The 2010 Laser Tag Convention Review
by Eric Gaizat

The seminars were also a huge success as we welcomed a number of new speakers to help better educate attendees at every stage of their projects. New speakers this year included Keith and Mary Schell, owners of the E.D.G.E. in Belleville, Illinois and US distributors for Darklight who shared their unique experiences over 12 years of running their facility.

Also new to the Laser Tag Seminars were Steve Johnston with Laser Blast and Ryan McQuillen with Laserforce USA. Returning speakers were Jeff Schilling and Armando Lanuti with Creative Works, Erik Guthrie and Richard Elliston with Zone Systems, Jarett Waite from Laser Mania in St. George, Utah, and Eric Gaizat with the ILTA.

Attendees were able to learn about topics such as creating a better business plan, developing websites, creating the WoW Effect, successful operational strategies, and more. We’re sure that the list of future seminars will only get better as our convention continues to grow!

As the seminars were coming to a close, the trade show was just getting started. With 100 booths available to exhibitors the Roller Skating Association (RSA) and the ILTA were actually able to make room for 105 booth spaces! Attendees had a great selection of companies ready to exhibit their equipment and services.

There were several first time exhibitors at the Laser Tag Convention as well. Companies like Delta Strike, Darklight, Battlefield Sports, and Laser Mazers joined the list of companies that exhibited last year. The ILTA was also proud to welcome Laser Fight, a new outdoor laser tag company from China to the trade show.

On the show floor, the ILTA announced the winners of the 2010 Golden Phaser Awards. One of the show’s attendees, Robert Peppard with Battlefield Live in Manalapan, New Jersey, won the award for best website and was able to receive his plaque at the show.

On Tuesday night, the ILTA had their first Convention Mixer on the third floor of Margaritaville in the Flamingo Hotel. Over 40 people joined in appetizers, drinks, and discussion of all things laser tag. A few ILTA Developer Members had commented that it was great to see a vast representation of the industry having a great time together.

The mixer event wasn’t all work though. Shane Zimmerman, Executive Director of the ILTA, presented Jarett Waite with the Golden Phaser Award for Operator of the Year. Scott Drummond with Party Center Software also turned 31 that night and everyone got to sing Happy Birthday while Scott wore a balloon hat in the shape of 31 (seen left).

The awards didn’t stop there. Before the show was done, Battlefield Sports also won an award from the RSA Trade Show for the best single booth! Congratulations to Elaine with BFS for representing the industry in style.

By Wednesday evening, the seminars were finished and the trade show floor was being dismantled as the convention came to a close. Developers and operators left with great information to help them achieve success with their laser tag businesses. To see more pictures from the convention, you can visit www.lasertagconvention.com.

The ILTA wants to thank all the attendees, exhibitors, speakers, and the RSA for helping to creating such a great event for laser tag entrepreneurs. We look forward to creating an even greater show for the 2011 convention in Orlando, Florida.

In the meantime, if you would be interested in speaking, have an idea for a great seminar, or want to nominate a facility for any category in the 2011 Golden Phaser Awards, please feel free to visit www.lasertagconvention.com to get more information and send us your ideas.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us at info@lasertag.org