Creating happiness through memorable visitor experiences
Our Services & Our Speciality
We have experience in many areas including finance and funding, branding, marketing and operations but our speciality is designing, developing and building visitor experiences that entertain and educate. We have been lucky to work on groundbreaking projects and with some of the most respected organisations in the sector including the Eden Project, The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, The Wave Bristol and the historic Powderham Castle. We use fun, humour, arts, crafts, technology, science, scale and beauty to engage audiences, nurture curiosity and encourage participation. Experiences are underpinned by storytelling to create connections which last.
The Road to Happiness can work with you to enhance, renovate or reinvent existing experiences or produce feasibility studies, designs and the development of new experiences.
We have designed experiences from scratch and added seasonal exhibitions and events to pre-existing locations increasing footfall and attracting visitors all year around. We have a wardrobe of ideas and plans which we can pull on to enhance your destination or we can work with you and your team to develop a bespoke solution.
For an informal chat to discuss your project or idea, please contact us now.
Memorable visitor experiences
Eden Project
Kew Gardens
The Wave, Bristol
Powderham Castle
Do you like to dare to dream? To think up big ideas and imagine them coming to life as a successful new business? We do too.
But we understand there is a lot to do to turn dreams into reality, you might need a feasibility study, a development, marketing or financial plan, an overarching business plan, a bigger team or help with the design and construction or operation to build a business that is profitable and sustainable.
At the Road to Happiness we love big ideas that have the potential to become great businesses. We dare to dream but we act to deliver, offering practical solutions, fleshing out ideas into a full-blown concept, then testing the potential to mature into a commercial success. From here we craft a professional plan then crack on with first class delivery.
If you have a dream you want help to deliver, we may be just the team you need to help make it a reality.
Fancy a chat to see if we are a good fit for your project?
Dare to Dream, Act to Deliver.
Make your dream a reality.
Our Founders
Gaynor Coley
Gay was one of the founding Directors at the multi award winning Eden Project and Managing Director for 13 years, leading the team from start up to becoming a global brand. She went on to become the Director of Public Programmes at the Royal Botanic gardens Kew initiating the seasonal programme that includes the magical Christmas lights. She then chaired the Board at the Wave, Bristol, establishing the inland lagoon that champions surfing for all.
Gay holds many qualifications - a teacher, project manager, fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and fellow of the RSA. She is an experienced Board Director and was recently recognised as one of Management Todays Women in Power Leadership List 2024.
She is also an enthusiastic spaniel owner, the world worst cook and could give lessons in how to procrastinate but still get things done to a deadline.
Director
Susan Hill
Susan has over 30 years in Marketing. She was Marketing Director for Weststar Holidays working on the Board alongside Deborah Meaden, and then went on to become the Marketing Director at the Eden Project for 3 years, leading all campaigns and the successful “Green Talent” programme that engaged thousands of young people in environmental issues. She was Head of Operations at People Tree Fair Trade Fashion and managed a £10m budget at Victor Chandler International. She has been successful in many interim and consultancy roles developing and executing campaigns for the Theatre Royal Plymouth, Wakehurst Place, Wildworks Theatre, The Wave, Bristol and the new immersive Wake-the-Tiger experience in Bristol.
Susan is an artist, a crafter and a lover of DIY. When not exploring a new visitor attraction it is rare to find Susan without a pencil, a paintbrush, a needle or a mitre saw in hand.
Director
Xanadoo
Our biggest work in progress project
Our team are working on a number of exciting projects including the concept and feasibility for a vibrant new visitor destination at the gateway to Wales, Xanadoo.
Xanadoo will be a place where visitors can explore and build ideas, a place to experiment, play, create and prototype on a scale rarely seen. We aim to nurture an understanding of our collective power of problem solving, inspiring visitors to connect with their creativity and practical skills and realise their potential to shape their world.
We are looking for fellow travellers, investors and collaborators so if you would like to work together to help make this the destination that helps create the world you want to see Contact Us or for more information visit Xanadoo.
Contact the Road to Happiness
Creators, Curators & Collaborators
We met over 20 years ago as colleagues at the Eden Project and immediately hit it off. We loved working together creating great experiences for millions of visitors and became best friends as we burnt the candle at both ends helping make Eden the world class brand it is today. Roll the clock on and we still share a dogged determination to deliver experiences which show respect for each other and the environment and have worked together on festivals, events, new destinations and established household names, successfully attracting new audiences and keeping existing ones engaged, generating profits and satisfied customers that come back because their experience has been memorable and worthwhile.
We love a well-told story and take lessons from classics such as Mary Poppins and The Wizard Oz to ensure we always deliver a spoonful of sugar making events fun and full of laughter and to ensure experiences engage the head, heart and hands giving visitors the agency to not only enjoy the adventure but to have the courage to take action and engage after the visit.
We know how to create excitement and stimulate curiosity ...