(Jamma) Celebrating its fifth successful year, the leisure and entertainment industry's premier show, EAG International, opens its doors on 21 January 2014 and Britain's wintry weather won't put off the thousands of industry professionals arriving at ExCel London for the 2014 inaugural event.
Martin Burlin president of EAG has an interesting take on why EAG International has been so quickly embraced by the industry, developing its own identity: “I believe that with the recent changes to the London shows, including the disappearance of the autumn preview, the industry was search for an event on which to stamp one's identity.
There has been a show in London in January for more than 70 years, so we always knew there was a real need for this type of event and, from the outset, EAG International has been run by a very professional team with a real passion for our industry. The management of the show is structured in such a way that all participants can have a significant input. Exhibitors, visitors, trade associations and other groups all played their part in shaping the event and, I am pleased to say, were unwavering in their work,” praised Burlin.
Another contributing factor to Eag's success has to be location, with ExCel London now widely regarded as one of the best exhibition venues in the world boasting many prestigious awards for organisation, facilities and customer service.
Crown Leisure has been a loyal exhibitor of EAG International since the very beginning with the managing director Dean Harding who commended the facilities and operations management performed at Excel. “Because Excel is relatively new, it was designed to work efficiently. We have always tried to be the most convenient and functional place,” confirmed Dean.
ExCel London has directly benefited from funds being made available for London's Dockland redevelopment projects for the 2012 Olympics, and as a direct result, visitors to EAG International have access to an impressive array of transport options.
For example, the exhibition complex is just five minutes by taxi from London City Airport, which offers scheduled flights to many UK and European destinations, plus other London airports are a very short road ride away for rail and subway. Eurostar is also a great option for visitors from Paris, Lille and Brussels. ExCel boasts three stations on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) , which in turn are connected to the London Underground network, ExCel is also easily accessible via the M25 motorway which is a real bonus for exhibitors. Other less conventional transport options: River Bus and the Thames Cable Car service.
Visitors to London have always had a great choice of accommodation and the surrounding ExCel complex certainly doesn't disappoint, benefitting from seven world-class hotels on site plus many more in the vicinity. In fact, there are 1900 hotel rooms within walking distance of Excel and approximately 10.000 new rooms within 20 minutes of travel time.
EAG International organizer Karen Cooke worked with the show's partner hotel, theEventExpress, to explore other accommodation options: “This year ExCel will host another major show at the same time as EAG International which will put pressure on hotel availability and, inevitably, prices will go up. It is therefore more important than ever that exhibitors and visitors make their reservations as soon as possible. Event Express suggested the Tower Hill area. It's also a great historic area, close to Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and the St Katharine Docks marina,” he commented. “In truth, for EAG International visitors traveling with partners and families it is probably the best choice and Event Express have negotiated some excellent deals on hotels and even serviced apartments,” advised Karen.
In fact, Evento Express has in-depth knowledge of the London hotel market and as well as accessing the best prices, usually without a deposit, promises to guarantee more flexible conditions. “I'd like to invite those who haven't already made a booking to contact Event Express via www.eagexpo.com as soon as possible. If you're on a budget, like many, give them a set budget and they'll be up to the challenge,” she suggested.
A visit to EAG International's revamped website is essential for registration and will help you plan a visit to the exhibition. The site is a valuable resource of information, with news from exhibitors, trade associations and additional organizations that have made the event their own.
Three years ago BALPPA it has proudly endorsed EAG International and is now an integral part of the event, with the association hosting its own lounge. As well as staging its AGM and annual dinner during the show period. BALPPA Chief Executive, Paul Kelly he explained that running the events simultaneously was convenient, adding, “It's a real boon for our coin-op members to be able to play the two biggest events in one go.” About half of BALPPA's 300 members are expected to be able to attend the annual dinner, itself a 40-year tradition. Similarly, the IOA group has selected EAG International as a meeting point for its members. President Peter weir he described the three-day event as "the center of all industry".
The show organizers have embraced new media to provide a continuous flow of information for both the eve and ongoing event, as well as EAGLive.
Exhibitors, visitors, trade associations and other interest groups active on Twitter can post news, opinion, and see more product information using #EAGLive. For those who prefer the more conventional methods, content can be submitted directly via a drop-down menu on the EAG international site, the EAGLive team will do the rest.
During EAG International 2014, the Coin-op community by Steph Norbury and the EAGLive team will be visiting the stands, attending conferences and collecting minute-by-minute news, opinions, photos and video clips for immediate publication on the site. Those who have material to present at the fair are invited to visit the EAGLive studio, located in the Media Village area of the show.
The exhibitor Justin Burke of SEGA Amusement Europe, commented: “SEGA Amusement Europe has been using new media for some time and they are very impressive. We are delighted to hear about this latest initiative from EAG International”.
With EAG International Expo upon us, attendees are welcome to visit www.eagexpo.com to register their stand, plan their travel and accommodation and prepare for the most educational and enjoyable three days the market has to offer!
For more information visit www.eagexpo.com
