Event

IAAPA Attractions Expo 2011

Orlando – United States

Event Information

While official show figures report an increase in visitor numbers to this year’s IAAPA Attractions Expo, exhibitor comments tell a different story.

Official figures released by show organiser IAAPA show preliminary registration for the show totalled 24,900 - up on the figures for 2010, which stood at 24,000. However, while the exhibitors InterGame spoke to were relatively happy with the levels of business done at the show, the message was clear: this year the show was smaller and attracted less traffic.

The reasons for this could be many, the global economy being the main one, but there was a noticeable drop in visitors from Europe according to some exhibitors InterGame spoke to, which is concerning given the current situation in countries such as Greece, Italy and even the UK.

However, this could also mean they were waiting to see what the EAG International show brings and many exhibitors spoke of a noticeable increase in visitors from South America, which is an encouraging sign of new possibilities for business.

Exhibitor wise there was also a noticeable increase in manufacturers from China and it was noted that US-based distributor Betson was carrying a Chinese product on its stand for the very first time, reflecting China’s increasing presence and importance in the industry.

While there was some new product from the major suppliers, a lot of what was shown had already been launched at the EAS held in London at the end of September, which was slightly disappointing to see. One Russian visitor InterGame spoke to noted how three or four years ago the major players would be showing four or five new titles but this year there were only one or two from some of the manufacturers.

While the show may have been smaller and quieter than in previous years, it remains the premier show for the industry, attracting visitors from all over the world, and there were definitely enough visitors to go around. The Chinese were definitely the topic of conversation both in a good and negative light, with some exhibitors unhappy to see copies of their products so brazenly displayed on certain stands.

It was also noted, however, that some of the companies were clearly working to move away from the negativity that can sometimes surround the country, showcasing higher quality products. InJoy Motion, for example, had some great examples of video games on show and UNIS and Tecway were praised for some of their product lines.

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