The three-day Euro Attractions Show (EAS) starts on 6 October at the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre in Gothenburg. The final touches are currently being made but the first EAS in the Scandinavian area already promises to be an event not to be missed. With more than 410 exhibitors EAS 2015 will have the second largest exhibition floor in the history of the event and more pre-registered visitors than in previous years. Because of the cooperation with Liseberg, which makes this IAAPA’s first fully park-integrated trade show, there is also considerable excitement surrounding the six-day education and networking programme. The 12th instalment of this conference and trade show for amusement parks and other attractions organisations is managed by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA).
Innovative products and services
EAS is the premier and largest conference and trade show for the attractions industry in Europe. To date, 410 manufacturers, suppliers, and consultants have signed up to display the latest innovations. The show floor will showcase innovative products and services in more than 100 product categories that range from rollercoasters to stuffed animals, slushy ice, ticketing systems, water rides, 4-D theatres, and much more. Karen Staley, Vice-President of IAAPA Europe stated, “EAS 2015 is the one-stop destination for leisure and attractions industry professionals, including operators, suppliers, manufacturers, investors, developers and anyone interested in the industry. More than 9,000 industry professionals are expected to attend. And I find it hard to imagine a more ideal location for such an event than Gothenburg in Sweden”. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the trade show is open from 10:00 until 18:00, and on Thursday from 10:00 until 16:00.
Education programme
EAS 2015 will also offer almost 30 hours of educational programming for attractions operators, managers, and executives in the dynamic European marketplace. Prominent speakers from the sector are set to share their knowledge and experience on a whole host of developments affecting attractions. More than 15 sessions cover attractions management, revenue operations and profit generation, customer satisfaction, marketing, leadership and developments in emerging markets. New this year, the EAS education program will offer tracks focused government relations and safety and theming and design. Also for the first time, workshops can be linked directly with practice: several workshops are taking place in the Liseberg amusement park and Universeum science centre, situated close by.
First fully park-integrated EAS trade show
EAS 2015 will take place in the Swedish Exhibition and Congress Centre. It is one the most effective venues for meetings, conferences and exhibitions in all Scandinavia. Liseberg, one of the most well-known amusement parks in Europe with 3.1 million visitors per year, is right across the street. The park is fully integrated in this year’s trade show. Not only the education sessions will take place here, but also a tour, special events and evening events in the park. Every EAS participant will receive a special wristband granting access to Liseberg on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
ABBA as intellectual property
For the first time a superstar will share their knowledge and experience with attractions industry professionals. Björn Ulvaeus, former member of one of the world’s most successful pop groups – ABBA – is the keynote speaker during the Leadership Breakfast on Wednesday. ABBA is currently one of Europe’s strongest intellectual properties. The brand appears in various forms of entertainment, including theatre, film, and music and in ABBA The Museum which opened in Stockholm in May 2013. During the Leadership Breakfast, Björn will give insights into all of these developments, and he will reflect on the role of entertainment and storytelling, especially as it relates to the attractions industry.
Lunch and Learn
Attendees will enjoy a warm lunch and hands-on learning during the new EAS Lunch and Learn sessions at Liseberg park. The Tuesday Lunch and Learn will focus on how the Nordic Market operates successfully in such challenging circumstances, including weather, a shorter season, and a small catchment. Wednesday’s Lunch and Learn will focus on leadership skills and tactics to improve performance with your facility.
FEC day and Water Park Forum
The final day of the exhibition, Thursday 8 October, will focus on two distinctive constituency groups.
The Family Entertainment Centre (FEC) industry includes indoor playgrounds, go-kart tracks, indoor climbing, miniature golf centres, and more. The FEC day will feature speakers from Europe and Chile who will discuss the latest trends in the family entertainment and edutainment industry. Speakers will share tips and best practices companies can easily apply at their own facilities. Topics discussed will include food and beverage services, marketing, and children’s birthday parties.
The Water Park Forum will focus on water park trends, operations, and accessibility. These sessions will discuss the latest information and industry developments, trends, and water park safety issues.
Pre and post-tours
On Monday, Liseberg will host a behind the scenes tour of the park including a variety of different areas of interest, including food and beverage, operations, events, rides and much more.
The post tour, which starts on Friday, will allow attendees to experience a diverse group of attractions, including Grona Lund, Vasa Museum, ABBA The Museum, Junibacken, Den Bla Planet, and Tivoli Gardens.
Tickets for the Euro Attractions Show, education seminars, tours, and other events are available at www.IAAPA.org/EAS. IAAPA members enjoy price discounts, including attending a majority of seminars for free.