The Leisure Industry Week show held at the NEC in Birmingham, UK, this month left visitors and exhibitors somewhat underwhelmed.
The coin-op and amusement arcade sector has diminished still further this year and comprised just a handful of companies, including Bandai Namco, Embed, World of Rides, All Things Nice Vending and SAM Leisure.
Bandai Namco showed its Animal Kaiser collectable card game at the leisure show. Embed displayed its cashless card system with redemption and stock management capabilities. World of Rides had a wide selection of battery-operated rides and SAM Leisure showed its range of pool and football tables along with a new light-stopping redemption game, also in table format.
Innovative Leisure also continues to support the LIW show with a stand outside, as well as a large space inside which also housed the BALPPA lounge.
“We are still keen to support this show and continue to consider it to be an important domestic exhibition for us,” said the company’s managing director Phil Pickersgill.
However, other exhibitors were not as enthusiastic.
“This show is getting smaller and smaller every year,” said one. “It is quite expensive to exhibit here and yet we have not even been visited by the show’s organiser since we set up. The coin-op section is diminishing but so are the other sections. We are definitely looking around for alternatives.”
The LIW continues to be split along the gym, water-based activities and other types of leisure industries, such as indoor play and park design. Some exhibitors complained about the continuous thumping music and loudspeaker announcements that accompany the many exercise demonstrations within the hall.
