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www.parkworld-online.com
LIW hosts Attractions Expo
Leisure Industry Week (LIW) takes place at the NEC in Birmingham, England, in just a few weeks’ time and this year organisers are
marketing the event as several “shows within a show.” Park World looks ahead to what lies in store – including Attractions Expo
Aimed at a wide selection of attraction operators, including theme Wednesday), Play Providers Conference (Tuesday/Wednesday) and Farm
parks, farm parks, play centres, holiday centres, piers, museums, Diversity Conference (Thursday). Check the website for the full schedule
heritage sites and more, Attractions Expo reflects the growing diversity of and list of speakers.
facilities that use amusement equipment in some shape or form. Park operators, meanwhile, will find the BALPPA Lounge a good place
Although big ride manufacturers tend to be few and far between at this to meet their industry colleagues. On Wednesday night (September 23),
exhibition nowadays, there will for the first time in seven years be an they can also visit Drayton Manor for the Attractions Industry Party.
outdoor demonstration area. On the show floor, meanwhile, new features The event will be sponsored by Simworx, which will showcase its new 4D
will include a Sensory Zone featuring “the latest innovations for multi effects cinema and Curse of Skull Rock film on the night.
sensory interactive environments” plus a Scare Zone for operators of
haunted attractions. Attractions Expo is one of seven integrated show areas at
The latter will be produced by the creators of ScareCON, which took LIW, which also includes the Licensed Business Show, Eat
place at the NEC back in May. As part of Attractions Expo they will also & Drink, Leisure Facilities, The Sport Show, Pool & Spa
host a number of “how to” sessions for would-be haunters. In fact, the and Health & Fitness. The event takes place at the
education programme at LIW includes a number of dedicated sessions NEC, Birmingham, from September 22 to 24. The
for attractions operators including two days (Tuesday/Wednesday) of venue boosts excellent road, rail and air links.
Attractions Industry Forum seminars, a Vision XS Roadshow (on www.liw.co.uk
Euro Attractions Show or Amusement Expo Europe …you decide!
Now that IAAPA’s Euro Attractions Show (EAS) has taken up residency as a Europe (AEE), which takes place there at Fiera di Genova exhibition centre
permanent autumn fixture – just a month before Amusement Expo Europe from October 28 to 30, will bring together a number of Italy’s prolific ride
(formerly Technofolies) – park owners from across Europe will have to ask manufacturers at a venue where they are free to exhibit their latest rides and
themselves which exhibition they should attend. attractions in all their working glory.
Euro Attractions Show (EAS) has established itself as the preferred event The event follows on from a successful Interschau last autumn in Stuttgart,
for many in the industry, with a more comprehensive list of exhibitors, including Germany, and will now alternate between the two cities under the Amusement
most of the “big names.” This year’s show takes place from September 30 to Expo Europe name. Visitors to Genoa can expect not only the exhibition itself
October 2 at the RAI in Amsterdam and includes a complementary programme but also an AEE social programme including a tour of the Italian Riveria.
of half-day seminars tackling such subjects as marketing, safety, operations and A series of meetings and seminars are also planned including the ESU-UFE,
the economic crisis. There will also be a full day (October 1) TiLEzone ANESV and DSB showmen’s get-togethers, an ANCASVI suppliers’ meeting and
conference on sustainability. three technical seminars hosted by enthusiasts from Parksmania. Again, full
As always, EAS features a strong social calendar too, including Wednesday details can be found on the official event website. Admission to AEE is free for
night’s Opening Reception, the EAS Party at the Heineken Experience and a amusement operators who pre-register or hold an invitation.
pre-event visit to Efteling (on September 29). See the website for further details. Which show you attend will likely depend on your budget, schedule and
Yet while Amsterdam is acknowledged as a party city, staying there can be location, but we hope the information above may help you choose. Of course,
pricey and those who have not already booked their accommodation could find you could wait another month and
they are in for a similar shock as last year when EAS took place in Munich go to IAAPA Attractions Expo in
during Oktoberfest. IAAPA’s own event fees can also mount up.
Las Vegas instead!
Genoa, on the other hand, is a little more affordable, offers renowned Italian
www.eas-expo.org
cuisine (and ice cream!) but suffers from poor air links. Amusement Expo www.AmusementExpoEurope.com
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