Gateway To Success Industry Converges On Las Vegas For 2016 Amusement Expo International

LAS VEGAS -- Excitement is building in anticipation of the 2016 Amusement Expo International, slated for the Las Vegas Westgate Resort & Casino and adjacent Las Vegas Convention Center from Mar. 15 through 17 (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday). Show organizers expect a strong turnout for the event, which has been growing in scope and diversity since its first staging seven years ago. Based on last year's turnout, attendance this year is expected to top 3,000 industry members. More than 120 exhibitors have contracted for space in which to show their wares.

Cosponsored by the Amusement and Music Operators Association and the American Amusement Machine Association, Amusement Expo International has attracted participation by the National Bulk Vendors Association and the Laser Tag Convention. Both organizations again are collocating their annual membership education programs and trade shows with the exposition.

Building on last year's success, the 2016 event will offer educational programming on Tuesday, followed by two full days of exhibits. Registration will open at 8 a.m. in Hall N1 of the Las Vegas Convention Center on each of the three days of the event.

Tuesday's program will be preceded by a complimentary coffee and networking opportunity at 8 a.m. The business sessions lead off at 8 a.m. with the keynote address, presented this year by O. Lee Mincey, a human resources and training expert in the entertainment industry who leads the Oliver Mincey Co. (Atlanta). He will address principles and techniques of management and leadership that can shape employee engagement. The address concludes at 9:15 a.m.

Also at 8 a.m., the National Bulk Vendors Association will conduct its first seminar breakfast, titled Bulk Vending 401. It will be led by veteran operators Kevin Shambaugh, Far West Distributors (Everett, WA), and Dan Platte, D&L Vending Inc. (Farmers Branch, TX). This will conclude at 9 a.m.

Something For Everyone

Upon conclusion of the keynote address and NBVA seminar breakfast, the educational program will continue along industry interest tracks. At 9:15 a.m., NBVA members will have the opportunity to learn about new mobile electronic tools that can speed and simplify route recordkeeping by fast-tracking collections and expenses on site. The session will be presented by Pam Owens of Vending & Distribution (Florence, AL). A session on locating is slated for 10:15 a.m., followed by the NBVA seminar lunch at 11:15 a.m. The afternoon will be devoted to a discussion of a new hiring system for bulk operators, the Internet as a marketing vehicle, the always-popular "Most Innovative Operator" contest and the traditional operator bull session, which will bring the 2016 program to a rousing finale from 3 p.m.to 3:45 p.m.

Amusement and music operators have a wide selection of timely topics; presentations are categorized as "Street Scene," for music and games route operators and "FEC Focus" for operators of family entertainment centers and other site-based attractions. Several sessions have been designed for both segments.

The first concurrent sessions get under way at 9:30 a.m., with a Street Scene presentation on "17 things you can do today to sell more tomorrow" by Brian Offenberger, Right On-No Bull Marketing (Scottsdale, AZ).

At the same time, an FEC Focus session led by Jerry Merola of Alpha-Omega and Amusement Entertainment Management will address the 10 most common mistakes currently made in entertainment center development; preventing them is essential to avoid "becoming a statistic." This will be followed by a human resources seminar for street operators, led by Angi Shamblin and Nicole Tedrow, Associated Industries (Spokane, WA). A luncheon and networking session is slated for 12 noon.

The afternoon program begins with two concurrent sessions, each of interest to both street and site-based entertainment operators, on small-footprint unattended FECs and on finding new customers through social media.

Similarly, Laser Tag Convention registrants can choose curricula crafted to address the concerns of laser tag facility developers and operators, as well as those involved in "tactical" and outdoor extensions of the sport that have opened new markets for special-event group sales.

At 9 a.m., Laser Tag Convention registrants can choose among sessions themed to each segment. The General Interest presentation will be made by Frank Price, FL Price and Birthday University (Holly Springs, NC), and will address managing laser tag guests' experiences.

The Developers track will offer "What your Mother never taught you about Card Systems," presented by Jason Mitchell of Intercard (St. Louis, MO).

On the Tactical track, Derek Petit, Adventure Sports HQ (Flower Spring, TX), will define the three main styles of non-traditional laser tag and explain how they can be plugged into any business model for rapid, profitable growth.

This three-track format will continue, with sessions slated for 9 a.m., 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., then resuming at 2 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. A general-interest roundtable discussion will wrap up the program from 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., and a laser tag reception from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Westgate will end the day on a high note.

Education Day will conclude with the Industry Gala Reception at the Westgate from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. It's open to Amusement Expo and NBVA registrants, including exhibitors, upon presentation of an admission badge.

On Wednesday, Mar. 16, registration reopens at 8 a.m. in LVCC's Hall N1. At 9:15 a.m., Hall N1 also will host AAMA's annual Industry Awards Presentation, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the 2016 exhibits at 10 a.m. Exhibits will be available for viewing until 6 a.m.

At 5:30 p.m., AMOA will hold the first of two drawings scheduled for a raffle in support of the association's Wayne E. Hesch Memorial Scholarship Foundation. It will be conducted in the Hesch booth in the exhibit area.

The AMOA annual membership breakfast will take place at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Mar. 17, in the Westgate. Registration reopens at 8:30 a.m., and exhibit hours again are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. At 5:30 p.m., AMOA will hold the second Hesch Scholarship Foundation raffle drawing at the Hesch booth.

O. Lee Mincey