The Insights from IAAPA specials continue with reaction and exclusive interviews from the latest IAAPA Expo Europe held in Barcelona. We sat down with Clair Hain Jr., President at Great Coasters International to chat about their IAAPA dealings, Brass Ring recognition and future plans for roller coaster projects.
IAAPA Coverage
“This place is moving. It’s been really crazy. We had a couple of meetings set up so far, but the walk-ups are really well, very, very good. There’s a lot of people here. Last time I was in Barcelona, I don’t remember it being so well. Maybe it was two shows again, the attendance was low and everything else, but last year the attendance was awesome. This year it’s really awesome.”
Brass Ring Celebration
“Shocked in one word. I was talking to a client of mine from America and I just walked up and I saw the brass ring. I thought maybe he was just coming over to say hello to me, but you just won. Totally shocked. Never, expected but I’m loving it!”
Summary of Great Coasters International in 2025
“We’re going very well. We have two rides opening this year, finishing Wild Buffalo at La Mer de Sable in France and then we have another one that’s in Six Flags Qiddiya in Saudi Arabia. We finished that one four months ago and hopefully it’ll be open by this Autumn but we’re already gearing up.
“Great Coaster’s has another project that we’ll start in Prague this coming January, and we have another one that’s in the design stages right now in Japan. And two more that are contract pending right now.”
Viewpoint on Attractions Market
“Since, I would say, two years ago, I see Europe as the place for the market right now. America is a little slow. Asia is getting better; it was down because of COVID and the economy. The Middle East, a little slow right now. But right now, Europe is going to keep everybody going and I think Europe’s boom is going to last for a little while.”
Timeframe of Great Coaster’ projects
“In America, I can do it in one year. In Europe, we’ve been telling them 16 to 18 months. Same applies to Middle East and Asia. It just depends on the shipping and how long it takes for shipping, that’s the biggest thing.”
The future of the Wooden Coaster industry
“Oh, you know what? I think it’s anybody. I think it’s going to be anybody, not just wooden coasters or steel coasters, it’s anybody. The sky’s the limit.”
Personal pride of working in the leisure industry
“Oh, yeah. I love it. I’m going to stay in the industry until about 78, 79 years old. My daughter (Olivia Hain) just left our company. She was working for me for two years, 2 1/2 years. So with my retirement age in mind, I’ve still got a lot of time where I can still train her if I have to, but we’ll see.
“Returning to IAAPA, there’s so many different kinds. You know, IAAPA Expo in Orlando is the biggest. That’s huge. But here with IAAPA Expo Europe, this is now probably number two. Size-wise, it is about the same as in Orlando. My booth is bigger in America, and a lot of the vendors are too, but as far as attendance-wise, I think the two IAAPA trade shows are about the same to me.”
Image: Great Coasters International
