Funworld August 2009

LETTER FROM THE CHAIR

The Sky Isn’t Falling

It’s easy to go along with all the negative news we see every day regarding the economy, but there are bright spots out there if you look closely. For example, I recently had the pleasure of visiting some association members with IAAPA President and CEO Charles Bray in four countries. These visits allowed us to get a read on how the industry is faring throughout the world and to listen firsthand how IAAPA can be of assistance. The common denominator was optimism— for the industry, their parks, and the future. (See photos from these visits.)

In July we visited several member parks in Europe: Europa-Park in Germany (see a photo from our ride on the brand-new “Blue Fire” at right), EuroDisney Resort in Paris, Parc Astérix outside Paris, and the Parques Reunidos Group in Spain. These are experienced CEOs who remain optimistic but nevertheless are still prepared for the worst should they experience harder times.

Earlier this summer, during Asian Attractions Expo 2009 in Seoul, we visited Everland and Seoulland, and we heard more positive news during the Expo program as representatives from the region reported signs of growth and expansion— all in the face of what’s been reported as the worst economic crisis in decades.

I'm certainly not going to sugarcoat this year and say everything is status quo. It definitely is not. But my meetings with these industry leaders demonstrated once again how resilient our industry is in the face of adversity. We believe EAS in Amsterdam later this month and IAAPA Attractions Expo in Las Vegas will continue this positive momentum.

My best to all of you as you head into the final quarter of this difficult year. Though it has been fraught with anxiety and unsure footing, I believe it has also shown us at our very best.

All the best,

Darrell Metzger, Chairman of the Board