DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY (November 2007) — Next year’s IMA international trade fair for amusement and vending machines is slated for January 15 through 18 at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Center. The four-day schedule has been adopted to provide better service to the larger number of visitors attracted by the show’s new location.

CHICAGO (November 2007) — Current trends in workplace beverage service received their semiannual airing at the Coffee Service Open Forum held during the National Automatic Merchandising Association National Expo here. The event once again was moderated by Steve Hyde of Newco Enterprises (St. Charles, MO), and afforded participants the opportunity to engage in a wide-ranging exchange of views.

NEW YORK CITY (November 2007) — Fifty-four percent of Americans said they will eat out at restaurants less over the next three months, according to a survey of 1,000 people released in conjunction with investment bank RBC’s Capital Markets Annual Consumer Conference, attended by some of the nation’s leading restaurant and consumer company executives and investors.

LAS VEGAS (November 2007) — The Amusement and Music Operators Association and the International Association for the Leisure and Entertainment Industry staged their ninth successive co-located trade shows and conventions from September 27-29 at the Las Vegas Convention Center here. Next year will see the final co-location of AMOA International Expo and Fun Expo, with the latter shifting to a spring co-location with the Amusement Showcase International in March of 2009.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL (November 2007) — Incredible Technologies has introduced its highly anticipated 2008 Golden Tee versions, which the company considers to be the most ambitious enhancement to its 19-year-old golf videogame series. The lineup consists of two distinct products: the all-new Unplugged version and a reinvented LIVE, IT’s flagship online game. Both lines include Golden Tee’s newest golf courses, part of IT’s annual fall update.

AKRON, OH (November 2007) — A statewide smoking ban has cut operator revenues in bars by as much as 30% across the board, according to third-generation operator David George Jr. of Bell Music Co.

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (November 2007) — “I got tired of having to re-teach the same basic principles of redemption operation every time we hired a new manager – so I wrote a book,” said Michael Getlan of Amusement Consultants, the noted FEC company that operates fun centers from New York to Nevada.

COCKEYSVILLE, MD (November 2007) — A&A Global Industries has become the first supplier in the bulk vending industry to establish an in-house testing laboratory aimed at assuring that products meet or exceed regulatory child safety standards.

LAS VEGAS (November 2007) — An important change to the National Bulk Vendors Association structure was instituted during its recent executive committee meeting, which took place here in late September.

LAS VEGAS (November 2007) — An important change to the National Bulk Vendors Association structure was instituted during its recent executive committee meeting, which took place here in late September.