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The Evolution of Theme Parks: A Game-Changer in Amusement Industry Development

Published On: 12 September 2023

The Annual Meet & Training Program (AMTP) 2024 was successfully held from August 28th to 30th in Lucknow, marking a milestone for the amusement industry in India. With the theme "Raise the Bar," this year's event saw a record-breaking attendance, drawing more than 170 participants from across the sector—the highest in AMTP's history.

A Gathering of Industry Leaders and Innovators

AMTP 2024 provided a platform for intense discussions, brainstorming sessions, and training on a wide array of topics relevant to today's amusement industry. Participants engaged in deep dives into leadership, artificial intelligence, legal remedies, people management, branding, and enhancing retail presence. The event also featured insightful panel discussions that shed light on current and emerging trends in the amusement industry, particularly focusing on Indoor Amusement Centers (IACs).

Key Sessions and Highlights

The program was packed with sessions led by industry experts and thought leaders:

1. Exponential Leadership by Mr. Vikas Jain, a renowned leadership coach, set the tone for the event by emphasizing the need for visionary leadership in the rapidly evolving amusement sector.
2. Leveraging Technology & AI in Amusement was delivered by Dr. Arunabha Mukhopadhyay from IIM Lucknow, who explored how cutting-edge technologies can drive innovation and efficiency within the industry.
3. Multi-Generational Marketing with Mr. Rajan Bhalla, a brand strategist, highlighted strategies to appeal to diverse age groups, ensuring broad market appeal.
4. People Management presented by Prof. Nishant Uppal from IIM Lucknow, used an airline analogy to illustrate the importance of maintaining strong organizational culture, drawing lessons from thriving airlines.
5. Legal & Compliance was covered by Adv. Brijesh Kumar Singh, offering crucial insights into the legal landscape and compliance issues pertinent to amusement businesses.
6. Operational Safety was addressed by Flt. Anand Lamdhade and Dr. Kishore Dogra, emphasizing the importance of safety protocols and risk management in amusement operations.
7. Brand Recall through Merchandise by Mr. Dhruva Paknikar of Dominix Group explored how effective merchandising can enhance brand visibility and customer loyalty; and the methods of enhancing merchandising.

Panel Discussions: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Future of IACs

The event featured two major panel discussions. The first, moderated by Mr. Jai Malpani from Imagica, was titled Opportunities & Challenges in the Amusement Industry. The panelists included:

• Mr. Sesha Kanthamraju, CEO of Ramoji Filmcity
• Mr. Rajesh Raisinghani, MD & CEO of Nicco Parks
• Mr. Darpan Shah, Director of Arihant Industrial Corporation
• Mr. Rohit Mathur, MD of CSML

This panel explored the current landscape, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges facing the industry today.

The second panel, Indoor Amusement Center - Raise the Bar, moderated by Mr. Rajeev Jalnapurkar, focused on the IAC sector, discussing innovative approaches to enhance the indoor amusement experience. The panelists included:

• Mr. Ankur Maheshwary, Founder of Masti Zone
• Mr. Prashant Kanoria, Founder of Puttaput
• Mr. Bhavesh Shah, Founder of Gujarat Amusement
• Mr. Pankaj Agarwal, Founder of Puno

Site Visits to Industry Leaders

On the final day, participants visited two of the region's leading amusement parks—Blue World Park in Kanpur and Anandi Magic World in Lucknow. These visits offered attendees a firsthand look at successful park operations, innovative attractions, and the latest in amusement technology.

Conclusion

AMTP 2024 was not just an event but a convergence of ideas, innovation, and leadership. It set a new benchmark for the industry, truly "Raising the Bar" for future events. The insights gained and the connections made during these three days will undoubtedly fuel the growth and evolution of the amusement industry in India.