Submit Photos of Your Facility to IAAPA and Your Attraction Could be Featured on the IAAPA WebSite!

Dear IAAPA Members,

Please consider submitting photos of your facility to us to post on our website. Your pictures may be featured as one of the rotating images on the homepage, at the top

of one of our web sections, or in various IAAPA marketing materials.

If your facility’s picture is chosen, the name and location of the facility will be listed with the picture. This will be our way of saying “thank you” as we publicize your facility to thousands of people who view our web pages each week.

Your pictures must be 750 pixels wide by 200 pixels high, 75dpi resolution in JPG format (panoramic view) in order to be considered for placement. If you’re interested in participating, please complete the online form and upload pictures of your facility.

Thanks for your consideration and we look forward to seeing your photos! If you have questions, please contact webmaster@IAAPA.org for more information.

Sincerely,

Your IAAPA Website Team.

The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions 1448 Duke St. Alexandria, VA 22314 | Tel: +1 703/836-4800

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/When-Selling-CLICKS.html?soid=1101205010203&aid=FPS6GsX3bsE

TrainerTainment is a training company that services the Family Entertainment and other hospitality–driven markets who want to improve their sales teams, products, and guest service ability. Our company focuses on sales training in order to enhance promotions, events, birthday party programs, team building, and all other corporate and group outings. Developing people and teaching businesses how to create a thriving sales culture through great customer service are our primary goals.

- Justin Falls, Communications Director/Client Relations

MIAMI, April 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Cool de Sac, the family entertainment and dining experience with currently two locations in South Florida is furthering its expansion into franchising nationwide.  This unique concept for parents with young children may soon be coming to your hometown.

The influence behind the concept and brand, Cool de Sac, has led business owners and entrepreneurs with a new opportunity to expand family entertainment centers into cities throughout the United States.  Parents enjoy quality dining while the children are able to interact creatively with activities that are not only entertaining but educational as well. Dining and child related industries are two of the fastest growing franchise sectors in the US marketplace.

Cool de Sac allows kids to “play smart” in a variety of creative play stations that include: Arts, Blocks, Salon, Discovery, Games & Computers; and a Play Unit that offers fun physical activities. Cool de Sac also includes a larger area for parents with toddlers so that they too can enjoy the dining experience while keeping a close eye on their tots.

In addition to all of the activity stations at Cool de Sac, is the opportunity to host a child’s birthday party. This multimillion dollar industry is just one of the five revenue streams that a Cool de Sac franchise has to offer.  Cool de Sac provides the perfect venue for parents to celebrate their child’s birthday.

“The unique concept of Cool de Sac is to offer a safe place for parents to enjoy a quality meal and conversation while their children play with different activities within reach,” says CEO of Cool de Sac, Jose Luis Bueno. “As a franchise we are providing the opportunity for entrepreneurs to take this well established brand into their communities.”

Future locations for Cool de Sac in 2011 include FairFax, Virginia and Mexico City, Mexico.

About Cool de Sac:

Cool de Sac, located in South Florida, is a place where kids can play, create and explore while parents relax and dine. The family establishment delivers quality cuisine, while offering a fun, safe, and engaging venue for children. Families enjoy a wide variety of games and activities with play areas for art, building blocks, a dress–up salon, a recreational play unit, a computer area, discovery zone, and a tots play area.

Cool de Sac offers a hassle-free party package where on site party specialists will handle the planning, set up, execution and clean up of your child’s special day. For more information about the family entertainment center or to learn more about the opportunity, please visit www.cool-de-sac.com or call (855) 550-2665 (COOL). For the latest information, you can become a fan of Cool de Sac on Facebook.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jessica Levy Kiibler

Levy Communications

305.592.5389 X 104 O

305.592.9443 F

jessica@levyad.com

SOURCE Cool de Sac

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RELATED LINKS
http://www.cool-de-sac.com

No this is not a joke… Gift cards are DANGEROUS! Why you ask? At the IAAPA FEC Summit earlier this year, Gregg Borman, Senior VP Palace Entertainment, warned the audience about how unused gift cards or gift certificates will soon be seized by our desperate and over reaching state governments. The first state to try this move was New Jersey. Last year their law makers approved the seizure of any unused gift card or travels checks that had went unused for more than two or three years. While a federal court blocked their bid to seize these assets from businesses, it is only a matter of time before they are allowed to take your unused gift card or gift certificate funds. New Jersey is attempting to balance their out of control budget by taking the estimated $80 million in unused gift cards in the state. The fiscal ramifications to the businesses that lose these cash reserves will be catastrophic and the short-sided view by the state government will send shock waves through the already hostile business environment.

