TransWorld’s 2006 Haunted Attractions Show A Success;
Plans Underway for 2007

NEWS RELEASE
June 14, 2006

Rosemont, Illinois -- “On March 10, the 11th National Haunted Attractions Show opened its doors to greet a teeming crowd of buyers and enthusiasts,” according to Joe Thaler, president of TransWorld Exhibits, Inc., “and closed on March 13 with a record number of buyers who had made their way through the packed aisles and pitch black corners of the Dark Zone.”

Over four days, more than 10,000 buyers walked through the National Haunted Attractions Show and the Halloween, Costume & Party Show at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. “The show floor was busy with buyers and they came to the show with solid goals in mind,” Thaler said.

This year’s show took over the entire second floor of the convention center. Prominent and long-time participants included The Scarefactory, Distortions Unlimited, Studio Tek-FX, Oak Island, Digital Sound, Haunted Enterprises, Fright Props and Unit 70. Exhibitors like Haunted Memories, Screamland Productions, Picsolve, Minion’s Web, Illusionator, Allied Specialty Insurance, Snowmasters and the Halloween Art Exhibit joined the event for the first time. Product categories ranged from animatronics and special effects, masks to prosthetics, sound and visual effects.

The Haunted Attractions show also features “The Dark Zone”, a specially constructed area for exhibitors to showcase their products that are meant to be viewed in an especially frightening dark environment. “Dark Zone” exhibitors include JVR Enterprises LLC, Hollow 3D Productions, GEP Productions Inc., and Enjoy Pioneer Farm.

“In a survey we conducted of buyers after the show, 97% said they come to the show to see new products, 81% come to meet new suppliers and 70% come to the show to see their current suppliers. Another 58% use the show to compare products and 40% attend the educational seminars.”

Buyers, Thaler adds, liked what they saw. “99% of the buyers we surveyed said the quality of exhibitors was excellent or good and 96% said the variety of products was excellent or good. Most important – 85% said that the Haunted Attractions Show is the number one event that they attending during the 2006-2007 season and they plan to return in 2007.”

  “We work very hard throughout the year to create a week of nonstop events – cocktail parties, workshops, seminars & demos, evening excursions, networking events, contests and extravaganzas - to complement the buying activity on the exhibit floor, Thaler said. “Buyers tell us that they plan for this week all year, this is what they save their vacation for, and we want to make sure they enjoy themselves every minute.

2007 Show Dates In Place, February 23 – 26, in Rosemont, IL
“Most of our buyers have no idea that TransWorld plans and prepares for this tradeshow for nearly 12 months,” Thaler says. “The sales staff is constantly working with exhibitors and prospects, and traveling to other shows and events in order to bring the widest array of products and services to the show floor.
           

“When buyers see a wide variety of products and exhibitors on the tradeshow floor, sign up for evening tours or trips, attend workshops and sip cocktails at an industry event, that doesn’t happen overnight. That’s the result of the TransWorld show team working every day to produce a quality event.”  
           

Already about 70% of the 2006 exhibitors have reserved space for the 2007 and the sales staff is projecting a 20% increase in exhibit space for next year’s event, Thaler said. “So many buyers have approached us this year asking us to modify the content of the show slightly to include ‘family friendly’ attractions, innovative rides, Hollywood-style props, show quality costumes and games and entertainment for small children. The addition of these product categories will expand the show and, at the same time, expand the appeal of the show to a wider variety of buyer representing museums, zoos, agritainment venues, mazes, pumpkin patches and large amusement parks.” The name of the show, therefore, has been changed slightly to reflect the changing focus of the show; beginning with the 2007 presentation, the show will be the “National Haunt & Attractions Show”.

           

Plans are also well underway for conference session development, adds Gregg Steliga, vice president and COO of TransWorld. “We are working with new conference organizers and IAHA this year to bring a blockbuster program to buyers. We’re experimenting with different formats, lengths and topics. And we’re especially focused on recruiting speakers from sister industries like movies and entertainment to create educational opportunities that attendees won’t find anywhere else.
           

“Our staff and industry professionals are also working hard already to put together the evening entertainment tours that are always so popular with exhibitors and attendees,” Steliga added. “Last year’s tours to Dream Reapers Haunted House and the Tommy Gun’s Dinner and Show were sold out and we’re confident this year’s tours will be just as well attended.”
           

In addition, Steliga said, TransWorld staff is working on plans to bring industry celebrities to add another element of excitement to the week’s schedule. Past celebrities have included Elvira, Mick Foley, Butch Patrick and Dee Snider.

            For more information about the Haunt & Attractions show, call 800.323.5462 or visit www.hauntshow.com . Information about the Halloween, Costume & Party show can be found at www.hcpshow.com .