Entrepreneurship comes in all shapes and sizes, but the ability to clearly identify a disruptive idea or concept and the specific market niche that it aims to serve are only the initial stages of the entrepreneurial journey. Much like solving a puzzle, success in the business world can often be found by connecting the dots.
For Ákos Gabossy, that puzzle started coming together in 2014 when he first launched PanIQ Room – a completely immersive and upgraded take on escape rooms, a rapidly growing form of interactive entertainment –the young Hungarian visionary had a clear mission: to create a new mega-trend across America and the world. It´s safe to say, he succeeded.
Today, patrons can enjoy unique interactive experiences at any one of the multiple PanIQ Room locations across America, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. Inspired by the entertainment milieu that some classic dining franchises championed decades ago, but determined to scale an average night out to Hollywood-like proportions, Mr. Gabossy painstakingly developed a robust business model which has attracted investors and franchisees at a pace unlike anything the hospitality and entertainment industry has seen in recent times, while continuously perfecting every aspect of the immersive and highly engaging experiences that customers have come to expect from the PanIQ Room brand.
Friends, families and co-workers can all share unforgettable moments at the venues – whether they´re scrambling to complete a `Pyramid Heist´, reliving the times of the `Wild West’ or experiencing the thrill of any of the immaculately crafted escape room scenarios that PanIQ Room offers.
In the midst of a widespread shift in consumer trends, as more and more people are turning to offline recreational and team building alternatives, passionate and determined entrepreneurs like Ákos are betting big and doubling down. While PanIQ Room already boasts prime locations across many of America´s largest cities, the company is going all in, in an effort to conquer one of the biggest entertainment markets in the country: Las Vegas.
We spoke with PanIQ Room founder, Ákos Gabossy, who recently granted us an interview to discuss the brand and its future:
- After the success you’ve had with PanIQ Room, do you see the upcoming Vegas location as the brand´s crown jewel?
Absolutely. Our goal was to create a one-of-kind experience on the strip, where our guests can eat, drink and have fun at the same time. It’s always a big challenge for a fresh concept to open a venue at such a prime location, we hope we can attract more walk-in players and that this unit can operate a little bit like a movie theater.
- Most entrepreneurs would panic (pun intended) at the thought of opening a new marquee location in times of COVID-19. What makes you different?
Thankfully our great franchisee and investor partner, Mr. Erno Varadi, believes in the concept and in us from day one. From a business owner’s perspective, every crisis is an opportunity at the same time. Escape rooms became popular in cheap basements in Hungary less than 10 years ago; Our fancy venue at the Venetian will showcase how far this newly born industry has come technologically and aesthetically in such a short period of time. On the other hand, doing an escape room is probably one of the safest social entertainment activities, that anyone could do during this evil pandemic. So I would say, it’s definitely the right time to PanIQ!
- Where do you see the brand in the next three years?
Building a fully American entertainment business from Eastern-Europe has been a tough journey so far. I became experienced in crisis management, so I hope we can get out stronger and wiser from the given situation. We are currently working on a big fundraising round, that capital should boost our expansion and within 3 years we should have at least 30 corporate and franchise units, mostly at prime locations.
(Syndicated press content)
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