19 February 2024

With just under one week till the opening of the 2024 IAAPI Amusement Expo, DPA are excited to be back in India with 360 Play as Proud Show Sponsors of the event.  The Expo is to be held at the Bombay Exhibition Centre Mumbai from the 27^th to the 29^th of February.

“Last year was a great Expo with record breaking attendance showing the strength and growing scale of the leisure and entertainment sector across India right now.  We are so proud to be supporting the event and sponsors for the Key Networking event after the opening day.  This show is a great opportunity to meet with industry leaders and decision makers across India who come together to see what’s new and what hot.”  Quoted Duncan Phillips, Founder and managing Director of the DP Group.

360 Play will be at the show with our India based team, following up many of the conversations started last year and making some large announcements during the show.

“The FEC sector is a fast moving place in India right now and the introduction of our unique, market leading brand of FEC’s where Play and Entertainment is matched with real educational and physical development is poised to revolutionise the traditional gaming solutions already present in many shopping malls.  We can’t wait to break ground with our first partnership and first location in India.” Quoted Nicci Joseph Business Development Manager, Navi Mumbai.

 “The three day exhibition will provide a platform to share and learn new ideas. Big players from the Indian industry will share their learning, innovative ideas, schemes and experience. Many important issues related to the amusement industry will also be discussed in depth. IAAPI Amusement Expo brings a comprehensive range of products and services offered by the industry under one roof. It provides an opportunity to interact with the end users. “ IAAPI

DP Leisure had a great week in Mumbai at the IAAPI expo which saw up to 3,500 visitors a day walking the show floor meeting suppliers and other operators in the first show since 2020.  Taking front stage the 360 play booth had a record amount of enquiries showing how strong the growth in the FEC sector is across India.

“We were literally overwhelmed with the volume of enquiries we received on the booth during the three day show demonstrating the strength in growth of FEC’s in India particularly from western brand and operational models.  I would like to personally congratulate all at IAAPI for putting on such a great show in 2023.“ Founder and Managing Director DP Group and 360 Play Ltd

DPA are looking forward to following up all enquiries at the show as 360 continues to look at ways to deliver its unique brand of FEC to new families in new territories.

The BALPPA Annual Dinner on the 9^th January marked the handing over of the BALPPA Chair role from Duncan Phillips to Terry Monkton of Simworx.  The annual event hosted at the Sea life London marked the end of Duncan’s two years as Chairman following two years as Vice Chairman.  

Joined by his wife Sarah Duncan spoke of his time as Chairman giving thanks to the support he has received;

I would like to start by thanking to all the BALPPA Management committee who volunteer their time to push forward the industry while supporting it in times of need.  

The BALPPA executive team of Paul, Lisa and Kim, who work behind the scenes to make events like this happen, but most impotently give us the operations of an industry association we all shelter under at times of need.  

My past Chairman Richard, and incoming Chairman Terry, thank you for your continued commitment to the association and skills you willing share every day. 

But finally I want to thank you the industry for allowing me to serve as your chairman through what has been the most turbulent, challenging, scary, but most of all rewarding time for me.  My first opportunity to serve the industry was at a BALPPA visit to our Family theme Park in 1984, helping serve food and drinks to members during the visit.  Now slightly older but still young at heart you have given me the opportunity to serve you as Chairman, thank you.  

Over the past 18 months I have had the opportunity to get round many member attractions and organisations,  thank you all for the warm welcome I have experienced in every location. At each visit I have been reminded how diverse yet how similar we all are, the common passion to deliver great experiences and products to our guests unifies our industry at every level.  I continue to be inspired by these visits and hope to continue to visit more over the coming years thank you.

Duncan remains on the board to continue to support the industry as it recovers from the impacts of the Pandemic, serving as past Chairman for a further two years.  He remains committed to the organisation and his personal passion to increase a diverse membership of individuals as well as organisations in BALPPA to help support career pathways in the industry he loves.

The 16th annual 5K run/1-mile walk benefits Give Kids The World

As the sun rose on Thursday, Nov. 17, attractions professionals from around the world began affixing their race numbers and stretching their legs in anticipation of the 16th Annual IAAPA Footprints From the Heart 5K Run/1-Mile Walk Benefitting Give Kids The World Village.

Held on-site at Give Kids The World Village, the event attracted individual IAAPA Expo attendees, as well as groups of employees from exhibiting companies.

Sophie Masse, marketing specialist at Falcon’s Creative Group, attended the run with several of her colleagues. “At Falcon’s, we’ve been doing the race here every single year for a very long time, so it’s a cause that’s close to our hearts,” she shares. “This is my second year personally doing it, and last year we had such a fun time … it’s just great to get together with your coworkers to do it and help motivate yourself.”

The event drew in many international participants as well, with 35 individuals from the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions (BALPPA) opting to run. Duncan Phillips, United Kingdom-based theme park and family entertainment center (FEC) operator and chairman of BALPPA, detailed his long relationship with Footprints From the Heart.

 Duncan Phillips

“I came here ten or eleven years ago, saying, ‘Well, I’ve never run in my life, but I’m just going to run it,’ and I’ve not missed one since,” he reflects. “I just think [Give Kids The World] is an amazing organization, and for me, it rounds off what we do in the industry. It puts a smile on everyone’s faces, and nobody needs it more than those here.”

Give Kids The World provides cost-free vacations to children with critical illnesses and their families. The week-long vacation includes visits to beloved Orlando area attractions and theme parks.

Before the start of the race, 2022 IAAPA Chairman of the Board, Ken Whiting, welcomed the crowd and thanked sponsors for supporting the event. Pamela Landwirth, president and CEO of Give Kids The World, also took the stage.

“I know you’re getting ready to walk the show floor. From what I understand, that’s 11 miles, so this is going to seem like a piece of cake for you this morning,” she joked. Landwirth then took a more sentimental turn, noting the impact that the attractions industry has had on the Village. “And when you look at the Village, every single inch of this village has been touched by IAAPA, a member, a partner, a manufacturer, a supplier. We couldn’t have this incredible village without all of you.”

After the speech concluded, IAAPA Expo attendees took off running with their attractions industry family—kicking off a new day of IAAPA Expo on a joyful and charitable note.