Founded over a grocery store in St. Louis’ Central West End, PGAV has grown from these humble beginnings to one of the World’s leading tourism and attraction development firms. Now in our fifth decade, our Destination Consultants are key advisors and creators for destinations that would fall within anyone’s “TOP 100.”

PGAV’s history is one of innovative, landmark projects, including Universal Studios Resort in Orlando, Port Aventura in Spain (the largest entertainment resort in southern Europe), Busch Gardens, Discovery Cove, Bass Pro Outdoor World, and many, many others. Our projects are winners of eight TEA (Themed Entertainment Association) Awards, more than other independent design firm. More than 85 million guests enjoy our work worldwide, every year.


Our recent experience includes consulting and design for:

Historical attractions dedicated to such subjects as The United States Army, The United States Air Force, World War II, the American Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, Gen. George S. Patton, Ford Motor Company, Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company, U.S. Westward Expansion, Egyptian history, and the St. Louis Cardinals. 

Many of the World’s most important cultural, heritage, and nature landmarks, with an aggregate attendance of more than 24 million visitors, including The Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, The Hoover Dam, The Gettysburg Battlefield, Banff National Park, the Giza Pyramids, The Biltmore Estate, Hearst Castle, and the Gateway Arch. 

Ten of the World’s largest cultural and natural theme parks, with a combined annual attendance of more than 36 million visitors, including the PGAV-designed Busch Gardens Williamsburg, voted ten years running as the World’s Most Beautiful Theme Park. 

Fourteen of the largest zoological attractions in North America, with a combined annual attendance of more than 14 million visitors, including the Georgia Aquarium – the World’s largest aquarium. 

Science and technology attractions dedicated to such subjects as space exploration, physics, the environment, health, engineering, energy technologies, and aviation. 

Three of the Top Rated Attractions Overall in the recent Zagat Family Travel Guide in association with Time Inc.’s Parenting, including Discovery Cove (also rated #1 Water Park) and the St. Louis Zoo (also rated #1 Zoo/Animal Park).

Overview

PGAV Destinations is a global leader in the planning and design of unique destinations. Now in our fifth decade, we have evolved our practice to become the ideal strategic partner, skilled at developing growth-oriented master plans and translating those plans into successful projects. Our staff of more than 120 full-time staff includes architects, planners, brand specialists, earned revenue specialists, interior designers, graphic designers, landscape architects, artists, and interpretive designers. No other firm offers such an integrated approach to destination planning.

PGAV’s key clients include many industry leaders, including Delaware North, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, National Geographic, the Biltmore Companies, Bass Pro Shops, Ameristar Casinos, Universal Studios, The Gettysburg Foundation, the Niagara Parks Commission, The National Aviary, and many others. Our recent assignments include planning and design at many of the world’s “must see” destinations, including the Grand Canyon, the Pyramids of Giza, the Biltmore Estate, Niagara Falls, Hearst Castle, SeaWorld Adventure Parks, and the Terra Cotta Warriors Museum at Xian in China.