The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) has completed the taking over of the memberships of the International Association for the Leisure and Entertainment Industry (IALEI).

As reported in Attractions Management in February 2009, the two trade associations agreed to merge their businesses after agreeing that it would be a "natural fit" in the current economic climate. As a result, IALEI will be dissolved and the entire membership base will be incorporated into that of IAAPA.

All current IALEI members will automatically qualify for IAAPA member benefits for one year, starting on 1 November 2009 and running until 31 December 2010. IALEI has around 600 family entertainment center (FEC) companies as members, compared to IAAPA's 375-strong FEC membership. In total, IAAPA has more than 4,500 members from more than 90 countries.

IALEI's work, which included representing family and location-based FECs, will continue in the form of a strengthened IAAPA presence in the family entertainment sector.

IAAPA's FEC committee will be re-configured to coordinate and oversee membership development and service for FECs. The committee will be made up of current IAAPA FEC members and members of IALEI. IALEI board chair, Dorothy Lewis, will chair the IAAPA FEC Committee starting in 2010.

IAAPA will also work closely with the American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA), continuing the ties forged between AAMA and IALEI, to produce FunExpo 2010 with the William T. Glasgow company managing the event. FunExpo 2010 will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center during March 2010.

Dorothy Lewis, chair of the soon defunct IALEI, said: "Throughout this process, our focus was on doing what is best for the members of IALEI

"We believe dissolving IALEI and merging into IAAPA is the best long-term option for our members and the FEC industry overall."

IAAPA president, Charlie Bray, added: "Both organizations offer a number of services to family entertainment centers. Some of the services we offer are similar and some are different. The merger will allow companies to have the best of both worlds with one membership."