Perhaps the most eagerly-awaited Euro Attractions Show to date, the upcoming event in Munich promises to provide a memorable week for the amusement industry. Park World counts down.
Many will relish the opportunity to combine a trip to Europe’s leading amusement industry trade show with a visit to the world-famous Oktoberfest (pictured), alas most of us will pay over the odds to do so. Flights and accommodation in Munich are already at a premium around this time of year thanks to the lure of the beer and rides on the “Theresienwiese” (Oktoberfest site).
Nevertheless, IAAPA is promising more than 270 exhibitors – an EAS record – and hoping more than 7,000 visitors will come to see them. Located to the east of the city centre, the new Messe München exhibition centre is easily accessible via Munich’s reliable U-Bahn underground railway.
As well as more than 8,000 net square metres of exhibition space, a variety of educational sessions, networking events and meetings are planned, plus a handful of tours to local attractions. The highlight, however, is sure to be Wednesday’s night’s “Oktoberfest Event” in the Paulaner beer tent, tickets for which are now on sale.
Euro Attractions Show takes place at Messe München, Munich, Germany, from Tuesday to Thursday, September 30 to October 2, preceded by the IAAPA Summer Meeting at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel from September 27 to 29. For more details of either event, or to register, visit: www.euroas.com
IAAPA Summer Meeting
The misleadingly-named IAAPA Summer Meeting rolls into Munich from September 27 to 29, providing the perfect pre-show warm up for EAS attendees. It all kicks off 6pm on Saturday night (the 27th) with a welcome reception at headquarter hotel the Bayerischer Hof.
On Sunday guests can choose from a day tour of either Salzburg or Ludwig’s Castle, or stay in Munich and visit BMW Welt and the Allianz Arena. The evening’s entertainment will be a trip to Oktoberfest (pictured) but with a twist – in the wine tent.
There will be a second chance to visit BMW Welt and the Allianz Arena on Monday, or alternatively the BMW Museum and Olympiapark, including a sightseeing trip up the Olympia tower. In the evening, Maurer Söhne will host a factory tour and dinner at its Munich premises.
Sound like fun? The booking deadline for rooms at the Bayerischer Hof was July 1. If you can find somewhere else to stay, however, IAAPA is accepting bookings for the Summer Meeting only up until September 19. Prices for IAAPA members are E420/459.
www.iaapa.org/summermeeting
EAS Education Highlights
A number of interesting seminars and educational tours are planned as part of Euro Attractions Show in Munich – all the more reason not to overdo it the night before in the beer tents at Oktoberfest! Here are a few highlights:
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
1400-1515: Five Golden Rules: How To Design And Operate Success
A number of leading theme park and attractions designers will share their experiences in this session from the TEA. Speakers include Bob Rogers of BRC Imaginations Arts, Rasmus Altenborg from Tivioli and Simon Opie from Disneyland Resort Paris.
1400-1500: Setting Standards For Ride Safety
An overview of a number of international standards regulating the construction of operation of amusement rides, plus a general introduction to the European ride safety standard EN 13.814. Speakers include Peter Leutenstofter of the TÜV, Martin Booth from Merlin Entertainments, Paul Chatelot of Disneyland Resort Paris and, from Italy, Gianni Chiari.
1600-1700: Incident Management – When The Going Gets Tough
A series of case studies examining how to deal with an incident and the media enquiries that follow. Contributors to include Paul Chatelot, Disneyland Resort Paris; Adrian Mahon, Merlin Entertainments; Alain Trouve, Compagnie des Alpes; and Pelle Johannisson, Liseberg.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1
1115-12:15: Ode to Joy – The Attractions
Industry Now and in The Future
David Camp (Economic Research Associates) returns to moderate this popular EAS panel session where guests will include Richard Golding from Parques Reunidos and Roland Mack of Europa-Park.
1530-1645: Profiting from Corporate Special Events
Attractions operators are using their expertise in catering, special event management and marketing to build highly successful and profitable corporate events. Speakers here include Michael Kreft von Byern, Europa-Park; Henk Groenen, Efteling, and Michael Kafer, Oktoberfest.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2
1000-1100: Predicting Success: The Impact of New Attractions
Can the success of an additional attraction at your park be calculated? Academics at Breda University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands think so and they have developed an “Attractions Response Matrix” to prove it. Peter Cornelius and Moniek Hover will explain more.
As well as various other seminars over the three days, exclusive behind-the-scenes educational tours will be offered at Bavaria Filmstadt on Wednesday and BMW Welt on Thursday. See www.euroas.com for more details and to book.
