EVENTS AND AMUSEMENTS EXPO TOKYO 2020

BY GABRIELLE

Japan’s leading business-to-business exhibition is to hold its 7th annual trade show over three days at the end of the first week of February. The Events and Amusement Expo 2020 will take place in Tokyo from the 5th to the 7th and will feature 650 exhibitors with around 30,000 visitors expected to attend.

There is great excitement within the industry as the expo has been widely selected by most leading companies in the sector as the primary location to gather and exhibit new technologies and exchange ideas for the future of the attractions and entertainment industries.

This latest edition of the Japanese expo will include a new ‘Amusement World’ zone which will provide exhibitors with a lot more space to showcase their innovations and network with their industry fellows.

The expo has been marketed as the single most important event for companies seeking to enter the Japanese attractions market, partly due to the Olympic Games being hosted by Tokyo in the summer of 2020. This powerful spike in general interest in Japan has led to significant growth in the Japanese attractions sector.

Exhibitors will showcase new equipment and tools such as tents and trusses as well as theme park rides and playground equipment. There will be numerous design and decoration specialists, plus event items production, event marketing and security solutions. There will also be numerous performing artists and entertainers to make the event a special occasion for all who attend.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE AND SPECIAL EVENTS ANNOUNCED FOR IAAPA EXPO EUROPE 2019

BY GABRIELLE

IAAPA Expo Europe, EMEA’s largest conference and trade show dedicated to the attractions industry, has announced its program schedule and a series of special events for the forthcoming show in Paris on 16 – 19 September 2019.

The events include an Opening Reception at the d’Acclimatation and a Leadership Breakfast, which will feature Nicolas de Villiers, président of Puy du Fou.

On September 16, an Indoor Entertainment Day will be taking place, designed for visitors with an interest in indoor leisure facilities, such as mini-golf, escape rooms, VR parks and more.

Also on the 16th is the Water Park Forum, a networking educational event designed for water park owners, operators, designers, and manufacturers. Following the networking session, a tour will take place at Villages Nature Paris, home to the Aqualagon indoor water park.

On the same day visitors can participate in the EDUTour to the popular amusement parks on the outskirts of Paris, the Mer de Sable and Parc Astérix. The guided tour includes a networking reception.

The Opening Reception is taking place on 17 Sept, at Paris’s amusement park, the Jardin d’Acclimatation.

The Opening Reception will be followed by a Lunch and Learn on the French Attractions Industry session, featuring well-known leaders of Europe’s park groups, including François Fassier, director of Leisure Parks Operations at Compagnie des Alpes, and Laurent Bruloy, président of Looping Group, who will talk about the attractions industry in France.

On September 18, a string of informative events and networking sessions will be taking place, including the Leadership Breakfast with keynote speaker Nicolas de Villiers from Puy du Fou on 18 September, a Lunch and Learn on the Middle East and Africa Attractions Industry session, and a Young Professionals and Students Forum and Reception.

The following day the Future Feature: The Future of Disneyland Paris event will invite guests to experience a unique look into the future of Disneyland Paris, a leading European tourist destination.

From 19 – 22 September, a Post-Tour to Cité du Vin, Cité de l’Huître, Puy du Fou, and Zoo de la Flèche is taking place, where guests will experience France’s unique and world-renowned attractions.

With over 15,000 professionals from the leisure and attractions industry, IAAPA Expo Europe will be the largest show in event history, covering more than 17,500 net square meters of exhibition space at the Paris Expo Porte De Versailles.

ZAMPERLA SHOWCASES INNOVATIVE NEW RIDES AT IAAPA ASIA 2019

Zamperla, Italian manufacturers of family rides, rollercoasters and other amusement park attractions, presented a raft of innovative new rides and projects during a press conference at this year’s IAAPA Asia.

During 2019, Zamperla Group will deliver more than 200 rides across the world, including four new rides, two of which, the Super Air Race and NubulaZ, are to be installed in Luna Park at Coney Island. Zamperla’s new Z-Max attraction is to be constructed in Finland and the Factory Coaster in China.

The Factory Coaster will propel passengers along a 611-metre track in large vehicles that can accommodate up to 16 guests, reaching maximum speeds of 12.5m/s. This exciting new ride is due to open at Wandu Waxi in the second half of 2019.

With loops, banks, dives and weightlessness, the Super Air Race replicates the sensations and experiences of an acrobatic aeroplane flight. The ride combines a 6rpm central rotation motion with a motor-driven arm rotation to create an exciting combination of acceleration.

The family ride NebulaZ features four arms which rotate in rapid intermeshing orbits. Eight gondolas are located at the end of each arm, flying riders over the top of the ride.

The Z-Max is a new tower ride and is the latest ride to be installed at Finland’s Särkänniemi Amusement Park. The ride features a full column rotation, providing passengers with an incredible vision of space, as they reach heights of 68 metres.

Another leading project Zamperla is involved in this year, is the construction of an indoor theme park known as the Family Entertainment Centre (FEC). The site will be built within FICO, the world’s largest agri-food park located in Bologna, Italy.

FEC is aimed at children and families, who will find themselves immersed in a typical Italian-style farmhouse, but which is occupied with a total of 12 rides instead of farming equipment.

BY GABRIELLE

CHINA’S NEWEST THEME PARKS HOPE TO BE EQUIPPED WITH DYNAMIC ATTRACTIONS’ LATEST RIDES

BY GABRIELLE

Jialong Parks, specialists in the chemical industry, specialised equipment, tourism and cultural projects management, and real estate development in China, has signed a Letter of Intent for Dynamic Attractions to provide nine key ride systems to several of China’s newest theme parks.

