Taking place for the second time in France, the Euro Attractions Show (EAS) arrives on the Côte d’Azur this January. Park World previews the first of two Euro Attractions Shows planned for 2008 – in Nice.
It was in 2004 that EAS last visited France, the infamous “exhibition in a tent” at Disneyland Paris. Visitors to Nice can expect it to be a little bit warmer, inside and outside, as they come to see over 200 exhibitors and network with contacts old and new. IAAPA, which is organising the three-day event, estimates an attendance of 7,000 – about the same as last year in Seville.
The EAS education programme this time offers 12 seminars on a wide range of topics. A highlight is expected to be “Directions and Connections,” a dynamic presentation on the European leisure business and its future in the global marketplace. Scheduled to take place immediately before the show starts on Wednesday morning, speakers will include Serge Naïm from Compagnie des Alpes, EAS’s own Emmanuel Mongon and Arnaud Bennet, representing the French trade association SNELAC.
On the final day, Friday, the popular “Ode to Joy” session will be repeated, assessing the current state of the European attractions industry. David Camp of Economic Research Associates will again be chair, joined by participants Arnaud Bennet, Mark Fisher from Merlin Entertainments, John Collins of John Collins Leisure and Frederico Gonzalez from Disneyland Paris.
Social events will include a Wednesday night welcome reception at the exhibition centre and a EAS Gala on Thursday in grand surroundings of the Fairmont Hotel in Monaco. Pack your best attire!
The Euro Attractions Show takes place from Wednesday to Friday, January 23 to 25, at the Acropolis Palais des Congres and Expositions (pictured), Nice, France. In September, IAAPA will stage a second EAS in Munich, Germany.
