David recommends visiting the Pistil Consortia website, connecting on LinkedIn, or emailing him directly at [email protected]. This podcast wouldn't be possible without the incredible work of our faaaaaantastic team:   Scheduling and correspondence by Kristen Karaliunas   To connect with AttractionPros: AttractionPros.com [email protected] AttractionPros on Facebook AttractionPros on LinkedIn AttractionPros on Instagram AttractionPros on Twitter (X)