Volume 2, No. 22. November 26, 2002
IAAPA Report
Ending
on a high note
Simply put, wow!
Pundits suggested the industry was feeling upbeat and bullish, but discerning
whether that prediction derived from true assessment or baseless optimism was
difficult heading into last week’s 84th annual International Association
of Amusement Parks and Attractions Convention and Trade Show in Orlando, Florida.
Within minutes on Wednesday, the exhibit hall’s opening day, the answer
was obvious: people had come to study, to negotiate, to buy.
Here are the hard figures. At close of business Saturday, IAAPA had counted
29,427 attendees, a number which included guests and the people working for
the 1,295 exhibitors. Of the registered buyers in attendance (IAAPA does not
release figures broken down into categories), 83.4 percent came from the United
States while 57 countries comprised the remaining 16.6 percent.
Those last two figures were low compared to previous years, but a couple of
noteworthy trends emerged. One, greater numbers of Asians attended than the
show had seen in the previous three years, an indication that the Pacific Rim
economies are almost fully recovered for amusement venues. Two, sellers saw
fewer Middle East customers than usual, which may be more a result of travel
and visa constrictions by the U.S. government than an economic indicator because
reports of several projects continue to come out of that region.
As for the showing by industry sectors, few discernible trends emerged—more
good news for suppliers. All sectors seem to be on a growth curve: large parks,
small parks, waterparks, zoos, aquariums, haunts. Theme, hardware, software,
entertainment and customer service vendors all performed well around the floor.
Family rides and economical thrills outdrew big-ticket rides for the majority
of buyers, but while some exhibitors reported slow-going with their large-scale
thrill rides, others were aglow with the results of their four days in Orlando.
It was an action-packed four days in the exhibit halls. Several vendors reported
brisk business. The team at S&S Power agreed they had more productive meetings
the first day than they had all of last year. A Stageworks rep contended its
booth had more traffic in a few hours Thursday than in the past three shows
combined. Longtime exhibitors used such adjectives as “slammed,” “they
came in waves” and “best show ever.”
The general mood throughout the floor seemed upbeat until Friday afternoon when
a boy’s fall from a tower ride (see Extra!
Extra! for details) instigated unwarranted rumors that the teen had died,
news that cast a pall over the show. Saturday morning as the accurate account
of the incident circulated and MONTIC Fischer, site of the accident, reopened
its ride to steady business, the enthusiasm returned to the exhibit hall aisles.
The hum of business continued steadily well after the show floor closed Saturday
afternoon.
And from many accounts, that hum will likely result in most suppliers and facilities
whistling their way through a successful 2003.
©2002, Minton Enterprises
LLC
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