NEW YORK -- February 11, 2008 -- It will be all fun and games February 17th to 20th at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center when more than 1,200 toy companies, 15,000 retail buyers and thousands of toy industry professionals from around the globe assemble for Toy Fair, "the $22 billion dollar playdate" owned and operated by the Toy Industry Association (TIA).

"Toy Fair brings manufacturers and buyers together around what's hot, what's trendy, and what will sell during the next holiday season. Each year, new innovations bring fresh excitement to this vital $22 billion global youth entertainment industry," said Carter Keithley, President of the Toy Industry Association. "The ever-growing number and range of pre-registered buyers is an indication of the importance of this major trade show."

With "the $22 billion playdate" as its theme, this year's Toy Fair is expected to attract 35,000 visitors, including 15,000 pre-registered buyers, 5,000 trade guests, 1,200 exhibitors and their staff, and nearly 1,000 journalists from around the globe. Interesting to note is that 22% of the top 250 global retailers are registered, and nearly 10% of the Fortune 500 companies are attending, including -- McDonalds, PepsiCo, Colgate-Palmolive, Marriott International, and Estee Lauder, among others.

Exciting new features at Toy Fair include The Inventor Center, which showcases new toy and game ideas by promising inventors trying to break into the industry; and the Fundamentals Feature Section, which shows how learning and play work together.

Toy Fair is owned and operated by the Toy Industry Association (TIA), the national trade association for more than 500 North American producers and importers of toys, games and children's entertainment products, which account for 85 percent of industry sales.

About Toy Fair®

American International Toy Fair® is the largest toy trade show in the Western Hemisphere. More than 1,300 manufacturers, distributors, importers and sales agents from over 94 countries showcase their toy and entertainment products. From classic toys to interactive entertainment and everything in between, products include action figures and dolls, games and puzzles, bicycles, tricycles and ride-ons, radio-controlled vehicles, infant and preschool toys, cars, trucks, and trains, puppets and plush, audio and video cassettes, computer software and video games, playground and sporting equipment, Halloween, Christmas, books, stationery, party supplies, and much more.