The education sessions, most of which are free with an EAS badge, kick off on Tuesday, October 9, with a ‘High Tech Seminar’ where selected exhibitors will showcase their technological products and services prior to the opening of the trade show. Sessions on social media, pricing and yield management (airline-style ticketing), and emerging European markets such as Poland, Russia and Turkey will feature later in the day.
IAAPA chairman and Europa-Park managing director Roland Mack will be the keynote speaker at Wednesday morning’s Leadership Breakfast, for which a separate ticket is required. A session on safety, meanwhile, kicks off Wednesday’s seminars, followed by one on human resources. During lunch (1230-1400), attraction operators will learn how to extend their season through holiday events such as Hallowe’en and Christmas, meanwhile global players from the food & beverage industry will share their views on what sold best in summer 2012 and what the customers will ask for in 2013. Rounding off the day’s education will be a session on going green.
As well as individual seminars, there is also the three-day IAAPA Institute for Attractions Managers (October 7 to 9). Designed specifically for mid-level managers with two to three years of professional experience, space is limited and a separate, paid registration is required. There’s also a full day of seminars on Thursday dedicated to family entertainment centres (FEC) and indoor playgrounds.
Networking events include Tuesday night’s Opening Reception. Always a great party, the venue this time is the Palais am Funkturm next to the trade show halls. Later the same evening, the young professionals of the industry will gather for a special reception.
EAS participants may also wish to book a place on the pre-event tour to Filmpark Babelsberg (Monday, October 8) or a trip to Tropical Islands waterpark on Thursday afternoon. This former Zeppelin factory is well worth seeing. Those with time to spare may wish to sign up for the EAS Post Tour from October 12 to 14. This three-day fixture will take in some of Northern Germany’s most popular attractions including Heide-Park, Hansa-Park and Hagenbeck’s Tierpark (zoo) in Hamburg.
Produced by IAAPA Europe, Euro Attractions Show is the largest conference, trade show and meeting place for the European parks and attractions industry. The event takes place at the Messe Berlin exhibition centre, just outside the centre of the German capital, from Tuesday to Thursday, October 9 to 11.
The complete EAS seminar programme, travel information etc is available here.
