Taking place from January 14-16, 2020, UK trade body BACTA’s new-look EAG International is set to host the largest seminar programme in the show’s 11-year history.
EAG chairman Martin Burlin explained: “At this year’s show we featured a full day of seminars presented by leading producers and operators of immersive entertainment technologies, several of which were also show exhibitors. The reality was that they turned out to be the best-attended seminars in the show’s history and we intend to build upon this for the 2020 show.
“It’s no longer enough to keep abreast of the technologies that are shaping traditional amusements, we need to present ideas and concepts that are at the vanguard of their application to our industry.
“I’m pleased to confirm that we’ve secured the services of KWP Consultancy’s Kevin Williams to create a programme that will be both informative and directly relevant to the show’s audience.
“Kevin is passionate about the future of out-of-home entertainment and has an impressive global network including creators of entertainment experiences and operators at every level from arcades and FECs, through to large visitor attractions and amusement parks.”
Williams is anticipating a seminar programme that approaches emerging technologies from a new perspective: “We already have commitments from many leaders from the world of immersive entertainment and I’m anticipating a full schedule. I would stress, however, that while we’ll be looking at several technologies such as VR/AR XR and projection mapping, the sessions will be focusing on the opportunities and challenges facing today’s operator. There has been too much focus on technology at the expense of its application and we need to keep it real,” he said.
While the sessions will be primarily applicable to operators of amusements and attractions, they will also deal with opportunities arising in retail space. The growth in popularity of esports will also be examined.
The immersive entertainment seminars will be part of a wider programme designed to promote discourse on many factors shaping the traditional amusements market and building a profitable business through delighting visitors and exceeding their expectations. Full details of all seminar sessions will be published shortly.