WHAT CAN I DO? Borman in a recent meeting with Party Center Software suggests that each facility contact their attorney to find out how to protect their funds from being seized. Borman says his in-house counsel had suggested the first step is to completely remove the word GIFT from the product name. They will most likely be going to a more generic “play card” or “game card” name. The theory behind this move is that if they can show that the monies paid were for the purchase of a “play card” then the fund were fully used and allocated to the play card and most likely will not be subject to the unredeemed gift card laws. On the accounting side you will need to verify and check with your accountant as this may change how you account for those cards and the value on them within your books. You may be requiring to show them no longer as a liability but now as an asset which can change your tax implications.

An additional step is to provide a policy for those play cards and have that policy printed on the back of the card as well as posted on your website and on location. This policy may include details about how the card value can be exchanged for other goods and services and also to put on an expiration date for the card. Under certain state laws, such as California, if you issue physical gift certificates as opposed to gift cards, they may never expire and are consider identical to cash. This makes is difficult to balance your books with years of unredeemed gift certificates. All in all the actual Gift Card is not dangerous but the fact that a state can, by the barrel of a political gun aka threat of prison, seize your hard earned cash right from your bank account makes them a huge liability. So this is just a warning to those of you who still issue gift cards or gift certificates. Get with your attorney and find out how you can start to transition your gift card program to a play card or other system and start protecting the hard earned revenue from the hands of often over reaching government.

http://www.blooloop.com/CompanyDetails/Party-Center-Software/775

Blooloop.com is the premier web site for the Amusement / Theme Park and Waterpark industry and is read worldwide for its comprehensive coverage of trends, developments, projects, business operations, technologies, and news and views from the Industry. The latest Industry headlines are posted 24/7 on www.blooloop.com together with market data and news from around the globe from the BBC.

The aim for Blooloop.com is to become the digital gateway to the world’s Amusement Park, FEC and Waterpark industries. A key driver in achieving this goal is the fact that companies operating in the industry itself actively participate on the website. Via a full and dedicated company profile, suppliers can provide in-depth company information, news, details of any current or past projects and an overview of their products and brands. The parks and the firms and organizations running and operating them similarly provide us with up to the minute news and information about their latest projects and plans. They also, throughout the year, submit press releases and feature articles highlighting current projects and recent developments.

PartyCenterSoftware.com is an online party booking and event management tool designed to increase party bookings and eliminate unnecessary labor costs. Included in the PCS suite of tools is a complete EPOS system, time clock, and vendor management feature. Currently operating in seven countries, PartyCenterSoftware.com is marketed and sold by Agile Software and Marketing, based in California.

“If you want to increase the profit for your FEC business, install PartyCenterSoftware.com today!” A recent quote from Mr. Rick Iceberg, IAAPA FEC committee member and owner of CJ Barrymore’s Sports & Entertainment says it all. It is with that excitement that CJ Barrymore’s in Michigan realized an increase in their event profit margin of up to 40% from the previous year, as a result of the installation and use of PartyCenterSoftware.com. Not only did Mr. Iceberg see his bottom line increase, but he was overwhelmed that the PartyCenterSoftware.com implementation actually increased the overall efficiency of managing those booked events, and it drove down labor costs associated with managing CJ Barrymore’s party bookings. “Our online event booking was forecasted at 300, and we exceeded over 1200 online parties booked!!” According to Mr. Iceberg, “Ultimately, our customers are elated with the software’s simplicity and ease of use, so they book more parties–and that makes us extremely satisfied!”

