Abe Chorbajian, President

Abe Chorbajian founded Chorbajian Consulting Services in 2022 to provide strategic advisory, leisure, themed environmental design, and management services. Abe has built a reputation during his 35 years specializing in designing and managing new resorts, hotels, attractions, retail, restaurants, and family and location-based entertainment.

His strategic and comprehensive planning capabilities and innovative and creative thinking provided his clients the ability to respond to trend changes correctly, positioning for optimal future results, and an unparalleled commitment to the guest experience.

Before starting his consulting firm, Abe, as Senior Vice President, led the Global Leisure & Themed Entertainment sector for over 20 years at AECOM. In that position, he established new studios in Asia and the Middle East, oversaw each studio’s work, hired, mentored, and led his designer, architects, engineers, and specialty consultants.

Abe has served as principal-in-charge on various size projects in many countries, including China, South Korea, Indonesia, Spain, Turkey, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, and the United States.  Abe’s innovative design approach has won two international competitions and recognized and received several awards from the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA).

Abe has achieved excellence by applying his leadership skills in design management, visioning, intelligent decision-making, remarkable attention to detail, and setting new standards in highly competitive domestic and international business environments.

Education

Bachelor of Architecture, Southern California Institute of Architecture, Santa Monica, California.

Qualifications

Registered Architect in California, American Institute of Architects (AIA), National Council of Architectural Registration Board, Licensed General Contractor in California & The U.S. Green Building Council (LEED AP).

Associations

  • International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA)

  • Themed Entertainment Association (TEA)

  • World Waterpark Association

Professional Affiliations

  • American Institute of Architects (AIA) member

  • State of California - Supplemental Examination Commissioner

  • Design Commissioner – (Chair) City of Pasadena California, 2004-2011

  • Historic Preservation Commissioner – (Chair) City of Pasadena, 2001-2004

  • Pasadena Foothill American Institute of Architect - Design Awards Co-Chair

  • Pasadena Heritage - Board of Directors 2007-2011 

  • SCI-ARC Alumni

Awards and Citations

  • Themed Entertainment Association Award

  • Outstanding Theme Park – Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Florida

  • The attraction of the year – “Spiderman Attraction”, Orlando Florida 

International Competition (wins)

  • Gaia: The Living World Seoul Grand Park, South Korea

  • Hwaseong Mixed-Use Entertainment City, Seoul, South Korea

Advisory Panelist

  • Sentosa Development Company

  • New York Port Authority

  • City of Pasadena Design Commission

  • IAAPA - Shanghai 2012

  • Asia Theme Park Expansion summit - Shanghai 2011

  • USC WED _ Executive Education and Professional Development – Los Angeles 2012

    Projects

Hwaseong Mixed-Use Entertainment City, South Korea (international competition)

Universal Beijing Resort, Beijing, China

Shanghai Disneyland Resort, Shanghai, China

Warner Bros. World Theme Park, U.A.E.

Super Nintendo World theme park in Osaka, Japan; Hollywood, California; and Orlando, Florida.

Ha’il Edutainment District Master Plan, Ha’il, KSA

World Trade Center Observations Deck, New York

Real Madrid - New Entertainment Centre, Madrid