Press Releases

IAAPA and EAASI Announce Trade Show Pact

ALEXANDRIA, VA (USA) (Apr. 15, 2004) – The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions ( IAAPA) and the European Association for The Amusement Supplier Industry (EAASI) will work together to plan the largest  amusement industry trade show in Europe, the organizations announced today.

IAAPA and EAASI will co-own the show for 10 years, according to a contract signed in Moscow today by J. Clark Robinson, IAAPA's President, and Wieland Schwarzkopf, EAASI President. The show will serve more than 50 European countries and will be the premier trade show for the European amusement industry. IAAPA Chairman of the Board Gary Story participated in the signing ceremony today.

Each organization will contribute funds for the formation and organization of the trade show, which will be overseen by a seven member Board of Counselors appointed by IAAPA and EAASI.

" IAAPA is pleased to join with EAASI on this promising venture," said Robinson. "From North America to Asia and now to Europe, IAAPA will continue to vigorously promote the business of fun, education and commerce at trade shows throughout the world."

The first trade show to be operated under this new venture will be the Euro Amusement Show 2005, to be held in January in Vienna, Austria. The 2004 Euro Amusement Show, at Disneyland Paris, welcomed more than 6,000 visitors and 200 exhibitors from companies representing 16 countries.

"Both EAASI and IAAPA have exceptional reputations for planning informative, unique, and extraordinary conventions and trade shows," remarked Schwarzkopf. "We will work tirelessly together to make the 2005 European show even more impressive."

Exhibitors are also excited about the new agreement.

"As an attendee of previous EAASI and IAAPA shows, I am confident that the new European Amusement Show -- managed by both IAAPA and EAASI -- will be even more beneficial to exhibitors and interesting to attendees," said John Wood, Chairman and CEO of amusement ride manufacturer Sally Industries, Inc.

IAAPA currently manages the IAAPA Annual Convention & Tradeshow, one of the largest trade shows in North America, attracting 30,000 attendees, and the world's largest amusement and attractions industry conference. IAAPA also owns and operates the IAAPA Asian Expo, the largest and most prominent amusement industry trade show in Asia.

# # #

IAAPA is the largest international trade association for permanently situated amusement facilities worldwide. The organization represents over 4,500 facility, supplier, and individual members from more than 90 countries. IAAPA strives to help members improve their efficiency, marketing, safety, and profitability while maintaining the highest possible professional standards in the industry. www.iaapa.org