Our Story
The story begins in Perth, where Malcolm Steinberg founded the Indoor Amusement Games Company (later to be known as LAI Group) with a handful of pinball machines. He saw an opportunity to change people’s perception about arcades and opened the first Timezone on Murray Street in 1978, giving birth to the first Family Entertainment Centre.
The company’s vision and technology allowed it to expand into untapped Asian markets, starting with Singapore, then Indonesia, the Philippines, India and, most recently, Vietnam. Timezone’s growth continued and by 2017 was present in 6 countries with over 200 family entertainment centres. In Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam we work with key strategic partners in Corporate joint ventures.
In November 2017, Quadrant Private Equity acquired 50% equity in the Timezone Group. This led to the formation of the entity, TEEG, The Entertainment and Education Group, a joint venture between Quadrant Private Equity and LAI Group. TEEG subsequently acquired all assets of Ardent’s Bowling and Entertainment division, gaining access to new brands and leisure experiences for customers across Australia and New Zealand.
TEEG’s strategy is to invest substantial growth capital across Australia, New Zealand and Asia to capitalize on the rapid growth of the entertainment and early education sectors that are benefiting from emerging middle markets and growing consumer spending in those regions.
Group Timeline
1978 – The first Timezone opens in Perth
1992 – Timezone in New Zealand is established
1993 – Timezone in Singapore opens
1995 – Timezone expands into Indonesia
1998 – Timezone opens in the Philippines
2006 – Timezone opens in India in Mumbai
2014 – IAPPA Best FEC in the World awarded to Timezone Surfers Paradise
Nov 2017 – LAI Group partners with Quadrant PE to form TEEG
Dec 2017 – TEEG purchases Ardent’s Bowling and Entertainment division
Jan 2018 – TEEG acquires full ownership of business in New Zealand
Feb 2018 – TEEG owns 100% of India business
Feb 2018 – Timezone in Vietnam opens
Jun 2018 – Timezone Play ‘N Learn opens its first venue in Indonesia
Dec 2019 – TEEG opens its 300th venue
Sep 2021 - Timezone launches its 1st mobile app
Presence
TEEG operates over 324 Family Entertainment Centres, spanning 7 Countries across the Asia Pacific region with its largest footprint in Australia, showcasing Timezone, Kingpin and Zone Bowling venues. In Asia, Indonesia boasts the largest number of venues with close to 90 Timezone and Timezone Play N Learn centres spread across the country.
Vietnam is the newest market where Timezone made its debut in February 2018, and is now up to 10 locations.
Australia
Largest footprint with 84 Timezone centres including Zone Bowling and Kingpin locations
India
Over 56 Timezone Family Entertainment centres and Play N Learn venues across 9 cities
Indonesia
Close to 89 locations across the country, showcasing Timezone and Play N Learn brands
New Zealand
16 Timezone and Zone Bowling venues including 1 Kingpin in Queenstown.
Philippines
Established for more than 20 years, with 57 locations of Timezone, Play N Learn and the first Timezone Air venue
Singapore
14 venues of Timezone with a flagship store in Vivocity, the largest shopping mall in the country
Vietnam
The latest expansion in the region with 11 locations, the first Timezone location opened in February 2018, followed by Play N Learn.
Awards and Accolades
We operate strong, prominent brands that consistently deliver high quality experiences to our millions of customer across Asia Pacific.
With over 40 years of operational excellence under our belt, our brands and centres have gained significant recognition and accolades across the markets in which we operate. A selection of these awards are outlined below.
People’s Choice Entertainment venue
Australia 2020, 2021 & 2022
Awarded to Kingpin Canberra
Excellence in Integrated Marketing
INDONEISA 2022
Timezone Indoneisa
Top Brand for Gen Z
INDONESIA 2022
Awarded to Timezone Indonesia
Excellence in COVID-19 related campaign
INDONESIA 2022
Timezone Indonesia
Top Brand for Kids
INDONESIA 2022
Awarded to Timezone Indonesia
IAAPA Best FEC in the World - Finalist
USA 2022
Awarded to Kingpin Queenstown
Social Media Award
INDONESIA 2019
Awarded to Timezone Indonesia
Service Quality Award
INDONESIA 2019
Awarded to Timezone Indonesia
Top Brand For Teen
INDONESIA 2019
Awarded to Timezone Indonesia
Best Entertainment Award
INDIA 2017
Awarded to Timezone India
Sydney Design Award – Interior Design: Hospitality
Australia 2017
Awarded to Kingpin North Strathfield
Melbourne Design Award – Interior Design: Hospitality
Australia 2017
Awarded to Kingpin Crown
Superbrands Philippines
PHILIPPINES 2016
Awarded to Timezone Philippines
IAAPA Best FEC in the World
USA 2014
Awarded to Timezone Surfers Paradise
Superbrands Singapore Choice
SINGAPORE 2013
Awarded to Timezone Singapore
AAMA Lifetime Achievement Award
USA 2009
Awarded to Malcolm Steinberg, the first non-American recipient
Creating a journey of learning through play
Timezone Play N’ Learn creates a journey of learning moments while making fun memories for children aged 0-7 years, providing the ideal environment for learning through play. Each location consists of specially designed zones aimed to encourage children to discover interest, hone creativity, explore the world and reinvent play to help develop physical, cognitive, social and motor skills.
The centres promote bonding time between parent and child during play, where kids get to learn from their parents and parents get to play with their kids. Safety and comfort are key focus areas for Timezone Play N Learn, where parents can rest assured that their children are enjoying themselves in a secured environment.
- singapore