Kim Webster of C.J. Barrymores says, “What a great product! Party Center Software is a great asset to any Family Fun Center.  Thank you to the great staff that has made programming this software convenient and simple.  The tech support is amazing, always friendly and willing to go above and beyond.  I was amazed at how customer friendly this product is! I am so thrilled about this software, defiantly the best purchase for our FEC in 2010!

Mr. Jacob Cascioli, who operates two Jumpin’ Jakes locations in New York, is equally excited about the effectiveness and efficiency of PartyCenterSoftware.com. “Over the past two years, both stores have received over 500 bookings through the online booking module.” Mr. Cascioli continued, “I knew online bookings were on the rise, but I didn’t realize exactly how big of an impact it made to my company – giving my customers the ability to book a party at their convenience really separates us from the competition.”

In addition to the effectiveness and efficiency of PartyCenterSoftware.com, CEO Scott Drummond and his team are receiving praise for their dedication to customer satisfaction. Mr. Robert Peppard with Combat Sports Outdoor Laser Tag Park in Colts Neck, NJ says, “Your continued support of the product and commitment to improve PartyCenterSoftware.com is a testimony to the value you provide to each and every one of your customers – thank you for being a HUGE part of our success.”

For more information on how your company can benefit from our software,  please visit us at PartyCenterSoftware.com

PartyCenterSoftware.com is an online party booking and event management tool designed to increase party bookings and eliminate unnecessary labor costs. Included in the PCS suite of tools is a complete EPOS system, time clock, and vendor management feature. Currently operating in seven countries, PartyCenterSoftware.com is marketed and sold by Agile Software and Marketing, based in California.

The former Kick’s location reopened Friday as a different family entertainment center, America’s Incredible Pizza Company.

Incredible Pizza, headquartered in Springfield, Mo., has 15 other centers in Missouri, Indiana, Iowa, Oklahoma, Utah, Texas, Tennessee and one in Monterrey, Mexico. This is the first in Illinois.

“We’re a family entertainment center based on Christian values,” said Rick Pogue, company president, who was in Springfield last week for the ribbon cutting.

His business card says the company “exists to bring families and friends together through great food and fun…We operate our business by Christian principles, delivering a positive family experience and a fair return to our company.”

Eighty local employees have been hired at the facility, 2744 S. Sixth St., Pogue said.

The 1950s-themed venue (pictured above) offers laser tag, indoor go-karts, mini bowling and more than 50 arcade and video games. Game winners can redeem points for prizes.

There are three large dining rooms and four private rooms for birthday parties, showers, church events, sports team banquets, family reunions and other get-togethers.

An all-you-can-eat buffet features pizza, pasta, taco, nacho, salad and dessert bars, plus two entrees each day, burgers, vegetables, mashed potatoes and the company’s signature item — cinnamon rolls.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Food service ends an hour before closing. Website: www.incrediblepizza.com. Phone: 280-4067.

For more information about Incredible Pizza, plus other restaurant news, read the A La Carte column in the business section of the print edition of today’s (Jan. 9)  SJ-R.

Read Here

By Gary White
THE LEDGER

INDIANAPOLIS — The International Laser Tag Association has created a new division aimed at serving the family entertainment center industry. The formation of the nonprofit National Association of Family Entertainment Centers was announced in mid-November during the IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando, FL. It is expected to grow into a standalone sister association of the laser tag group.

NAFEC presently counts 200 members, all of which are associated with ILTA, which counts 500 members. The organization is offering six months’ free membership to anyone who joins in any of the three membership categories: developer, operator or supplier.

The laser tag association’s board is providing leadership to NAFEC under the direction of ILTA president Davor Franicevich, who owns Laser Tag of Baton Rouge and Laser Tag of New Orleans.

“Once we get the ball rolling, NAFEC may have a life of its own with its own board of directors and separate membership,” said Eric Gaizat, who serves as membership services director for both associations.

The growth of NAFEC’s membership and its development of separate leadership are expected to accelerate during the first quarter of 2011, particularly as the association launches a dedicated insurance program for FEC owners and operators. NAFEC may use ILTA’s insurance company or negotiate policies with a new carrier, Gaizat said.

