AAE Canceled Due to Health Concerns The cancellation of Asian Amusement Expo (AAE) 2003 was based upon the recommendation of the AAE Advisory Committee. The current outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) demonstrates how much is still unknown about controlling and combating the disease. IAAPA’s Executive/Finance Committee made the difficult decision after considering how the health and safety aspects of the SARS outbreak would affect the AAE show, prior to the event and on site. The show had been scheduled to take place in July at the Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Center. “Due to the many unknowns surrounding the ongoing SARS outbreak, we have come to the conclusion that the foreseeable health situation in the affected areas of Asia does not allow AAE 2003 to be planned and held under acceptable conditions,” says Clark Robinson, IAAPA president. “While not an easy decision, we feel that it’s the right one for our exhibitors and attendees.” Currently registered exhibitors should contact Linda Wan of Terrapinn for further information (phone: 65/6322-2749; e-mail: linda.wan@terrapinn.com). Robertson Hired as New VP Beth Robertson was recently hired as IAAPA’s vice president of the Communications Department. Her main role will be to foster relationships between the media and IAAPA members and to disseminate information. She brings a wealth of experience to IAAPA, having worked as the public relations officer for the Prince William County Park Authority in Virginia, a semi-autonomous governmental agency that oversees the management and utilization of traditional and nontraditional recreation and leisure activities. These include waterparks, golf courses, fitness and aquatics centers, sportsplexes, and community recreation. Robertson has extensive crisis management and crisis communication experience, is very comfortable in front of the camera, and has a solid tourism and management background. She began her career as a Walt Disney World College Program intern in 1983. She looks forward to promoting and protecting this great industry. New IAAPA Web Sites, Live and Well The new IAAPA web site—with an updated look and navigation redesign—is now live and will provide users a wide range of services designed to simplify members’ needs and enable online event registration, dues payments, and merchandise purchasing. The site, which was developed by a web site committee within the IAAPA staff, keeps users updated on the latest industry news and information and provides them with the opportunity to stay connected to IAAPA’s events and fellow members directly from the site. In the upcoming months, the site will continue to change and evolve as the staff adds new content and expands usability. The site—www.iaapa.org—has extensive links to various parts of the industry, an interactive Directory and Buyers Guide, industry article database, searchable press releases and fact sheets, as well as links to the trade show web site—www.iaapaorlando.com —and Funworld’s new web section. The area—funworldmagazine.net—contains the monthly magazine’s features, departments, and other news items, and gives users access to the magazine’s archives going as far back as 1989. The web site also gives advertisers the ability to see the editorial calendar online and connect with the magazine’s sales representatives. Individuals interested in a subscription can find an order form on the site, under Subscription Information, which can be faxed to IAAPA. These sites were designed by the IAAPA staff to give members and industry representatives the chance to interact easily with IAAPA and stay involved in the industry through events and the sharing of information. Tusenfryd Turns UNICEF Partnership into a Fun-filled Marketing Alliance You may have been at the annual trade show in Orlando to see IAAPA kick off its alliance with UNICEF, under the banner of “Your Change for a Real Change.” You may even have been inspired by UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Sir Roger Moore’s endorsement of the partnership, whose goal is to raise funds to support UNICEF’s life-saving immunization programs. But if you haven’t yet chosen a way to involve your park or attraction with UNICEF, you may be interested to learn about a successful, recently formed partnership between the leading children’s organization and one of IAAPA’s member parks. Tusenfryd, an independent, 15-year-old park in Norway, located 20 minutes south of Oslo, was one of the first IAAPA members to take advantage of this newly forged alliance. After initial contact with the park in the fall of 2002, UNICEF Norway brainstormed a list of possible joint activities, and is moving ahead with plans for a “UNICEF Weekend” as part of Tusenfryd’s fifteenth anniversary this June. The program will include a weekend of fun activities for children, such as: • Free face painting, where each child will get the flag of a UNICEF-sponsored country painted on his or her cheek, as well as a fact sheet of information about that country to take home; face painting stations will be staffed by employees and volunteers from UNICEF Norway. • UNICEF