AAMA’s “All Access: Annual Meeting & Celebration” is shaping up to be the experience of the year

Cary, Il – July 24, 2025 — The old adage “If something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right” seems to fit this year’s AAMA All-Access Annual Meeting.   Scheduled for Tuesday, August 19 to Thursday, August 21, this year’s annual event has been completely transformed with a new city, new format and new experiences.  

New City 

For the past many years, AAMA’s Annual Meeting has been held in and around the greater Chicagoland area, and that made sense - the association HQ is in the Chicago suburbs as are many of their manufacturing and supplier members.   Hosting the Annual Meeting in Chicago made it easy for local members to participate and for quite some time, it worked very well.

 The Industry Evolved

Chicago is still a vibrant hub for coin-op manufacturing, but it’s no longer the hub.   Over the past 10 + years, Dallas has emerged as a major nucleus for the industry.  Many of the top location-based entertainment centers are headquartered in Dallas, as well as some of the best independent LBE’s in the country including the AAMA’s 2025 FEC of the Year, Alley Cat’s, and the 2017 FEC of the Year, Pin Stacks.   And there’s an impressive number of manufacturers and suppliers that now call Dallas home. 

“With the growth the industry has seen in the greater Dallas metro area, it occurred to us that it would be a great place to host our annual meeting,” said Brian Cohen, VP of Operations at Entertainment Properties, AAMA BOD Member and Chairman of the Annual Meeting Committee.   “We knew we wanted to change things up and moving the event out of Chicago has certainly created a great deal of interest from across the industry.”  

The committee selected the Warwick Melrose Hotel in downtown Dallas as the host venue.  “We put a lot of thought into the venue,” continued Cohen.   “We wanted a place that set a tone of excellence the moment you walked in.   The Melrose provides the backdrop that will set that tone from start to finish.”

New Format

The AAMA Annual Meeting has evolved over the years from what was once a gathering of just the BOD members into an event that drew on their entire membership.   The focus of late has been on an education program and a product showcase.  In listening to attendees, the committee realized the most important part of the entire program was the interaction and networking taking place between members.   The 2025 event leans into this desire by creating a schedule of events that fills each day with opportunities to make new relationships, and nurture existing ones.   “In addition to all the great programing we’ve scheduled, we’ll be coming together for breakfast, lunch and dinner each day to socialize and share,” said AAMA President, Beth Standlee.  

New Experience 

“The program will be filled with cutting-edge information sessions including Million Dollar Ideas, Cyber Security, AI, and industry trends led by experts from leading businesses including Amazon,” continued Standlee.   “And we’ll be visiting a brand-new B&B Theatre and AAMA’s 2025 FEC of the Year, Alley Cats for behind-the-scenes tours of these remarkable venues.”

And along with these idea shares, there’s ample time allocated for members to socialize and have some fun including Tuesday evenings Unlocking Connections Reception, Wednesday’s Sip and Socialize Cocktail Hour and the AAMCF Charity Dinner, Honoring Legacy, Impact and Generosity.   This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree, Joe Camarota is well known to the AAMA community and the amusement industry.  He’s spent his entire career contributing his time, talent, and energy to his community, our association, and industry and we are all better off for his doing so.  

Registration for members is open through July 31^st.

Sponsorships are still available.

About the AAMA

The American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA) is an international not-for-profit 501(c)6 trade organization representing the manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, professional service providers and location owner/operators for the coin-operated amusement industry. Our mission is to make the industry better through collaboration, education, advocacy and networking.  We never stop playing!

About the AAMCF

The American Amusement Machine Charitable Foundation (AAMCF) is a 501©3 organization that raises funds to support charities focused on children, education, and scientific research. Founded in 1983 by members of the American Amusement Machine Association, the AAMCF has made contributions of more than 3.5 million dollars supporting nearly 150 charities.