YOUR FORUM FOR PLAY, SPORTS UND LEISURE AREAS
IAAPA Expo Europe 2019 (formerly Euro Attractions Show) sparkled in the City of Light 16-19 Sept. 2019, as the annual Expo brought attractions industry professionals together in France. Preliminary estimates indicate the Expo attracted 15,900 participants, including 11,100 qualified buyers and 648 exhibiting companies. The 13 percent increase in exhibiting companies from 2018’s event in Amsterdam reflects the continued strength and growth of the global attractions industry, particularly in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region. Hosted by IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry, the event featured a record-breaking trade show covering more than 17,500 net square meters.
“It’s been a remarkable week,” said IAAPA President and CEO Hal McEvoy. “Attractions industry professionals from around the world came together to focus on the future. Participants celebrated the industry, discovered new innovations, discussed emerging trends, and explored opportunities that will help their companies to take their guest experience to the next level.”
According to IAAPA’s Global Outlook Report 2018-2022, theme and amusement parks across Europe will entertain more than 179.6 million in 2019, and the industry is projected to thrive as new rides and planned expansions will debut in the coming months.*
“This week’s show demonstrates the strength of the attractions industry throughout the EMEA region, and the rest of the world,” said IAAPA EMEA Executive Director Jakob Wahl. “The trade show floor was the most expansive IAAPA Expo Europe has ever had. This gave attendees more to be inspired by. In addition, our outstanding speakers – many from France – ensured the conference was informative and valuable for all attendees.”
Sharing best practices, understanding the economic climate, and learning about trends in the industry were core ideas shared during the conference. Attendees focused on exceeding guest expectations while ensuring topics such as safety and sustainability remained top of mind. The education conference offered more than 100 hours of in-depth education sessions, led by 131 industry experts from 21 countries.
Plans for IAAPA Expo Europe 2020 are already underway. The Expo will be held in London, England, at ExCeL London, 22-24 Sept. 2020. Advance exhibit sales are strong; more than 500 companies have reserved over 16,500 net square meters of space. Exhibitor information is on the www.iaapa.org.
About IAAPA Expo Europe
IAAPA Expo Europe is owned and produced by IAAPA and is EMEA's largest international conference and trade show dedicated to the attractions industry. IAAPA Expo Europe is managed by the IAAPA Europe, Middle East and Africa office, under the direction of the IAAPA EMEA Regional Advisory Committee, and the IAAPA EMEA Manufacturers and Suppliers Subcommittee. IAAPA Expo Europe is the premier trade show and conference in Europe for the leisure, attractions, and entertainment industries.
Statements
Mario Hampel (ESF Emsland Spiel- und Freizeitgeräte GmbH & Co. KG):
“The trade fair and our stand drew plenty of visitors on the first two days and we had many interesting conversations with regular customers.
Unfortunately, the number of visitors decreased with each day, probably also due to the not quite ideal location of Paris.
Compared to other trade fair locations, it was a bit “meagre”.
Logistics to the exhibition grounds proved to be very difficult for us as exhibitors and for many visitors as well.”
Julia Köhler (Berliner Seilfabrik GmbH & Co.):
“We attended IAAPA Expo Europe for the fourth time in a row. It is an exciting and challenging event for us. You don’t usually engage in discussions about the classic playground at this trade fair. It is about custom-made solutions and concepts – one of our specialities. We therefore think that our participation in this quite cost-intensive event will bear fruit.
Every year we are faced with new organisational challenges, as the organisation of the trade fair has differed greatly from city to city so far. Sometimes it involved less effort – sometimes, unfortunately, a little more.”
Magdalena von Stuckrad (KaGo & Hammerschmidt GmbH):
“Paris as the venue of IAAPA Expo Europe with its proximity to Disneyland, Villages Nature, Parc Astérix, Jardin d’Acclimatation and much more was, like in previous years, a mecca for all leisure enthusiasts and creative minds in this industry.
The French again proved to be very good hosts this year and the trade fair visitors were a colourful mix from all countries.
Compared to previous years and in particular to the last IAAPA trade fair in Paris, however, attendance figures were perceived to be lower.
Nevertheless, we were pleased with some very important and promising discussions, customers who specifically visited our stand to intensify the contact and quite promising enquiries.”