The formal signing ceremony took place on June 12 in Shanghai at this year’s IAAPA Expo Asia.

The attractions are planned to be installed in Chengdu, Beijing, Qin Huangdao, and Fujian and Hainan, which are currently under development.

The Letter of Intent states the attractions to be ordered, designed, manufactured and commissioned at Jialong Parks over the next few years.

Hao Wang, President and Chief Operating Officer, Dynamic Attractions, spoke about the signing.

“Jialong Parks’ vision for guest entertainment is fresh and exciting. They are focused on Asia’s skyrocketing appetite for entertainment and the expansion of tourism attractions.

“We’re pleased that they have asked us to provide marque attractions at each of their inaugural theme parks across China.

“We are motivated by creating rides that ‘wow’ park operators as much as their guests,” Hao Wang added.

Fu ShuQuan, chairman of the Jialong Tourism Group, said:

“Every Jialong Park is designed to provide exceptional experiences for guests. Our rides and attractions will have a level of sophistication, technology and entertainment that is unlike anything ever seen before in these regions.

“We only want the best in the world for our guests. That is why we are insisting on rides by Dynamic Attractions. We want Dynamic’s iconic, award-winning rides in Jialong Parks’ centerpiece attractions.”

The IAAPA has repeatedly recognised Dynamic Attractions’ new products as being the ‘Best New Product Concept.’

In 2018, the Brass Ring Award was presented to Dynamic’s Dual Power Coaster. In 2017, the accolade was given to the All-Terrain Dark Ride, in 2016 the Motion Theater, and in 2015 the SFX Coaster.

CEDAR FAIR TO ACQUIRE TWO AWARD-WINNING TEXAS-BASED WATERPARKS

BY GABRIELLE

Waterpark and theme park operator Cedar Fair is to acquire two iconic, award-winning waterparks in Texas – the Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Resort New Braunfels and Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston.

The acquisition is to cost $261 million and will bring Cedar Fair’s portfolio to a total of 15 parks, resort accommodation comprising of more than 2,000 rooms across six parks and over 600 luxury RV sites.

The purchasing of the two Schlitterbahn waterparks is part of Cedar Fair’s strategic plan for growth over the next five years.

Richard Zimmerman, Cedar Fair’s President and CEO, shared his enthusiasm about the acquisition.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to bring these two award-winning Texas water parks into the Cedar Fair family.

“These properties represent new markets for us with attractive demographics in the growing Central Texas region, and they align with our strategy to identify compelling opportunities to accelerate our growth and profitability.

“The investments we have made over the past five years to strengthen our back-of-house and customer-facing systems will support a smooth integration of these properties by ensuring a premium guest experience, strong team collaboration and superior execution.”

“Schlitterbahn employees are known throughout the industry for their innovation and dedication to the quality of the guest experience. Because of their work, the water park located in New Braunfels has been recognised as the ‘Best Water Park in the World’ for 21 straight years, and Galveston has received recognition as the ‘Best Indoor Water Park in the World’ for a decade.

“We look forward to adding these parks to Cedar Fair’s industry-leading portfolio of regional entertainment resorts,” Zimmerman added.

IAPPA EXPO ASIA OPENS IN SHANGHAI

BY GABRIELLE

IAAPA Expo Asia 2019 opened today in the New Shanghai International Expo Centre, Shanghai, China. The three-day event is hosted by IAAPA, the worldwide association for the attractions industry.

Over 8,500 attraction industry professionals from more than 60 countries and regions across the world are gathered in Shanghai to learn from industry experts during the conference, pick up new business opportunities on the trade show floor and make connections at the conference’s numerous networking events.

A record-breaking 400-plus companies are exhibiting at the trade show floor, which stretches 13,000 net square metres. These hundreds of exhibiting companies, many of which are exhibiting for the first time at the leading attractions’ event, are debuting and showcasing their technology, products and services.

The eye-catching trade show comprises of many exciting products and features, including motion simulators, state-of-the-art rides, water attractions, virtual reality features, video gaming, theming and more.

Asides visiting the hundreds of exhibitors on the trade show, attendees can participate in learning events and networking opportunities, including listening to a keynote speech by Joe Schott, president and CEO of Shanghai Disney Resort, during the Expo’s Leadership Breakfast.

More than 500 industry professionals are attending the Opening Night Reception with entertainment at Shanghai’s newest, award-winning marine park, the Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park.

Many other leading attraction resorts in Shanghai are featuring at IAAPA Expo Asia 2019, including the Shanghai Natural History Museum, Shanghai Disney Resort, Hello Kitty Shanghai Times and the Shanghai Dungeon during the Young Professional Reception.

More than ten expert-led education sessions are taking place over the course of the three days, with executive speakers from Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, OCT Happy Valley, Universal Beijing Resort, AECOM, Sanderson, Whitewater, and more.

Topics will cover everything from visual media technology, theme entertainment, safety innovation, data-driven modelling, creative design, human resources, marketing, operation, and more

Hal McEvoy, president and CEO of IAAPA, spoke about the event.

“This year’s IAAPA Expo Asia features the largest trade show floor in the event’s history, and we know this reflects the strength of the global attractions industry.

“We are thrilled to return to Shanghai and bring together industry professionals from around the world. IAAPA is committed to providing global programs and Expos to help inspire members so that they can succeed and continue to grow,” said McEvoy.