During the many years I have served IAAPA as a board member, vice chairman and now chairman, I have met with thousands of members and participated in discussions on every aspect of our tremendous industry. I have always thought of those conversations as mini focus groups—a way for me to gauge the needs and direction of our global industry.

One trend these informal focus groups have brought to light is your desire to streamline the number of trade shows available worldwide. Your comments have made it clear that you prefer fewer options and vastly improved events when it comes to trade shows. All of us at IAAPA are working to meet this need, particularly when we present our show in Vienna, Austria, in January 2005.

A more immediate example of such expansion will come during our upcoming show in Asia. The IAAPA Asian Expo will be held July 13-16 at the Suntec Convention Centre in Singapore. The Asian show was cancelled last year over concern for the SARS epidemic in that region. Although we regretted having to make that decision, it did provide us with an extra 12 months to fine tune this important trade show.

The IAAPA convention department collaborated with a team of professionals to assign exhibit space and provide an outstanding grouping of industry products and services. Additionally, our education department has a relevant array of educational workshops ready for you at the Asian Expo. IAAPA will also provide networking opportunities, social events, and behind the scenes tours of three of the most successful attractions in Singapore.

I hope you will consider joining me and other IAAPA board and committee members at our first showing of the IAAPA Asian Expo. The show will give me a chance, once again, to speak with you one-on-one and learn more about how IAAPA can better serve your needs. Your feedback is what allows us to make adjustments and improvements and continue to offer the best events possible around the world.

Best Wishes,

Gary Story
Chairman of the Board