Set to take place from April 25 to 27, this year’s DEAL (Dubai Entertainment, Amusement and Leisure) event will offer visitors an unprecedented range of educational opportunities alongside the main exhibition.
Organised by International Expo Consults, the Middle East’s premier amusement industry trade show will play host to both the World Waterpark Association’s (WWA) Middle East Symposium and the new Middle East Attractions Forum, incorporating the Foundations Entertainment University (FEU). Both will take place on April 24 and 25, starting one day ahead of DEAL itself.
Postponed from last year, the WWA Symposium will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre and promises not only some useful seminar sessions but also some potentially entertaining networking sessions and visits to local attractions.
The first day kicks off with a global perspective on the waterpark industry, followed by some local trends and an overview of new attractions available on the market. Delegates will also learn how to use technology to enhance the guest experience and some useful tips for opening a waterpark. That same evening there will be a tour and dinner at the Atlantis waterpark on The Palm Jumeirah.
Day two of the WWA Symposium includes sessions on marketing, leadership, communication, guest service and creating a culture of safety. After a closing Q&A panel session, there will be tours to Sega Republic at the Dubai Mall and Wild Wadi waterpark, where an optional dinner and reception will be available.
Due to take place at the Novotel adjoining the World Trade Centre, the Middle East Attractions Forum follows on from the first ever DEAL seminar sessions, staged last year as a one-day fixture by Gerry Robinson of Trade Shows International. Chairing the proceedings will be Alain Baldacci, president of the Brazilian national parks association SINDEPAT. Speakers include architect Ray Hole, Wolf Vierich and Ahrania Platten from the Vitala Group, Randy White of White Hutchinson and Claudia Haberts from Abu Dhabi’s European International College. Added content will be provided by the Foundations Entertainment University.
“We are proud to present, for the first time ever outside the USA, a special edition of the highly acclaimed Foundations Entertainment University,” says Gerry Robinson. “This course has been running for over seven years and is regarded as being the most influential presentation for those starting or involved in the family entertainment sector. It is a ‘must attend’ event.”
www.themeparksdubai.com
Pictured below: Atlantis waterpark