NOTES FROM BIG BEN …


Showtime, Formvs. Function, and ‘Marks and Sparks’


BY PETER GUEST


the end of February, and looking into the nextmonth, “It’s Showtime.”


I First, we have Parkex, the British Park-


ing Association’s annual exhibition. This year, the show is in London and promises to be a goodie, with more than 120 exhibitors and a program of seminars running across two days,March 2-3. Looking at the exhibitor list, though,


there a surprising lack of presence from the major parking service companies. Organiza- tions such as National Car Parks (NCP), Apcoa and the like have long been major


WRITE THESE PEARLS of wisdom about a month before you see them, so apologies if the timeline is slightly out of whack. It’s


presences at Parkex, and yet this year none of the top five operators will have a stand. It has been a tough year, with contracts


being awarded at as low as two-thirds of the price bid five years ago, and it may be that these guys are feeling toomuch pain to spend money on a show.Hopefully, Iwill get to talk to a fewpeople and find outwhat’s occurring. Home from Parkex, pack my bags and


head off to Chicago and the Parking Industry Exhibition (PIE),March 7-10, sponsored by ParkingToday. I have no idea what I’msup- posed to be doing there; JVH, in his infinite wisdom, has a plan but he’s not sharing, so if it’s all a big nothing, blame John. (Strangely, although I have travelled all


over theworld, the only place I have ever been in the USA is Chicago, and lovely though the Windy City is, any invites to talk at Boston.


Continued on Page 36


See us at the IPI booth #214 APRIL 2010 • PARKING TODAY • www.parkingtoday.com 35


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