The city of Gramado (RS), the second largest tourist destination in the country, annually receives nine million people. Tourism in the city generates more than R$ 1.5 billion annually for the local economy, which means about 86% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to data from the Municipality of Gramado. All of this is the result of the investment in leisure and entertainment activities that the city has been making in recent years.
This is one of the reasons why Criamigos, a personalized plush franchise chain founded in Gramado (RS), launches a major project in the city, the themed hotel Mundo Criamigos . The complex will be a completely new entertainment center, which will cover eight thousand square meters and will house a children's themed hotel , with indoor family entertainment, a gastronomy area, incredible experiences, 34 rooms and capacity for up to 1,200 people. Work on the complex began recently and delivery is scheduled for 2024. The company is raising 40% of the amount with external investors, in a model of shareholding shares.
The idea for developing the hotel came up in 2021, between the founders of the brand, Natiele Krassmann and Veronicah Sella. “We conducted a survey with our consumers and 89% of them wanted to consume more products from our brand. It was at that moment that we thought of doing something that would bring experiences and connections between children and their families”, says Veronicah.
For the partners, the objective of the project is to help increase family bonds, generating increasingly strong affective memories and extending the experience already offered in stores. “In our workshops we already use family ties a lot to generate memories. At the hotel, we will reinforce our desire by offering unique and special moments”, says Natiele.
In addition to the entire experience and activities that the hotel will promote, the themed suites will be lovingly designed to offer all the comfort that guests deserve. The rooms will be inspired by the characters from Clubinho Criamigos, an animation series with the brand's mascots, launched in early 2022 and which already has more than 10 million views on YouTube.
“We didn't want to just make a hotel aimed at children, but rather create an atmosphere for all ages, which will be a reference in children's entertainment and will complement the emotional bonding experience we already offer in our more than 60 stores”, shares Veronicah.
Another great novelty from Criamigos is the company's internationalization project, in which they are already mapping the markets with the greatest potential for their business model. The aim of the members is to take Criamigos to the world. Being able to take the personalization, charm and success of the Brazilian brand, which fascinates adults and children, to the international market. “Our business model is unique. We make custom plush toys, offer a unique experience to our customers, produce a cartoon for our YouTube channel with our mascots and we are building a hotel that will bring a magical world to those who stay. With so many achievements, internationalizing our brand and much more than selling a product outside the country, is taking the Criamigos story beyond borders. We are a brand for all children,
In Brazil, the franchise network already has 60 workshops, as its stores are called, with the expectation of opening another 21 units in 2023. The brand was born in 2016 and closed 2022 with a turnover of BRL 120 million.