The new year is nearly upon on us and so too is EAG International, an event that once again promises to be a busy time for all.
THIS year, the stakes were high for EAG International – the economic situation in Europe remained worryingly unstable, there was lingering concern over the separation of the two London shows, regardless of whether they still shared any common ground, and the bleak wintry weather was threatening to disrupt international flights into the city. With the odds seemingly heavily stacked against it, the show was a resounding success – the best yet, according to some exhibitors.
Not that we should have been all together too surprised by this. After all, EAG is no longer a fledging show; it is a permanent fixture on the industry calendar and has laid to rest any doubts about whether the London show was still viable or, indeed, necessary. Evidently from the reaction of both exhibiting companies and visiting buyers, EAG has taken over the mantle of the “January show.”
Without a doubt, the success of the event is built on great organisation, industry determination and a willingness to look beyond the traditional boundaries of pay-to-play amusements. It is an event that has come to reflect the realities of the market during these challenging and pragmatic times. As you’ll see from the following pages of this EAG Guide, this is no accident. Show chairman Martin Burlin and organiser Karen Cooke both speak of their pride in having overseen the establishment of an event that the industry runs for the benefit of the industry. Not all shows are like this.
Read the full article in the November issue of InterGame.
