IAAPA Attractions Expo 2018 Breaks Showfloor and Attendance Records

November 20, 2018

The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) concluded its IAAPA Attractions Expo 2018 on a high note by shattering its own attendance records and boasting the largest trade show floor in the event’s history. 

A record 42,000 global attractions industry professionals from around the world converged Nov. 12-16 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando to learn, buy and network at the annual Expo, which doubled as IAAPA’s centennial celebration.

“There is no better way to celebrate IAAPA’s centennial anniversary than with a remarkable and record-breaking Expo,” said Hal McEvoy, president and CEO of IAAPA, known as the largest international trade association for permanently located attractions. 

He continued. “IAAPA’s mission is to connect attractions professionals with each other and with new and innovative ideas. All that and much more happened here in Orlando. It’s been an incredible week!”

Boasting 1,151 exhibiting companies displaying the latest products, technologies and services spanning 600,375 net square feet of exhibition space, the massive showfloor also featured the new Exploration Station, a custom-built outdoor structure with more than 140 exhibitors. 

According to IAAPA officials, 26,600 qualified buyers from around the world, including executives from amusement parks, water parks, family entertainment centers (FECs), zoos, aquariums, museums, science centers, resorts and attractions participated in the Expo, which pumped an estimated $77.2 million into the Orlando-area economy.  

Last year, the event drew in 38,161 attendees, including 24,720 buyers, and 1,114 exhibitors to a 576,235 sq. ft. showfloor.

IAAPA

At the show’s conference portion, 15,128 people took advantage of 149 education experiences that included multiple-day institutes and symposia, behind-the-scenes “EDUTours” at area attractions, panel and roundtable discussions, and constituency lunches. 

“As usual, the show was non-stop,” said Bob Williams, general manager of Calaway Park in  Calgary, Alberta, Canada. “We got relevant education that we can actually apply to operations and made valuable connections on the floor with manufacturers.”

He added, “We’re in a growth period as a company and the timing of the show aligned perfectly.”

 

 

Other highlights at IAAPA included: 

  • More than 1,800 people attended the Kickoff Event, the Expo’s official opening session for an update on the state of the industry, to check out new attractions introduced around the world in 2018 and to preview IAAPA’s new logo and global brand, which is set to officially debut Jan. 1.
  • More than 3,600 people attended IAAPA Celebrates: IAAPA’s Centennial Celebration at Universal Studios Florida. 
  • Expo participants raised approximately $120,000 for Give Kids The World through a golf tournament, motorcycle ride, fun run and walk, individual and corporate donations, and hole-in-one challenge.
  • Expo participants and IAAPA members raised approximately $50,000 for the IAAPA Foundation through a Silent Auction at the Opening Reception, benefiting programs that support future attractions industry leaders and the Al Weber Scholarship Fund.
  • Industry awards presented included the IAAPA Hall of Fame Awards (worldwide industry pioneers and innovators); the IAAPA Service Awards (service to IAAPA and the industry), and the IAAPA Brass Ring Awards (excellence in marketing, retail, live entertainment, human resources, food and beverage, top family entertainment centers, new products and best exhibits).

“It’s been a great show this year,” said David Rosenberg, vice president of guest experience at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, Ca. “The floor, the education, the record-breaking attendance: it’s representative of the industry and the direction we’re heading in.”

He added, “This week is setting the groundwork for the next hundred years and to see a show like this, that sets the bar as high as it is, couldn’t be more exciting.”

The IAAPA Expo 2019 will return to the Orange County Convention Center Nov. 18-22. 

 

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.