Show Review
parkworld-online.com
What a difference a
decade makes The last time EAS, then known as the Euro Amusement Show, visited Paris was in January 2004, when it took up residence at Disneyland Paris. Although the IAAPA entourage jetted in for the opening ceremony, it wasn’t until the following year’s show in Vienna, Austria, that the association took full control of the event from the European supplier association EAASI. It is perhaps a sign of IAAPA’s influence that this September’s show enjoyed better access to the Disney facilities than in 2004 – despite being held almost 50km away. No fewer than three EAS events took place at the Disneyland resort ahead of the main trade show, including the IAAPA Safety Institute, the IAAPA Institute for Attractions Managers and a behind-the-scenes park tour. Meanwhile Euro Disney president Philippe Gas addressed Thursday morning’s Leadership Breakfast at Port de Versailles (see panel opposite). EAASI’s appointed organiser got a bad deal at Disney almost a decade ago, but so too did the exhibitors, many of whom still talk about the marquee that hosted the event and, thanks to some fierce winter weather, almost blew away! There seems little danger of the strong Euro Attractions Show of today going anywhere in a hurry.
Paris does EAS proud!
European industry shows strong support for expo in French capital
It was one of the busiest Euro Attractions Shows ever, with a record number of exhibitors and a most memorable party. Owen Ralph reports from EAS in Paris
September at Paris’ Port de Versailles exhibition centre, where they could walks two floors of halls filled with
A
ccording to figures from organiser IAAPA Europe, 8,584 attractions industry professionals attended the three-day event from 18 to 20
exhibits from a record 393 companies. The busiest EAS in its nine-year history with IAAPA was in fact the 2010 event, when more than 9,000 passed through the doors in Rome. Yet for many exhibitors that show did not feel so successful at the time and the buzz in Paris, and last year in Berlin (attendance 8,138), seemed better. Time will tell what business develops down the line, but for now we can report that of those visitors last month in Paris, 5,813 of them were classed as buyers. A fully-fledged event for operators of theme parks, amusement parks and other attractions, not forgetting Europe’s strong travelling fairground sector, EAS offers plenty in addition to trade show exhibits. More than 1,500 attendees (up 25% on last year) sat in on the accompanying education programme, which offered 20 hours of seminars and panel discussions on a wide range of topics. Ahead of the show there were a number of events at Disneyland Paris including the IAAPA Safety Institute and Institute for Attractions Managers. Always a well-attended event, the EAS Opening
Reception was particularly special on this occasion as 1,200 guests made their way across town to network with industry colleagues amid the enchanting fair and carousel artefacts at the Museé des Art Forain in Paris- Bercy. Here they could feast on a rich platter of food
LEFT: The Opening Reception at the Museé des Art Forain was quite a party! MAIN PIC: A view of the show floor. Cutting through the top of the building is Paris’ Périphérique ring road!
28 OCTOBER 2013
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