LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The AAMA/AMOA Amusement Expo International (AEI), the annual event for the coin-op and revenue generating amusement, music, and family entertainment industry, is reaffirming its focus on the rapidly growing virtual reality entertainment industry at the conference and trade show. Following a tremendous response to last year’s inaugural VR focus, the AEI is doubling down on VR in 2019. Please visit the AEI website at www.amusementexpo.org.

Over 3,200 attendees and 1,700 buyers attended the 2018 AEI looking for information on new games and attractions for their family entertainment centers and other location-based entertainment venues. This year’s conference will once again welcome the owners, operators, manufacturers, and visionaries of virtual reality companies to experience the products and meet amusement buyers at their industry’s primary business event. 
Location-based VR entertainment will double in 2018 to $1.2 billion globally and could grow to over $8 billion by 2022, according to Greenlight Insights. There are tremendous financial opportunities for amusement operators to add virtual reality to existing locations and routes, from standalone VR equipment pieces that earn, to all-in-one compact multiplayer arenas as anchor attractions that draw crowds.

“Amusement Expo International is the perfect venue for VR content developers and game manufacturers to cultivate new relationships with location operators”, noted Peter Gustafson, Executive Vice President, AAMA.  “Last year’s inaugural VR focus was overwhelmingly positive, delivering above and beyond exhibitors’ expectations and the VR Summit was a smash success – standing room only from the first seminar to the last.”

VR SUMMIT EDUCATION DAY: TUESDAY MARCH 26, 2019
VR Summit is an entire day of panels and seminars devoted exclusively to educating amusement operators about location-based VR. The 2018 VR education program was very well received, with standing-room-only attendance at VR sessions. VR speakers included representatives from Greenlight Insights, HP, Cineplex, Upload, Inc., Hologate, Caesars Entertainment, Minority Media, Virtuix, Hyperverse, Blueprint Reality, and Two-Bit Circus.

The 2019 program will once again be curated by Bob Cooney, location-based VR guru and the man who literally wrote the book on Location-based VR, “Real Money from Virtual Reality”. 

“The virtual reality market tends to be insular and most of the VR events have become echo chambers, with the same people talking to each other”, noted Bob Cooney, Speaker, Author, Mentor (bobcooney.com). “Amusement Expo International brings two unique audiences, who need each other, together. I believe we will unlock massive value for the entire location-based entertainment market.”

Sessions will include:

• The Virtual Reality Hardware Roadmap: Where is the Tech Going?
• What Operators are Making Real Money with Virtual Reality?
• How will VR and AR Impact the Laser Tag Business?
• Storytelling Meets Gaming: Are VR Escape Rooms the Perfect Mix?
• How Location-based Entertainment Centers can Capitalize on the Esports Explosion 

Get in touch if you can speak to these subjects or have experience to share in: marketing and positioning; operations; selecting content and equipment; or other relevant topics. If you are interested in speaking opportunities, please contact Bob Cooney at vrbob@bobcooney.com

SPOTLIGHT ON VR EXHIBITORS: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 & THURSDAY, MARCH 28 2019
AEI will be THE place for traditional amusement operators to learn about opportunities and products from the VR attractions market and for VR companies to connect with a large group of influential new customers who are unlikely to attend other virtual-reality focused events. AEI is committed to providing opportunities for VR discovery and maximum booth traffic, with exhibitors distributed throughout the hall. The Amusement Expo International 2019 will also highlight VR exhibitors on the AEI digital app and in the AEI pocket directory to make it easy for buyers and sellers to connect. 
 

“It is crystal clear, Amusement Expo International is a natural home and a great fit for the VR community”, noted Lori Schneider, Executive Vice President, AMOA. “VR exhibitors and attendees have the perfect format to exchange information about this emerging technology and how it will integrate into location-based entertainment businesses.  There was keen interest in the VR exhibits on the show floor last year, so it is a unique win-win opportunity for both audiences.”

Many of the 2018 VR Exhibitors have gone on to great successes and greatly expanded their sales and distribution channels since the show. Some of the VR companies who have blown up include:

• HOLOGATE – Now at 150+ locations, 200+ units sold worldwide
• VIRTUAL RABBIDS: THE RIDE (LAI Games) – 2018 AMOA Innovator Award Winner, distributed by SEGA
• VIRTUIX’S OMNI ARENA (Funovation) – 3,000 units/500 operators, new 4-player VR eSports platform
• ESCAPE VR – VR/escape room hybrid with 20 locations in 5 countries
• MODAL VR – Founded by Nolan Bushnell, now running VR tournaments
• WEPLAY VR (AiSolve) – Award winning room-scale distributed by Bandai Namco

To reserve a booth, please contact Brian Glasgow, Show Manager at 708-226-1300 or brian@wtglasgow.com. 

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