Press 
ILTA Press Kit – September 2011
Company Fact Sheet:
Company Description:
The International Laser Tag Association is the non-profit developer and operator trade association for the laser tag industry. Since its incorporation in 1996, the ILTA has helped laser tag entrepreneurs with numerous benefits, services, and industry information. We strive to help our members become better informed through our research, services, and communications with all levels of the industry.
Since the creation of the ILTA, no other source has been more reliable for information about our industry. Our goal is to assist our members by providing them with the most accurate information available to date.
In 2009, the ILTA partnered with the Roller Skating Association to create the Annual Laser Tag Convention (www.lasertagconvention.com) designed to better educate both members and non-members on successful business practices.
Company Overview:
Products & Services
For those looking to get into the laser tag industry, the ILTA offers our Developer Membership Program, it includes manuals and services that will improve the chances that your project will get funded and succeed. ILTA Developer Members generally tend to open quicker and stay open longer than non-members. Given the ILTA’s services, reviews of contracts, manuals, and facility information, we are able to help our members avoid mistakes associated with costly or faulty business practices within the operator’s control.
Laser Tag Startup.com (LTSU) Subscription is the least expensive way to get industry information and statistics to help an entrepreneur find out if laser tag is right for their market.
For those operators already in the industry, the ILTA offers our Facility Membership Program that includes a listing on our Where to Play Laser Tag listing pages, access to various discounts from suppliers, an insurance program, a credit card program, and more!
Laser Tag Manufacturer Lead Subscribers receive emails from people looking to open laser tag businesses with detailed information like budgets, timeline, contact info, and a comments section for entrepreneurs to list details of their projects.
Company Mission & Focus
The International Laser Tag Association was created to serve a variety of markets for the laser tag and laser game industry.Our Mission is to:
1. Help promote the placement of member manufacturers' systems;
2. Help prospective investors become more educated;
3. To help laser tag and laser game centers become more efficient;
4. To help promote the laser tag and laser game industry as a whole.
Target Audience
The ILTA is available to help any and all new entrepreneurs looking to start a laser tag attraction. Once a site is in operation we continue to offer products and services to aid them. Lastly, we work with laser tag manufacturers and other partners by offering a leads subscription service aimed at getting info to those looking to get into the industry.
Clientele
Current Operator Members include Lazer Blaze, Laser Tag and Games, Brunswick, Zap Zone, and Incredible Pizza Co to name several of our 500 plus members.
Current Manufacturer Lead Subscribers include The Zone Empire (the largest provider of laser tag systems in the world), Creative Works (a pioneer in laser tag theming), and Astro Carpet Mills among others.
Core Values
The International Laser Tag Association sets as the standards of practice for itself and all of its members who individually and collectively pledge themselves as follows:
• To provide a safe, fun, and enjoyable recreation for all.
• To act with care in the community in which we reside.
• To be open and honest in all business transactions.
• To treat all guests in and at our facilities as friends.
• To understand that Service is our reason for existing.
• To be above reproach and to always act with integrity.
• To develop friendships with all those in our industry.
We accept these concepts as our foundation for being in this industry and we shall endeavor to promote the high ideals set forth in all that we partake.
Management
Ryan McQuillen, Executive Director
A 16 year veteran of the laser tag industry, Ryan was Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Laserforce USA before taking on his role as Executive Director of the ILTA in September of 2011. In his 2 years with Laserforce he learned a great deal about marketing and promotions, a field he had only surface knowledge of previously. Working for Laserforce prepared him for his new role here at the ILTA by educating him how to reach new potential customers and how to hold on to them in the long run.
Prior to working at Laserforce Ryan spent a number of years working in and operating Laser Tag centers. His work at Lazer Blaze in Louisville, KY, The Fun Junction(s) in Syracuse, NY, and Megazone Leicester, UK have given him a tremendous amount of experience in the trenches and has given him a peek at every facet of the laser tag business. Ryan also worked as Customer Service Manager for Zone Systems and Zone EU, which turned the tables on his previous experiences allowing him to see things from a manufacturing point of view.
Ryan resides in Louisville, Kentucky and enjoys Biking, Ultimate Frisbee, and Board Gaming in his spare time.
