Industry Event
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IAAPA ATTRACTIONS EXPO
Record attendance as organisation enters centennial year
Optimism was sky-high at the 2017 edition of the IAAPA Attractions Expo (IAE), the annual convention and trade show for the leisure and attractions industry. Show organiser the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) has reported that the global attractions industry is worth a healthy USD$39.5 billion, and this buoyancy was evident in the enthusiasm of exhibitors and attendees alike. Bryony Andrews and Paul Ruben report
T
hemed around the idea of a ‘Creation Nation’, show organiser IAAPA encouraged the 25,300 buyers in attendance (which included attractions industry owners,
presidents, general managers and directors) to “create something extraordinary” with their take-away from the show. Fortunately, creative opportunities were rife throughout the five days of IAE: new products were launched on-stand; panel and roundtable discussions featured high profile industry figures; behind-the-scenes tours at major area attractions demonstrated the latest technology, and attendees had numerous prospects, both formal and informal, for connecting
and sharing new ideas. “I had a group of staff members here this year,” revealed
IAAPA Chair Andreas Anderson, Liseberg, “and we were all impressed with the volume, the quality, the seminars, the events... we’ve just loved every minute. As an industry, we are in really good shape.” “The success of this year’s show is a true testament to
the continued growth and strength of attractions around the world,” said Paul Noland, IAAPA president and CEO. “Achieving this record-breaking attendance as we kick off IAAPA’s 100th anniversary celebration is a remarkable milestone in our association’s history.”
IAE in numbers Held from November 13 through 17 at the Orange County Convention Centre in Orlando, Florida, IAE attracted a record-breaking 39,000 registrants, a rise in attendance from last year of eleven per cent. Approximately 25,300 of these were buyers, attending to inspect the products and services of the 1,114 exhibitors. Exhibitors were virtually unanimous in their praise of the quality and quantity of IAE’s attendance figures. “Before we even got here our conference room was 90% booked,” revealed John Wood, Sally Corp. “With the record attendance we’ve had the opportunity to meet a number of new contacts and discuss a number of new projects.” Herman Bockhorni, Maurer Söhne, agreed: “There have been lots of visitors, lots of serious projects.” Mack Rides’ Maximilian Roeser said: “The attendance has been really good and the interest in what we are doing is unparalleled.” “IAE presented a one-of-a-kind opportunity for us to connect face-to-face with our clients, new prospects and potential investors from across the world,” said accesso’s Tara Morandi. Benoit ‘Ben’ Cornet reported that Alterface spoke to many visitors representing “legendary and market leading venues.” Some exhibitors compared the show
favourably with previous years and other industry shows. Intamin’s Sascha Czibulka commented: “I can’t remember a show in recent years with that many serious leads.” Cody Davis of Soaring Eagle, agreed that it seemed like
30 JANUARY 2018
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