quizzes will be handed out at the park entrance, the answers to which must be sought out around the park using a specially created map. • One-hour afternoon shows for kids on the Tusenfryd stage to discuss the correct quiz answers and create a “Child Choir of the World,” where all children are invited on stage to participate. The show will also educate the children about UNICEF’s importance to children in other parts of the world. The program will feature appearances by the minister of international development, celebrities from popular children’s television programs, and other well-known musicians and stage performers. To close the show, the park will present a Tusenfryd Children Fund’s check for $12,500 to UNICEF. • UNICEF cards and products like stuffed animals and T-shirts will be for sale at souvenir shops in the park throughout the season (90 percent of retail price goes directly to UNICEF). • A donation of five percent of ticket sales throughout the nine-day “Anniversary Week.” In addition to the event in June, the partnership between UNICEF and Tusenfryd also engages the park’s employees by encouraging them to help UNICEF recruit new pledge donors and/or donate an hour of their time to the event. Both UNICEF Norway and Tusenfryd are excited to roll out a creative and strategic partnership that will educate children about the world around them, raise funds for children abroad, and increase attendance and goodwill toward Norway’s leading amusement park. Funworld will keep you posted about the results of this partnership after it has been implemented, but if you are interested in learning more about how your park or attraction can jump-start a partnership like this one, please visit www.iaapa.org and download a UNICEF partner member kit. For more information, contact: Hiba Frankoul, UNICEF New York at 212/824-6977, or hfrankoul@unicef.org. New England Association Elects Ramsay as New President The New England Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (NEAAPA) held its annual meeting at the Hotel Viking, located in the historical part of Newport, R.I. The association has been in existence since 1926 and serves the industry in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hamp-shire, and Maine. The organization has grown by 43 new members over the past two years, bringing the total count to 135 members. The meeting started with a grand but intimate dinner at the Nathaniel Porter Inn, located in Warren, R.I. The inn, which was built in 1750 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was the perfect location to honor the outgoing president, Kevin Naughton from Naughton Insurance. The following day, the NEAAPA Board of Directors met to discuss several key topics on their agenda, including the U.S. Access Board’s rule on the accessibility guidelines for recreation facilities under titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and how that will affect members’ facilities this year and in the future. Peggy Greenwell from the United States Access Board met with the NEAAPA board members to field any questions and to help members understand the new rules. Greenwell was most helpful in her answers and comments, particularly regarding the guidelines on the new standards and how they are to be implemented. She also pointed out that the amusement rides segment of the guidelines were the most difficult rules to write. The Access Board provided new language regarding amusement rides based on input submitted over the past two years. During the closing dinner, Naughton turned over the reigns of the presidency to Alan Ramsay, who began his two-year term. Ramsay, with his newly acquired NEAAPA baseball bat in one hand and his ceremonial gavel in the other, presented a “This is Your Life” slide show after announcing the new scholarship program that the NEAAPA now offers. Ramsay, who is quite the entrepreneur, has more hobbies and interests than the average guy. In addition to being a co-owner of the Nathaniel Porter Inn and vice president at CLM Entertainment, Ramsay is a certified scuba diver who assists and trains the Providence police in underwater recovery. Ramsay holds a bachelor degree in fire science and is also an emergency medical technician who joined the fire department at age 15. Ramsay started his lifelong amusement industry career working at Rock Point Park, which is the second-oldest park in the U.S., in 1986. He left in 1993 to become the general manager at the Roger Williams Park, a 40-acre zoo that is owned and operated by the city of Providence. First Annual Charity Golf Tournament The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions will host its first annual charity golf tournament benefiting Give Kids The World on Monday, November 17, 2003, according to co-chairs Ed Carroll, Jr., and John Graff. This event will kick off the IAAPA 2003 convention, held in Orlando, Fla., from November 17 to 22. All proceeds from this event will be donated to Give Kids The World, a 51-acre resort in Kissimmee, Fla., for children with life-threatening illnesses whose one wish is to visit central Florida’s most-loved attractions. IAAPA and its member facilities