Coin Op Market Faces Show Choices

This week saw ATEI at Earls Court. This event was previously owned and run by the association BACTA before it was sold to Clarion 3 years ago. As part of that transaction BACTA pledged their support to Clarion for 3 years. This agreement has now come to an end and BACTA are carefully considering their next move as BACTA’s Neil Chinn says: “We are in talks with Earls Court at the moment about availability to hold a new show, which we would work on with a partner.’ (source: http://www.expoabc.com/news_detail.asp?StoryID=818 )

Running at exactly the same time as ATEI in the Hotel Ibis Earls Court was the newly launched IGX (InterGame Expo). The 30 or so exhibitors attending represented a break away faction led by Harry Levy Amusements. These exhibitors felt that recent developments on the ATEI show, and in particular the move upstairs at Earls Court to allow the co located casino events to grow further, has meant their returns from the investment in the show were suffering.

As you will see from the footage below the show is by no means comparable in size and production of ATEI. But that is exactly how the exhibitors wanted it according to organiser David Snook who said ‘They also bitterly resented the escalating costs to exhibit at the show, so came to us and we decided to launch a 'no frills' exhibition, responding to exhibitor demands for a modestly-priced event.’

If BACTA are to re enter the show organising world logic would dictate that BACTA and IGX team up rather than have a third event enter the market. As show organisers ourselves it is an interesting situation to observe and to see how it unfolds. Over 21 years LIW has had to constantly adapt to market change and market demands and 2009 is no different with a new two agreement with the Play Providers Association testament to that.

Is broadcast media partly to blame for recession?

Before I go any further, it should be acknowledged that the banks are principally to blame as we all know. For example, the series on BBC (Repossessed) shows how financial institutions preyed on homeowners selling debt with the promise 'you can afford it' then leaving them in wretched situations.

I like Robert Peston (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/robertpeston/) but I wonder whether his simple explanations of relatively complex issues such as toxic debt has meant that all of us better understand what is going on.

Armed with our new knowledge we are now ‘economy bores’ at dinner parties - this has replaced our normal ‘property price bore’ status for obvious reasons - and understandably we have also reined in our spending. This, coupled with the reduced availability of credit, has had a negative effect on the economy.

News is all around us. In fact, you can watch it 24 hours a day - and I'm certain my father-in-law goes close - so there is no escaping how bad things are, and now we understand why too, which is just exacerbating the problems.

I reckon the South Koreans have got it right by threatening a 5 year jail term to a blogger who warned of financial gloom in the country which upset ministers. On second thoughts, perhaps I don't.

Perversely, the UK attractions industry may do well this year as the strength of the euro and dollar will mean more UK holidaymakers will stay in the UK while the UK will be seen as a good value destination by those with the Euro and Dollar as their currency.

The health and fitness market is holding it's breath to see how new membership sales have performed in January and whether the first paycheck of the year is set to be invested in losing the Christmas lard.

We should at least try and stay positive - however difficult it is. But we’ll do well do escape broadcast media and their influence.

FitPro and LIW 2009

LIW has worked closely with FitPro for a number of years in different guises and in recent years the FitPro Business Conference has run alongside LIW. With this being rebranded as the FIA FLAME Conference and moving to Bolton in June 2009, we went down to see FitPro to see how we would work together for 2009. A fruitful meeting with Andy Jackson and Beth Prosser should see our partnership agreement extended for 2009 and when all is agreed we will let you know what the plan is.

While you wait for details of the partnership, with baited breath I’m sure, listen to what Andy thinks 2009 has in store for the health and fitness sector and what FitPro itself is working on. A lot of companies are moving to online content (look at us here) but the way FitPro has led the charge with programs such as ptonthenet is impressive and a lesson for us all.

Man City splashing their cash………

It is probably a coin flip as to whether Kaka will or will not sign for moneybags Man City and the sums involved are staggering.
See http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/7827696.stm


That said we weren’t complaining when they pitched up to LIW keen to upgrade their facilities. We know at least 3 LIW exhibitors (Pulse Fitness, Escape Fitness, Leisure Lines) that picked up business at LIW from the visiting buyers from Man City. Certainly the speed at which they worked with Escape in particular (met at the show and then a site visit on the Friday!) was impressive leading us to think that maybe Kaka will be plying his trade in front of the Gallagher brothers before the month is out.

More about Leisure Industry Week can be found at http://www.liw.co.uk/

Attractions Expo @ LIW and Colin Dawson of BALPPA

BALPPA (British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions) represent the UK attractions industry and, as such, are a key partner for Leisure Industry Week.

We met with Colin Dawson, Chief Executive of BALPPA, to discuss how we would be working together for Attractions Expo @ LIW '09. We discussed the education programme, the social element (which if you know the Attractions industry will not be a surprise!) and our forthcoming steering committee at Cadbury World. The steering committee consists of attraction operators and suppliers and it helps us shape the industry’s involvement in Attractions Expo. By the way, if you are in the attractions industry and would like to participate in the steering committee then please email chris.brown@ubm.com.

While we were with Colin we asked him what he thought the forthcoming season had in store for the attractions industry. This is what he had to say:



Colin’s optimism seems well founded particularly if UK holidaymakers holiday at home and the strong Euro and Dollar encourages an increase in overseas visitors. A good summer would also not go amiss having endured two wet ones back to back.

BALPPA also invest heavily in political lobbying and we asked Colin what were the focuses for 2009. They are essentially two recession busting ideas that should really help our attractions industry weather the economic storm, so we hope the Government sits up and takes notice.

For more information on Attractions Expo @ LIW 2009 please contact Chris Brown on 020 7955 3968 or email chris.brown@ubm.com.