Show Review
www.parkworld-online.com
IAAPA VIPs open the show
EAS SUCCESS E
A busy week in Berlin
It was one of the busiest and certainly the biggest ever Euro Attractions Show (EAS), attracting industry professionals from across Europe for three days of trade show exhibits, education opportunities and networking in Germany’s capital city. Owen Ralph reports from Berlin
urope’s largest trade show and conference for the amusement park and attractions industry took place at the Messe Berlin exhibition centre from October 9 to 11, staged by IAAPA. Preliminary estimates suggest 8,100 people, including 5,800 qualified buyers, attended the three- day fixture. That’s about the same as EAS 2009 in Amsterdam, a thousand more than last year in London, but short of the show’s record attendance of more than 9,000 set two years ago in Rome. Whichever you read it, the event has been on an upward trajectory the past few years and there was certainly a buzz on the show floor, and off it, for much of the week in Berlin. Behind the grand but stark façade of Messe Berlin, visitors could discover 367 exhibitors spread across more than 9,000 square metres of space straddling five halls – an EAS record – and practically all the key international suppliers were there. The multi-hall layout was slightly confusing at first, but IAAPA did a good job with signposting and the bar in the stained glass-lit foyer that linked the two largest halls was a welcome spot in which to refuel and catch up with industry colleagues. If anything, the show’s configuration helped
spread the attendees out, and there were less of the obvious dead spots you get in a single hall show. Berlin’s own One World Studio made a statement with an impressive booth showcasing some of its recent work at the Up & Away FEC in Beirut, Lebanon. “We knew we had to ‘wow’ and we are here with a bang,” smiled company founder Olaf Mordelt. “For us the European show is the most important internationally. While we’ve been here we’ve also had some great follow-up meetings about projects in Lebanon.” Maurer Söhne, which invites a number of its customers and potential clients down to Munich each autumn to enjoy some Oktoberfest hospitality, found that the addition of EAS in Berlin provided a particularly enticing itinerary for its guests from further a field. “It’s been a nice combination,” remarked the company’s Wolfgang Brost, “and we have seen customers from as away as Australia come to enjoy Germany.” Presiding over the EAS proceedings as IAAPA’s first ever German chairman was Roland Mack, who brought with him a little bit of Europa-Park showbiz. Kick-starting proceedings on Tuesday morning was the new look EAS Opening Ceremony, adopting the same sort of format as the Kick Off Event at IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando. As well as a ‘What’s New’ video compilation of European attractions, the audience also received a welcome from German tourism minister Ernst Burgbacher and IAAPA Europe executive director Karen Staley.
Food and Fireworks That same evening, Europa-Park mascots and performers were on hand to spice up the EAS Opening Reception. Guests at the sold-out function were provided with a steady supply of food and drink over a three-hour period, plus a firework finale to send them on their way. The default after party for many was the Young Professionals Reception at Beachmitte bar. Other after dark events and networking opportunities included a boat party hosted by Europa-Park, publisher Gemi Verlags’ first European Star Awards and Wednesday night receptions from the British trade associations BALPPA and ALES-UK, plus the TEA (Themed Entertainment Association).
“I think the opening reception was a good spotlight for our industry and really set the benchmark for future fairs,” said Dr Ulrich Müller-Oltay, managing director of the German park operators’ association the VDFU. “The European market is becoming more and more
IAAPA flies the flag for the industry! 38
Messe Berlin, host venue for the week’s activties
A general view of the EAS floor NOVEMBER 2012
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76