The joint AMOA/AAMA organized trade gathering is underway as of this morning, with a crowd streaming into the Las Vegas Convention Center as the ribbon was cut. The opening of the trade show floor follows Tuesday’s (Feb. 27) industry-focused education seminars which ran all day and provided insight into FECs, street operations, VR, laser tag, bulk vending and much more (learn more about that below.)
The Amusement Expo kicked off with a host of awards given by the AAMA to their choice of manufacturer, supplier and distributor of the year. AAMA’s manufacturer of the year was Bay Tek, the group’s supplier of the year was American Changer and the distributor of the year was Betson. On top of those vaunted awards, AAMA announced its coveted Lifetime Achievement Award winner: Bay Tek’s Larry Treankler.
“He’s not only someone I admire but someone who has had a great impact on me,” said AAMA President Holly Hampton (who coincidentally works at Bay Tek as Director of Innovation). “He’s a man who understands that it is the people around him that matter most.”
After awards, AMOA outgoing President Rick LaFleur spoke about the importance of celebrating AMOA’s 70th anniversary at this year’s Expo. LaFleur was followed by NBVA President Steve Schechner and Erik Guthrie of the Laser Tag Museum, with both introducing their respective industries.
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As the ribbon was cut and attendees flooded the floor, many headed straight for TouchTunes booth, where the company welcomed the crowd with a brand new jukebox unveiling. The
Angelina
is factory's latest juke, a compact, stylish box that features a colorful visualizer that syncs with the beat, modular hardware that cuts down on messy wires and simplifies repairs, a reinforced aluminum chassis that is lightweight but durable and much more.
The jukebox is named after young Angelina Miele, who lost her battle with cancer in 2015. The daughter of operator Lou Miele, Angelina’s family started a charity in her memory called Angelina’s Song, which funds music therapy for children afflicted with cancer, as well as funding a search for a cure. TouchTunes topper Charles Goldstuck announced that each jukebox sold would support the charity, giving operators yet another reason to upgrade the route.
“The
Angelina
is the culmination of two years of pioneering design and development,” said Ross Honey, TouchTunes President and CEO. “More than just a remarkable jukebox, the
Angelina
exemplifies our mission to create the most engaging in-venue music experiences, as well as our passionate commitment to helping our operator partners continually grow their businesses.”
As this news hits your inbox, plenty more is to be seen, heard and relayed. Be sure to look for further news on Friday with info on the show’s ending, as well as a full report in our April issue.
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A group of operators led by Jerry Johnston of Amusement Unlimited (black shirt, at right) discuss upselling during a roundtable event.
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Much Discussed on Education Day
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Education Day at this year's Amusement Expo had a diverse offering of seminars, starting with a discussion about payment trends, the customer experience and the future of unattended (i.e. automated) sales. Debit card use is going up because Millennials don't want to live on credit like their parents did, said Leanne Wilson Price, VP of Heartland MicroPayments. She also noted that 68 percent of Gen Z uses person-to-person payment methods like Venmo due to its immediacy.
Another hot topic of the day was a closing session hosted by Sean Stormes, founder and CEO of Redemption Plus. He said that people want to support "companies that stand for something more than profit." The way to dominate your market, he said, is to build a strong culture and be known as the only ones who do what you do. "You've got to see what others miss," Stormes said.
Other seminars included an operators round table focusing on strategies like up-selling. A key piece of advice from Jerry Johnston, founder of Amusement Unlimited, was to tell customers that you attend industry trade shows and educational events. "Customers like to know that you're investing in yourself and your people," he said.
A seminar about turning cashiers into sales people, led by Rick Barsness, founder and CEO of America's Incredible Pizza Company, was also a hit. Attendees left with lots of enthusiasm about his successful eat and play deals.
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VR Takes Up Track on Education Day
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Virtual reality is buzzing in this industry right now, and the organizers of Expo Education Day put together a full day’s worth of fascinating panels with truly impressive movers and shakers in the budding industry. Organized and moderated by Bob Cooney, the sessions delved into the most relevant questions many have about the new tech and its potential impact on the location-based entertainment (LBE) industry. (Cooney and longtime friend Michael Getlan, pictured above, talked where VR has been, and where it's headed.)
Moral of the story: while no one really knows where it’s going, most seem to agree that since it didn’t quite take off like many assumed it would in the consumer market, that opens the door for those in the LBE business. Many of the developers of games and VR hardware have pivoted to LBE, meaning the time is right for operators in our industry to truly consider adding it as an attraction.
The seminars kicked off with an introduction to the trends driving the tech today, and its history in the amusement industry. Multiple panels featuring game developers, researchers, hardware innovators and successful LBE operators led to fruitful discussions of the potential of the tech.
The VR track concluded with an energetic keynote from Brent Bushnell, originator of the Two Bit Circus, a wacky group of nerds (his words!) that has combined science, technology art and entertainment into a traveling, attraction-based business that engages with kids and adults. Look for a detailed report of the latest updates in VR -- and the Expo -- in
RePlay’s
April issue.
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Incoming AMOA President Jim Marsh speaks during the AMOA President's Dinner at Morton's on Monday, Feb. 26. Marsh has been a longtime supporter of the association. He told the story of how his father had recruited him into the family business in 1986, due to his commitments as the AMOA President in that year.
"It's my honor and privilege to be a part of this amazing association," Marsh said.
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RePlay Magazine | 818-776-2880 | editor@replaymag.com | www.replaymag.com
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