Eric Gaizat, Director of Membership Services
Eric Gaizat was a manager for X-site Entertainment in Indianapolis from 2000 - 2005, where he oversaw both front-end and back-end operations of the facility. He also assisted in training both staff and managers during his employment. Eric was formally trained by the ILTA when the association was hired to manage the facility.
Eric attended Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis from 1999-2005, majoring in New Media (specifically digital video editing and graphic design) and minoring in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Eric was also president of the Christian group, Campus Advance, while attending class.He put his talents to use at the ILTA starting in 2005 and has overseen the creation, marketing, and application of the ILTA’s most recent manuals and additional properties, the Outdoor Laser Tag Association, LaserTagStartup.com, and the Laser Tag Convention. Eric also currently serves as the tradeshow coordinator for the ILTA. Eric served as Interim Executive Director for the ILTA from March – September 2011.
Eric currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana with his wife, Crystal.
2011 News:
Indianapolis, IN; September 1, 2011 – The Board of the International Laser Tag Association, the developer and operator association for the laser tag industry, is proud to announce that it has named Ryan McQuillen the new Executive Director. Mr. McQuillen, who had previously been Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Laserforce USA, will be in charge of managing the ILTA’s staff and operations. The ILTA, which has over 550 members in 42 countries, will expand its efforts to increase membership sales and benefits. Mr. McQuillen will spearhead this drive.
“For over 15 years, Ryan has performed in just about every aspect in this industry including service, sales and consulting.” stated Jack Turner, Board Member of the ILTA. “He has been published in industry periodicals and has been a speaker at many of our industry conferences and conventions. I know of his work ethic, integrity, passion, and fervor for this industry."
Besides his previous employment for Laserforce, Ryan McQuillen was Operations Manager of Lazer Blaze in Louisville, Kentucky, Regional Operations Manager for the Fun Junction in DeWitt, New York, and was Tech Support and Installations Manager for Zone Systems in both the USA and the UK.
Sureshot Redemption Now Offers Laser Tag Party Supplies!
Sureshot Redemption is now offering laser tag party plates, napkins, cups, and goodie bags.
The ILTA has teamed up with Sureshot Redemption to bring operators a great twist to their exciting birthday parties: Laser tag party supplies!
That's right, now your birthday boys and girls can have carry their laser tag experience all the way through their party at your facility. Sureshot provides their same great quality products at an affordable price. The items available are 7" plates, 9" plates, napkins, 9 oz. cups, and SurePrize packs that contain small redemption prizes for your birthday attendees.
Best of all, the new supplies feature Beamerz (TM) and Taggers (TM), the ILTA mascots meaning these supplies will appeal to parties for both girls and boys.
ILTA Researches Laser Tag Origins
On March 25, 2010, there was a science blog written by reporter Eric Berger (SciGuy) with the Houston Chronicle news website. The blog reported that a man named Lee Weinstein claimed to have opened the first laser tag facility called Star Laser Force in Houston, Texas that predated the original Photon facility in Dallas.
Unfortunately, this claim was not well researched and created much confusion. Even Mr. Berger, stated in the article that, “[George] Carter said he recalls the Dallas Photon game center opening prior to Star Force Laser in Houston, but I could not independently verify which facility opened first.”
Despite Mr. Berger’s statement, many websites, including Wikipedia, were quickly reporting the claim on the Houston Chronicle article as fact with no hard evidence to support the allegation that the first laser tag facility was opened in Houston.
At the time of the blog, a membership card image was included from another blog as proof of Star Laser Force’s existence. Because there was no date of when the card was created, images of the Star Laser Force facility, or equipment images, there was still no real evidence that this facility predated Photon in Dallas. What the membership card did have, though, was an address for the facility.
On June 1st, 2011, at its own expense, the ILTA contacted the City of Houston Public Works and Engineering Department to obtain any documentation it could find on the existence of Star Laser Force or facilities at that address between 1984 and 1986.
A few weeks later, the ILTA received a Certificate of Occupancy that included the location, issuing date, and more importantly, the name of Star Laser Force.
