A new tradeshow established to showcase the Italian gaming industry’s best amusement attractions will be held this month.
The first ever Family Entertainment Expo (FEE), will be held at the Riccione Convention Centre, in the province of Rimini, Italy, between March 17 and 19.
FEE will be different from other tradeshows as the focus has shifted exclusively to all things belonging to entertainment for the whole family.
This includes arcade, bowling alleys and family entertainment centres (FECs).
Professional operators attending FEE will have the chance to get a closer look and try out some of the best amusement-only products (‘comma 7’ games under Italian law) the country has to offer, presented by leading companies, manufacturers and distributors of major international brands.
Redemption games, simulators, video games, pinball machines, coin-op kiddie rides, foosball, accessories and components (such as coin acceptors, coin counters, cashless systems, ticket dispensers and ticket-eaters) will be on show, as well as a number of exclusive products that will be appearing in Italy for the first time.
“Almost everyone in the pure amusement sector has embraced the FEE project, seizing the opportunity to have an event which better reflects our identity,” expo promoter Roberto Marai, who is also from Faro Games, said.
“Pure amusement companies like ours feel strongly about who we are and the message we are trying to promote through our products: that of health and safe entertainment for all - minors included.
“All types of cash payout gaming is a world apart from what we do.
“Similarly, to imagine a relation between the use of the devices that we deal in, and compulsive gambling disorders, or any psychological damages, would be completely out of touch with reality.”
To better coordinate the organisation of the event, the promoters of FEE 2017 have brought on Oscar Giacomin, director of marketing and communication from Facto Edizioni.
The publishing house, which has a history that spans more than three decades in the market, and specializing in the sectors of entertainment and amusement (editors of both Games & Parks Industry and Play Machine Europe trade magazines), has a broad range of competences and know-how which goes beyond strictly news reporting, and extends to the organization of trade shows, events and conventions.
Taking advantage of the resources provided today by social networks, in the spirit of FEE 2017, a direct and immediate communication channel was opened between promoters, managers of exhibiting companies and coordinators, a medium through which everyone involved was able to suggest, comment and contribute to organizational decisions regarding the trade show, thus becoming active participants.
This was an experiment in innovation that many hope will become an organizational format for the future.
“The principle that guided the promoters and participants of FEE 2017 was not only to show our stance in matters of years of broken promises by politicians about an adjustment of the Italian legislation on paragraph 7, which is essential to the revitalization of the sector,” Mr Marai said.
“The event intends to be, above all, an information ‘channel’ addressed to the institutions and the public in order to shed light around pure entertainment.”
To this end, a free entrance conference (for trade operators and general public), is scheduled for Sunday March 19, in order to assess the situation of pure amusement in Italy today.
Problems with the sector and the prejudices surrounding it will be reviewed in depth, raising public awareness on the subject. Among the speakers at the conference will be industry representatives, politicians, a law firm and a psychologist.
FEE 2017
Where: Riccione (Rimini), Italy – RICCIONE CONVENTION CENTRE, 3rd floor, Via Virgilio 17, 47838 Riccione (RN) (car access in via Catullo, 5)
When: March 17-19, 2017
Timetable: Friday and Saturday 10 a.m - 6 p.m; Sunday 10 a.m - 7 p.m
Entry: Friday and Saturday professional operators only; Sunday free entrance to the public
Ticket: Free entry, registering via email with info@feexpo.it or on site
Info: info@feexpo.it
Web: www.feexpo.it
Phone: + 39 049 8762922
Facebook: FEE Family Entertainment Expo
