Amusement Expo 2016 Closes On Strong Note Registration Slides 3 Education Day Jumps 20

LAS VEGAS -- Now in its third year under a new format that dedicates two days to product exhibits and one for education, Amusement Expo International recorded growth in several key metrics, according to the tradeshow's manager Brian Glasgow. After several years of increases, however, there are signs of a leveling-off, suggested by modest declines in the number of visitors and exhibitors.

The 2016 Amusement Expo International was held at the Westgate Resort & Casino and adjacent Las Vegas Convention Center from Mar. 15 through 17. Cosponsored by the Amusement and Music Operators Association and the American Amusement Machine Association, the conference and exposition included participation by the National Bulk Vendors Association and the Laser Tag Convention. Both organizations collocate their annual membership education programs and tradeshows with the exposition.

As it has done the previous two years, the 2016 Amusement Expo kicked off with an educational program on Tuesday, followed by two full days of exhibits at the convention center. The number of exhibitors was 150, compared with 154 in 2015; of those, 137 were paid exhibitors, compared with the prior year's 143; there were 29 new exhibitors, compared with 43 the prior year. The number of buyers this year decreased by 5% to 1,355 from 1,430 in 2015, The total number of registered visitors (buyers and non-buyers) was 2,785, compared with last year's 2,895, a decline of almost 4%.

So where's the growth? The total number of booths climbed modestly to 409 from last year's 407, as did booth sales, nudging to 385 from 383 in 2015. But the key growth benchmark for Amusement Expo's management has become participation in the event's educational program. Preliminary counts indicate that an estimated 300 people attended the daylong symposium, compared with 250 in 2015. The day of education began with O. Lee Mincey's keynote address, which was followed by 10 sessions covering on-street and site-based operations.

NBVA's pavilion on the 2016 expo show floor hosted 16 exhibitors in 35 booths, compared with 20 exhibitors in 40 booths the year prior. A total of 250 bulk vending professionals had registered for this year's bulk vending conference, compared with 300 registrants in 2015. NBVA's numbers are not included in Amusement Expo's tally. Separately, the association signed an agreement to extend its collocation with Amusement Expo for another five years.

This was the second year that the Amusement Expo accommodated the Laser Tag Convention, which is organized by the Laser Tag Museum (Louisville, KY) for laser tag facility operators. The laser tag dimension, which was run independently, had 106 registered participants who are included in Amusement Expo's totals.

John Schultz

AAMA's Lifetime Achievement Award went to John Schultz, the association's executive vice-president, who is expected to step down in May. Schultz, who held AAMA's top staff post since 2009, has played a key role in several industry initiatives. He helped oversee the merger of AAMA's former tradeshow, the Amusement Showcase International (held in the spring), and AMOA's fall show into the new Amusement Expo International. Additionally, AAMA's membership has increased about 30% since he took the job six years ago. And because of Schultz's focus on government affairs, the amusement industry has become one of the most influential voices in Washington fighting changes to the metallic content of U.S. coins.

Schultz's assignment at AAMA is his first at a nonprofit. But his five decades of experience in automatic music, amusements and merchandise vending had prepared him for the job. Before joining the association, he was president of Rock-Ola Manufacturing Corp., the legendary jukebox company, between 1998 and 2008. Schultz's successor at AAMA has not yet been announced.

Also at the opening ceremony, Play Meter, a New Orleans-based trade magazine, bestowed its Operator of the Year award on Emily Dunn of Tom's Amusement Co. (Blue Ridge, GA).

PHOTO: AMI Entertainment won an award for the best large booth design at Amusement Expo; top honors in the medium and small categories went to Embed and AstroSystems, respectively. AMI's exhibit recreated a neighborhood tavern to show off its new jukeboxes, the NGX Ultra and NGX Mini 2. Above, AMI senior vice-president John Margold, left and front, gathers the AMI team for a booth photo.

During the expo, AMOA held its annual membership meeting. Gaines Butler, Metro Distributors (Norcross, GA), succeeded Jerry Johnston, Amusement Unlimited Inc. (Eugene, OR), as AMOA president. Serving under Butler are first vice-president Rick LaFleur, L.F. LaFleur & Son (Devils Lake, ND), and secretary-treasurer Jim Marsh, Hart Novelty (Bellingham, WA). AMOA recently amended its bylaws to allow the same board member to hold both offices of secretary and treasurer, as with Marsh.

AMOA also presented four Innovator Awards to three manufacturers. This recognition is held in high esteem because operators select the winning products. The winners were Rocket Amusements for Crazy Claw, a videogame that simulates skill crane play and is housed in an almost-indestructible cabinet, and Apple Industries for its personalized merchandise fulfillment service, which runs on its Face Place photobooths. PayRange won two Innovator Awards for its BluKey Smart cashless device and its Dynamic Pricing feature for amusement machines.

Only 41 AMOA Innovator Awards have been issued since the program was founded 16 years ago. Russ Minter, Tip Top Amusements Co. (Carson City, NV), chaired this year's program, which presented two awards to the same company for the first time. "New products create excitement and drive customers to our locations," he said. "The bar is high and it's been AMOA's goal to recognize manufacturers that are bringing innovation to the market."

There were 40 entries and six finalists for this year's Innovator Awards.

The 2017 Amusement Expo International will move to Dallas from Mar. 14 to 16. The Sheraton Dallas Hotel will host. The show's producers are hoping to attract international interest from Mexico and Central and South America. The tradeshow will return to Las Vegas in 2018 and 2019.

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Amusement Expo 2015: Attendance And Exhibitor Upswing Continues