After a successful launch in January this year, the Visitor Attraction Expo (VAE) is set for a repeat performance from 12-14 January 2016. Presented by BALPPA and supported by BACTA, the event will again take place at the prestigious ExCel London, alongside the EAG International Expo.

It would be difficult not to be impressed by ExCel’s truly world-class facilities and, according to expo organiser Karen Cooke, of Swan Events, they were well appreciated by the show’s participants.

“ExCel is one of the top exhibition venues in the world and it’s still winning awards for its accessibility and the standard of facilities offered. By co-locating the show with EAG International, VAE exhibitors have access to a level of venue not normally associated with smaller launch events,” says Cooke.

VAE 2015 certainly attracted a wide spectrum of exhibitors, each with a unique product offering for operators of leisure parks, piers, indoor attractions, zoos, adventure play and indoor play. VAE showcased the latest products from suppliers of children’s play equipment, branded merchandise, payment and ticketing solutions, iced drinks, cash handling products, inflatables, 4D motion simulation, adventure play and high ropes, climbing towers, laser games and even a fully-equipped play bus.

A number of specialised service providers also exhibited, offering leisure development consultancy, insurance, purchasing and procurement solutions, safety consultancy and staff training.

With visitors also enjoying free access to EAG International, the product offering was further extended to include: basketball and air hockey, the very latest in access control, candy vending kiosks, capsule, stickers and toy vending, cranes, licensed and generic plush, loyalty card systems, video games, go-karts, coin-op mini cars, jukeboxes and customised music services, kiddy rides, revenue management systems, redemption games and ticketing solutions – to name just a few of the exciting business–building opportunities on offer.

Networking opportunities at VAE 2015 were also excellent, with events held by individual trade associations and interest groups. For 2016, the second night’s After Show Party, just a stone’s throw from the expo floor, is expected to be attended by over 1,000 showers.

What makes VAE unique?
In a crowded expo and show calendar, a new event has to deliver something unique to justify any participant’s investment, in both time and money. VAE is differentiated from other industry events by a number of factors:

VAE meets a genuine need
VAE was conceived after recommendations from within the industry, made to BALPPA, by suppliers looking for a UK event they could call their own.

VAE is run by the industry for the industry
In common with its sister show EAG International, VAE is not part of a large corporate portfolio, meaning it can focus exclusively on its participants. The show’s small operational team is open to feedback on every aspect of the event.

VAE will be held in the same location and at the same time every year
Many operators of smaller attractions in particular have indicated that they are unable or unwilling to travel overseas to trade shows. VAE’s convenient location and timing, right at the start of the new year, make it perfect for discussing the previous season and laying plans for the next.

VAE is primarily focused on the UK
VAE has a European outreach but is very much about the UK; the show’s overseas exhibitors are at the event because they have a particular interest in our market.

VAE has a first-class programme of seminars and educational events, organised by BALPPA.

BALPPA is recognised for the excellence of its education and training. Indeed, the organisation’s events are regularly attended by employees of leading UK operators. A focus on the UK market ensures that VAE’s attendees are offered sessions that are both topical and relevant.

VAE has a very interesting neighbour!
As the distinction between out-of-home leisure markets becomes increasingly obscured, visitors to both EAG and VAE are likely to find business-transforming products at both shows. The critical-mass achieved by joining the shows has had an inclusive effect, making both shows more viable for smaller exhibitors and start-up businesses.

A huge bonus for attractions operators is that the majority of EAG’s exhibits are designed to generate those all-important incremental revenues. Some of the products on display can have a major effect on profitability.