have been supporting the Village experience in a variety of ways for many of years. Opening with a shotgun start promptly at 8 a.m., this tournament will be held at Celebration Golf Club. All IAAPA members are invited to play, regardless of their skill level. While IAAPA members are encouraged to enter as a team of four, individuals may also register. In announcing the tournament, the co-chairs said, “IAAPA is very excited to offer its membership this opportunity to help the special children of Give Kids The World.” Great prizes will be awarded for longest drive, closest to the pin, and holes-in-one. Just to whet your appetite a bit, one of the holes-in-one prize packages includes a $26,000 Buick Rendezvous. Additionally, every player will receive a $100 gift certificate for a free custom specialty wedge from Giant Golf. A silent auction and raffle will also be featured on tournament day. The cost for each player will be $150 with a maximum playing field of 120 players. Included in the per person cost are: greens fees, cart rental, range balls, yardage book, carts signs, pairings, bag valet, all tournament services, scoring, four-person scramble, continental breakfast, and awards luncheon. Rental clubs will also be available. A limited number of sponsorships will be available for this event, including drink carts, breakfast, and luncheon; and hole sponsors. Requests for further information or offers of sponsorship support should be directed to: Joan Reines Give Kids The World 210 S. Bass Road, Kissimmee, Fla. 34746 Telephone: 407/396-1114, ext. 221 E-mail: joanr@gktw.org A fax with complete information will be going out to all members soon, and details will also be posted on the IAAPA Orlando web site, www.iaapaorlando.com. Sponsorship Program In-House IAAPA’s Convention and Tradeshow Sponsorship Program is now in-house to increase the variety of opportunities and offer a wider range of pricing along with improved customer service. The program offers value-added and customized sponsorship products. IAAPA’s sponsorship team, managed by Karen Staley, is customer-service driven to provide all sponsors with opportunities that fit into their marketing goals and budget. The new program includes many marketing opportunities like advertising on the www.iaapaorlando.com web site, shuttle bus wraps, and sponsorships of the many IAAPA hosted events at the convention and trade show. For more information on the IAAPA Orlando 2003 Sponsorship Program, call Karen Staley or Maria Aseron at 703/836-4800. * Platinum Premium Sponsor * Diamond Premium Sponsor * Gold Premium Sponsor * Exhibitor Awards Pavilion * Show Ambassadors * Brass Ring Awards Sponsorship * Carnival Amusement Industry Reception & Lounge *Chairman’s Reception * Family Entertainment Center (FEC) Reception * IAAPA Literature Display Center * International Reception * General Managers and Owners Breakfast * Latin American Reception * Relaxation/Massage Stations * Shuttle Bus Sponsorship, Advertising, Signs, and Wraps * Small Parks Lounge and Tour * Waterpark Lounge and Tour * Waterpark Social * Waterpark Super Sponsorship * What’s New Theater-Opening Session * Zoo Lounge and Luncheon Day * Concession Cups * Concession Napkins * Restaurant Table Tents * Registration Pens * Hotel Room Keys * Convention Center Coffee Cart(s) * Company Logo on Toilet Paper in Convention Center Bathrooms * Badge Mailing Inserts * Web Site Banner Ads * Web Site Product Listing Upgrade IAAPA Strategic Plan Kicks Off The 2003 IAAPA Strategic Planning Committee met in Washington, D.C., from March 11 to 13. The committee was appointed by Chairman of the Board John Collins to map out the future direction of the association. The committee is chaired by Mats Wedin from Liseberg in Sweden. Committee members: Mats Wedin, Liseberg Bill Alter, National Ticket Co. Bev Berenson, Calaway Park Chip Cleary, Splish Splash/Palace Entertainment Greg Hale, Walt Disney World Resort Harry Henninger, Kennywood Peter Herschend, Silver Dollar City Howard Kelley, Sally Corporation Bo Kinntorph, Liseberg Joe Meck, Six Flags Marine World Anne Norris, Seabreeze Park Bob Rippy, Jungle Rapids Luis Javier Santoyo, Grupo Magico Internacional Paul Serff, Texas Travel Industry Association Gary Smart, Harbour Park Kelven Tan, Sentosa Development Corp. Facilitators: Amy Brown, The Forbes Group Bruce Butterfield, The Forbes Group Liaisons: Clark Robinson, IAAPA Susan Mosedale, IAAPA Mark Your Calendar Important event deadlines for exhibitors: August 8—Final booth payment is due. August 22—Best New Product and Impact Awards entry deadline for Exhibitor Awards Program. August 29—Booth design submissions are due (all booths exceeding 399 square feet). All booths displaying inflatables, and any standard in-line booth display over eight feet tall. August 29—Booth design submissions for all multi-level or covered exhibits are due. August 29—Variance request forms are due. September 9—Australian Amusement Leisure & Recreation Association (AALARA) Tradeshow in conjunction with IAAPA’s Summer Meeting Gold Coast, Australia, September 9 to September 11, 2003. September 11—IAAPA’s Summer Meeting Gold