Show Reviews
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DEAL DOES THE BUSINESS M
illions of dollars of business and thousands of visitors made last month’s DEAL trade show in Dubai a success. Acording to the organisers, the mood on the floor Dubai Entertainment,
Amusement and Leisure (DEAL) 2011 pointed to renewed confidence in the Middle East amusement sector. Held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from April 4 to 6, the event
was the largest in the show’s 17-year history. More than 200 firms exhibited at the show, including a 25% increase in new exhibitors and an additional 14% of floor space. Visitors totalled more than 4,000, although more precise figures are not available. “DEAL 2011 proved to be a phenomenal success,” believes Abdul
Rahman Falaknaz, chairman of the organiser International Expo- Consults (IEC). “Not only was this the largest show in our history, serious business was carried out on the show floor. The Middle East is showing robust growth in its leisure industry and now manufacturers and suppliers of leisure equipment and services are recognising this and bringing their business to the region.” Local supplier Amusement Services International (ASI) closed US$4 million worth of business at the show. “We had a fantastic exhibition,”
and we have already signed for next year. We were approached by serious prospects and expect a good year of business,” said Danny Siegal, president, of Comfy Edutainment Centers. Building on the success of this year’s show, Abdul Rahman Falaknaz
predicts, “We expect that DEAL 2012 will continue this upward trend and forecast a further 25% growth.” The event returns from April 17 to 19.
www.themeparksdubai.com Seminar Success
For a forth successive year, DEAL hosted a dedicated seminar programme, with 354 attractions industry professionals (a record) sitting in on the various sessions. Delegates represented almost all of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries plus Sudan, Iran, India., Lebanon, Egypt, Iran and Turkey. For the first time two discussion panels were introduced – the first to offer
views about the future direction of the attractions industry in the region and the second providing a more specialised focus on indoor bowling. “It is every organiser’s dream to exceed delegate attendances, but this
year has taken us completely by surprise,” noted seminar co-ordinator Gerry Robinson of TSI Ltd. “Feedback suggests that the programme was right for the occasion and that the speakers were very professional in their presentations”. In addition to the DEAL sessions, a separate Symposium from the World Waterpark Association was hosted at the same venue on April 3 and 4.
A view from the show floor
ATTENDANCE UP AT IAAPI EXPO T
here was a substantial increase in visitors at the latest IAAPI Expo, the 11th annual trade show of the Indian Association of Amusement Parks and Industries.
Staged at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai from March 15
to 17, the event featured more then 70 exhibitors, including participants from Argentina, Belgium, Canada, China, Finland, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Philippines, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, The Netherlands, UAE, UK & USA. According to the organisers, many first time exhibitors found IAAPI Expo to be the perfect platform to find their desired clientele. Held as part of the event were IAAPI’s National Awards For
Excellence, designed to felicitate, encourage and acknowledge the various innovations and new ideas introduced within the amusement industry. Award winners can be found on the IAAPI website.
www.iaapi.org MAY 2011 A view from the show floor 21
reported ASI managing director Prakash Vivekanand. “Not only did we sign millions of dollars worth of business but we also received lots of project enquiries that are to be completed within this year. This is the most important exhibition for us as we are distributors for most of the popular brands in the Middle East.” First time exhibitor Xtra ICE enjoyed a successful show with its artificial
ice rinks. “We’ve been very pleased with the response and have already confirmed our participation for next year and are even planning a representative office here,” reported marketing director Victor Meier. “We had a fantastic show; it was above and beyond our expectations
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