Gaizat said it’s “premature” for NAFEC to decide if it will produce a trade show, but disclosed that the trade show question is the most frequently asked which is directed to the nascent organization. NAFEC will offer ongoing educational programs, he said.

NAFEC also announced the formation of the Supplier Advisory Council, which includes U-Profit’s Bill Carlson, Amusement Entertainment Management’s Frank Seninsky, Prime Play’s Nathan Jones and Agile Software and Marketing’s Scott Drummond.

Carlson and Seninsky were both members of the International Association for the Leisure and Entertainment Industry, which folded into the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. Both men were vocal critics of IALEI’s merger with IAAPA, which took place in October 2009.

Sources said the Supplier Advisory Council is “very loosely” affiliated with NAFEC. However, any association of Carlson and Seninsky with the new FEC association — no matter how informal or arms-length — is bound to raise questions about whether the faction views itself as a rival to IAAPA for operator loyalty.

NAFEC’s announcement of its birth provided a hint that such an interpretation may not be unwarranted. “Many [FEC] operators are concerned that their ability to be treated as equals with other high-profile members of [IAAPA] is nonexistent,” the new organization claimed. “We know what it is like to be a member of a large association where you are spoken at instead of spoken to. Our objective is to make each member feel important to the industry as a whole by taking the time to work with them individually and use those experiences to assist other members in similar circumstances.”

NAFEC said its mission is “to help our members become better informed through our research, services and communications with all levels of the industry … to provide our members with up-to-date data on safety, operations, marketing, seminars, trade shows and … to give [members] the knowledge and resources to grow their business and increase revenues.”

NAFEC’s launch announcement also said: “Our aim is to be the voice for the small business FECs and provide a forum for operators to share innovative ideas, learn from industry professionals and consultants, develop effective marketing strategies and address industry obstacles.”

Parent association ILTA was formed in 1996. Just over half of ILTA’s membership is based in the United States. National Association of Family Entertainment Centers is online at fecoperator.org and can be reached at (317) 786-9755.

Drummond will be exhibiting at the Leisure International Week in Birmingham, UK in late September and along with 9 other finalist will display his PartyCenterSoftware.com product to be voted on by members of the PPA.  He hopes to bring home top prize for his newly released version of his online party booking and facility management software. “This will be our first year exhibiting at LIW so I am very excited to meet many of our customers in person and if we can bring home the award it will make for one great trip!  I’m just thankful for our customers and all they do to help us grow as a business”, said Drummond.

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PartyCenterSoftware.com is the world leader in online party booking and event management.  From an industry leading webPOS system to our online management tools, we help businesses in the fun industry improve their customer experience, increase revenue and decrease costs.  Some of the top franchises around the world rely on PartyCenterSoftware.com every day to run their facilities.

Scott Drummond started his first digital marketing business in 1998, owned and operated his own fun center for many years and has been a long-time member of the fun industry.   His experience in marketing and software, along with running and operating an FEC, give him a unique and cutting-edge perspective into the life and operations of the fun center world. Through the worldwide use of PartyCenterSoftware.com in almost every size and type of FEC, Drummond collects and analyzes industry data to make his company and software stronger.

WINTER HAVEN -Legoland Florida is rising from theme park property that had an established water park, but that doesn’t mean a water park will be immediately available to guests upon Legoland’s expected opening in late 2011.

By Kathy Lauer-Williams, OF THE MORNING CALL
July 8, 2010

Demon Drop, Dorney Park‘s newest thrill ride, is a little deceiving.

The rise to the top of the 131-foot drop tower seems to take forever. But once you get to the top and the car is thrust into the top of the drop chute, you feel surprisingly stable with heavy steel grating under your feet, even though you’re suspended high in the air.

Then, without warning, you drop 10 stories. Your breath leaves your lungs in a rush as you free fall for 12 seconds ending up on your back at the end of the 99-foot track.

And it’s over.

“It’s a short ride, but intense,” says Dorney Park public relations intern Melissa Goodfriend. “It’s the only true free-fall ride in the park.”