This document stated that the Certificate of Occupancy was issued on April 16th, 1985, 13 months after the opening of the first Photon in Dallas. Ultimately, this certificate disproves the theory that Star Laser Force was in fact the first commercial laser tag facility in the world.
While this document does little to alter the history of the laser tag industry as we know it, it does put an end to the debate as to how it started.
The ILTA would like to thank the City of Houston’s Public Works and Engineering Department for doing the research and providing the certificate for the ILTA’s records. Their patience and cooperation went above and beyond what we might expect searching for a 25 year old document that had long since been filed away.
2011 Laser Tag Convention Review
It was great to meet all the new developers and operators who attended the show. It was also interesting to learn more about the projects that are being planned and what operators are implementing to make their facilities stand out from their competition. It seems every corner of the industry was represented at the show, whether it be indoor, outdoor, mobile, domestic, international, bowling centers, FEC’s, skating rinks, and more!
I’d like to thank our new seminar presenters for providing excellent operational, marketing, and development classes. Specifically, I’d like to thank Jim Chapman with Family Fun Company, Paul and Roseann Clark with Zaps Zone, John Pittman with Battlefield Houston, Robert Peppard with Combat Sports Outdoor Laser Tag, Danny Greuning, and the lawyers of IALDA for providing attendees with great practicals on how to improve their businesses.
The trade show was also a huge success. From the ILTA location, we could see many of the manufacturers booths and can honestly say that they were busy nearly non-stop. We had more manufacturers exhibit than ever before at this trade show. I’d like to welcome our new exhibitors Adventure Sports, Budget Arenas, and LaserTron. We hope to see your companies exhibit in the future.
Also on display at the trade show were Sureshot Redemption’s new line of laser tag party supplies! These new items can be viewed and purchased here: at Sureshot Redemption's website (don’t forget to ask about the laser tag goodie-bags!) Now you can extend your memorable laser tag birthday parties by offering these instead of boring plain supplies. Notice these items also feature the ILTA’s mascots Beamerz and Taggerz, appealing to both boys and girls birthday parties!
The sold out ILTA Annual Member’s Dinner was held at Houlihan’s again this year. It was good to talk about issues, challenges, and successes our members were having this past year. Many topics were follow-ups to discussions our members had at our IAAPA industry social event. The ILTA also got a chance to inform our members about how the industry has grown and where the ILTA’s resources will be focused for the coming year.
Another tradition started last year was to announce the winner of the Annual Golden Phaser Award for Operator of the Year. This year’s winner is Jack Turner with Lazer Blaze in Louisville, Kentucky. Jack has done more for developers than probably any other operator as he routinely opens his facility to allow developers to watch how he does business at his successful location. Jack’s store also hosts the ILTA’s Laser Tag Museum at no charge in his café where visitors from across the globe have come to see the rare laser tag memorabilia stored in large cases. Jack also contributes frequently to industry articles and even speaks at laser tag seminars on the benefits of having a kitchen in your facility. For all these reasons and more, we gladly acknowledge and congratulate Jack on being the ILTA’s 2011 Operator of the Year.
The other 2011 Golden Phaser Award Winners were also announced on the trade show floor. Two of the other winners were on hand to receive their award plaques. Jarrett Waite with Laser Mania in St. George Utah won the award for best TV/Cable commercial. Bill Mann with Laser Tag Adventure in Waukesha, Wisconsin won the award for best radio spot.
The three other winners were Lasergames Utrecht in the Netherlands for best briefing video, Thomas Maione with Blazer Tag in Austin, Texas for best website, and Brian Jackson with the Fun Junction in Cicero, New York for best print ad.
We want to congratulate all of our winners for their entries into the 2011 Golden Phaser Awards. This year we had more submissions than ever before and many categories were very difficult to choose between. To see the winning entries, visit our 2011 GPA Winner's page. If you’d like to submit your entries to be considered for the 2012 Golden Phaser Awards, visit our website and enter today!
Again I want to thank everyone who participated in the 2011 Laser Tag Convention. It was a great time and we look forward to seeing you all again next year in Las Vegas! Visit www.lasertagconvention.com for more details as they become available.
Contact Information:
