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 Happy New Year!
I am thrilled to be the 2010 chairman of IAAPA. This year could be challenging but also offers opportunities to look back at what we faced in 2009, refine our businesses, and position ourselves for success this year and beyond.
While many of us are happy to leave 2009 behind, in some markets that is an understatement! Though, if we look at the big picture, it was a good time for parts of Europe that experienced good weather and, thus, strong attendance. In Asia, projects already under way before the economic downturn opened to much excitement, and new attraction announcements continue in the region.
The major opportunities, however, are ripe for those of us who saw the numbers stay low through weeks of rain and economic uncertainty. Though it’s a new year for us, for now we have to operate as if we are expecting the same difficulties. The difference is, we learned a lot in 2009 about operating in the new economic world. Companies that look back at 2009 and build on what they learned are going to be the ones that emerge stronger. For example, discounting, and for that matter, unplanned discounting, were things we had to do this year to accommodate the market situation, but we need to take a hard look at each of those programs and make sure we’re not going down a path for the coming year that we can’t come back from as the economy begins to grow again.
All parks, attractions, and manufacturing and supplying companies need to position themselves for growth—not just to keep up in a struggling market. It’s a time for the best of the best to rise up and find out where their businesses are headed, using what they have learned from 2009. I wish you all the best of luck for the coming year, as there will be opportunities out there.
Have a sparkling day,
Chip Cleary, Chairman of the Board
Tip Sheets
Members can learn valuable advice from industry experts through IAAPA’s informational tip sheets covering the following topics: food and beverage operations; how to be green at your facility; and winterizing an attraction. To download the documents, visit
www.IAAPA.org/membership/benefits/PartnershipPlus.asp.
Expo Recordings and Handouts Available Now
Recordings and synchronized PowerPoint slides from most of the IAAPA Attractions Expo seminar programs are now available to members for purchase and download through IAAPA’s new Live Learning Center at: www.softconference.com/IAAPA.
IAAPA members can search for seminar recordings from past Expos by speaker name, subject area, and keyword. Members can view current handouts from IAAPA Attractions Expo 2009 by visiting www.IAAPA.org/education.
Stay Up to Date with IAAPA Press Releases
Need a quick reference to the association's activities and programs from the past year? Browse IAAPA’s virtual press room at www.IAAPA.org/pressroom for the latest press releases.
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