She says the 170-foot Dominator ride, also a free-fall style ride, uses propulsion while Demon Drop uses gravity to let the car drop down an elevator shaft, reaching a speed of 50 mph as it plummets.

She adds that the hilly terrain of the park adds to the ride’s effect since the tower sits on a slightly elevated area making it seem as high as the taller Dominator from the top. Indeed, you can see the whole park from the top of the ride.

“It seems a lot higher when you’re at the top than it looks,” agreed Kevin Spector, 14, of Mahwah, N.J.

“This is the most original ride I’ve ever seen,” gushed James Mesics 14, of Randolph N.J.

The teens were at the park with a summer camp when they took their first ride on the $2.5 million Demon Drop Wednesday and the ride earned an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

“It has the same adrenaline rush as Kingda Ka,” Mesics said, referring to the popular ride at New Jersey‘s Six Flags Great Adventure billed as the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world.

“It feels like you are really are dropping in free-fall,” added Diona Tooles, 13, of South Brunswick, N.J.

Although Demon Drop is the first new ride at Dorney Park in two years, it’s not a “new” ride. The ride was at Dorney’s sister park in Ohio, Cedar Point, for 25 years.

The ride was removed from Cedar Point in November and brought to Dorney over the winter. It was refurbished and painted before opening for the Fourth of July weekend.

“I have a couple of friends who rode it at Cedar Point and they said it’s a completely different experience here,” Goodfriend said.

The ride has six individual cars that hold four people seated side by side. Three cars are loaded at a time, then rise slowly up the tower. At the top, the car moves forward into the chute, then is released, dropping downward on a curve before coming to a stop.

Despite the ride’s age, the drop is smooth and the car glides to a slow stop without a jolt. However, the movement of the cars in the station is a bit clunky.

Goodfriend said the ride has been running well since its opening with only an occasional stoppage.

Demon Drop, located in the lower east section of the park next to the Thundercreek Mountain log flume ride, replaced the Krazy Kars, a vintage bumper car ride.

Dorney’s last new ride was Possessed, a U-shaped induction coaster, installed in 2008.

Kathy.lauer@mcall.com

610-778-2235

Copyright © 2010, The Morning Call

A new report shows that the theme park business, including Disney, is expected to grow over the next five years after slow attendance in recent years.

IBISWorld, a Santa Monica-based market research firm, predicts that theme parks should see 3.1 percent growth annually, or $12.1 billion, over the next five years, according to a report released last week. This year alone, revenue is expected to increase by 1.7 percent, or $10.4 billion. Read a previous story about the report’s initial findings about the theme-park industry.

The words, "World of Color," appear above Paradise Pier at Disney California Adventure at the end of the new light-and-water show.

A new report shows that the theme park business, including Disney, is expected to grow over the next five years after slow attendance in recent years.

IBISWorld, a Santa Monica-based market research firm, predicts that theme parks should see 3.1 percent growth annually, or $12.1 billion, over the next five years, according to a report released last week. This year alone, revenue is expected to increase by 1.7 percent, or $10.4 billion. Read a previous story about the report’s initial findings about the theme-park industry.

Boomtown Reno just switch over to PartyCenterSoftware.com for all their party management and online party booking needs. “We never got the chance to compete when they originally signed up with a competitor, but now that are leaving their contract early to switch to our more advanced and reliable platform”, said Scott Drummond, President of Agile Software and Marketing, (Makers of PartyCenterSoftware.com). Boomtown is one of the largest attractions in Reno with a family focus. It has great staff and their 3D ride is truly amazing!

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The Family Fun Center(sm) is an arcade featuring over 30,000 square feet bursting with exciting games for kids of all ages and a redemption center that offers a huge array of fun prizes.

There’s a 3D Motion Theater, Climbing Wall, Flight Simulator, Antique Carousel, Covered Wagon Ferris Wheel and the Rodeo Rider – plus over 200 video and redemption games, a separate party room and a snack bar. Now enjoy our new Bounce House! Fun Center Bounce House Waiver

Boomtown’s 3D Motion Theater is the first in the world to be all-digital. Hold on tight as you ride amid booming sound effects produced by Dolby Digital!