Coast, Australia, September 11 through September 13, 2003. September 12—Ride demonstration safety form with the certificate of insurance and booth design is due. October 15—Last day to request free VIP invitations (based upon VIP allotment) from IAAPA. No VIP invitations will be distributed by IAAPA on site. October 17—Exhibitor staff badge request is due to meet the deadline to mail the badges prior to the show. October 31—Best Exhibit and Image Award entry deadline for Exhibitor Awards program. Call for Entries, 2003 IAAPA Award Competitions Big E Awards IAAPA’s Big E Awards recognize live entertainment performances that really perform. Enter IAAPA’s Big E Awards to find out just how your facility’s performances fare. From individual street performers and costume characters to hi-tech marvels and big-budget productions, nothing contributes to the atmosphere of our members’ facilities quite like live entertainment, and no one appreciates quality entertainment as much as we do. IAAPA’s Big E Awards honor excellence in 11 categories of entertainment, so your best acts have the chance to receive the industry praise they deserve as well as the praise of your guests. Have an act or two that might fit the bill? Let us know. The deadline for entering is August 1, 2003. Please contact Donna Liberman for details at 703/836-4800. Brass Ring Awards The Brass Ring Awards reward the originality, creativity, and excellence in marketing among professionals in the amusement industry. Each year, IAAPA members submit their very best advertising and promotional materials in the media categories of brochures, print advertising, outdoor advertising, media kits, sales presentation videos, web sites, radio commercials, and television commercials to the Brass Ring Awards competition. The very best are selected by a panel of independent judges and announced at IAAPA Orlando. The entry deadline is August 1, 2003. Please visit www.iaapa.org to get more information and an entry form, or contact IAAPA at membership@iaapa.org. Top FECs of the World Awards Premiering in 2003, this new and exciting competition will give IAAPA family entertainment center (FEC) members the opportunity to show the world how proud they are of their facilities, share their operation techniques with their colleagues, be recognized for jobs well done, and promote their facilities as part of this prestigious group. Awards will be presented in three categories: FECs located in the U.S. with annual gross revenue under $1 million dollars; FECs located in the U.S. with annual gross revenue of more than $1 million dollars; and FECs located outside the United States. The entry deadline is August 1, 2003. Please visit www.iaapa.org to get more information and an entry form, or contact IAAPA at membership@iaapa.org. Exhibitor Awards Every year during the trade show in Orlando, IAAPA recognizes the efforts of our exhibitors in four areas: Best Exhibit, Best Image, Best New Product, and Impact. The Best Exhibit and Best Image awards are given for best booth presentation; judging is based on originality, uniqueness, neatness, and attractiveness of the exhibit. The Best New Product and Impact awards are given for specific products or services. The call for entries is mailed in June to all IAAPA members; the deadline for the Best New Product and Impact Awards is August 22, 2003, and the deadline for the Best Exhibit Awards is October 31, 2003. For more information, visit www.iaapaorlando.com/awards.html. Souvenir Awards Except for the memories themselves, nothing reminds your guests of the fun they had at your facility more than the keepsakes they return home with. The more unusual and innovative they are, the better they work. IAAPA knows the important role these take-home gifts play in getting your guests back for more fun. And IAAPA’s Souvenir Awards highlight the best of the best. Show us your creative and innovative offerings. Enter IAAPA’s Souvenir Awards by August 1, 2003, and you may take home a little something memorable, as well. Please contact IAAPA for details at 703/836-4800. Spirit of Excellence Awards Prove them right. Enter IAAPA’s Spirit of Excellence Awards today. You can make a name for yourself if you claim IAAPA’s Spirit of Excellence Award, honoring IAAPA member facilities that are committed to excellence in human resources and training. Perhaps you welcome new employees unlike any other place. Or you have continuing training efforts that go above and beyond. Either way, the winning facilities will have unique and effective programs to motivate and inspire employees and help them reach their full potential in providing quality guest care. If you have an indivdual at your facility who personifies exemplary spirit, give him or her deserved recognition. The Spirit of Excellence Awards are open to all levels of employees. The Spirit of Excellence Awards deadline is August 1, 2003. Please contact IAAPA for details at 703/836-4800. Eligibility Only members in good standing (2003 membership dues must be paid in full at time of entry receipt) of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions are eligible to compete in the awards competitions.