IAAPA Expo 2019 Opens in Orlando, Florida

Premier Conference and Trade Show for the Global Attractions Industry Takes Place at the Orange County Convention Center Nov. 18-22

ORLANDO, Fla., US (Nov. 18, 2019) — IAAPA Expo 2019 (formerly IAAPA Attractions Expo), the global attractions industry’s premier event, opens today at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Hosted by IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry, this year’s event features more than 1,100 exhibiting companies from around the world filling 585,000 net square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibition space. More than 38,000 global attractions industry professionals from over 100 countries are expected to attend to learn, buy, and network.
 

“We’re thrilled to bring together the global attractions community for IAAPA Expo,” said Hal McEvoy, president and CEO, IAAPA. “The attractions industry continues to thrive around the world, and the strength, growth, and passion of our dynamic industry is reflected right here. We have an outstanding line-up of special events, speakers, and educational programming along with our amazing, diverse trade show floor. It’s going to be an exciting week.”

Trade Show Floor

More than 1,100 exhibiting companies will display the latest products and services in 125 different business categories on the trade show floor, including 130 exhibits in the adjacent “Exploration Station” and outdoor displays.

Education Conference and Special Events
Throughout the week, IAAPA Expo offers more than 100 educational experiences on a wide range of topics as of the event’s robust education conference. Attendees will learn from world-renowned industry experts, make new connections, and build their international networks.
 
Special events include the sold-out GM and Owners’ Breakfast on Wednesday, Nov. 20, featuring Christine Duffy, president, Carnival Cruise Line. The sold-out IAAPA Celebrates event will take place at Universal’s Islands of Adventure on Thursday, Nov. 21.
 

Additional highlights include “Lunch and Learn: The Emergence of Authentic Reality” featuring George Walker, creative director, Universal Creative Studio; “Game Changer: Creativity is the New Attraction” featuring Vince Kadlubek, co-founder of Meow Wolf; and “Coca Cola Presents: How to Become Self Made and Have a Rich Life in Every Way” by Nely Galán, entrepreneur and author.

Participants can take part in more than 50 events highlighting member constituencies and regions, including the Opening ReceptionLatin American ReceptionAsia Pacific Breakfast, European, Middle East, Africa ReceptionWater Park SocialFamily Entertainment Centers Reception, and much more.

In addition, annual IAAPA awards will be presented throughout the week, including the IAAPA Hall of Fame Awards, IAAPA Service Awards, and IAAPA Young Professional Award. The 2019 IAAPA Brass Ring Awards ceremony, one of the global attractions industry’s most prestigious honors, will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

Press Conferences
IAAPA Expo is where news happens. Attendees will be among the first to learn the latest industry news as exhibiting companies debut and unveil new products, host live demonstrations, and announce what’s new during press conferences from the trade show floor. This year, more than 30 exhibiting companies are hosting press conferences announcing new advances in rides, technology, products, and services in the global attractions industry.

Tuesday, Nov. 19

10:20-10:45 a.m. – Rocky Mountain Construction / Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Booth 4006

10:55-11:20 a.m. – Maurer Rides / Carnival Cruise Line, Booth 4803
11:30-11:55 a.m. – ETF Ride Systems / LEGOLAND New York, Booth 5140

12:05-12:30 p.m. – Great Coasters International, Booth 2273
12:40-1:05 p.m. – Zamperla, Booth 2024
1:15-1:40 p.m. – Triotech / Knott’s Berry Farm, Booth 1954
1:50-2:15 p.m. – Premier Rides / SeaWorld Orlando, Booth 5100
2:25-2:50 p.m. – Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), Booth 1066

3:00-3:25 p.m. – Extreme Engineering, Booth 3266

3:35-4:00 p.m. – Brogent Technologies, Booth 5710

4:10-4:35 p.m. – Alterface, Booth E7041

4:45-5:10 p.m. – Luna Park in Coney Island, Booth 2031

Wednesday, Nov. 20

10:20-10:45 a.m. – The Producers Group / Extreme Engineering, Booth 872
10:55-11:20 a.m. – Polin Waterparks, Booth 847

11:30-11:55 a.m. – Infinite Kingdoms, Booth 2261

12:05-12:30 p.m. – MajorMega / Hersheypark, Booth 4631

12:40-1:05 p.m. – Talon Simulations, Booth 2980

1:15-1:40 p.m. – Intercard, Booth 2206

1:50-2:15 p.m. – Lagotronics Projects B.V. / Ride Entertainment, Booth 5427

2:25-2:50 p.m. – Virtuix, Booth 2686
3:00-3:25 p.m. – Bay Tek Entertainment, Booth 1015

3:35-4:00 p.m. – CAVU Designwerks, Booth 584
4:10-4:35 p.m. – Falcon’s Creative Group, Booth 1373

Thursday, Nov. 21

10:20-10:45 a.m. – Simworx, Booth 3069

10:55-11:20 a.m. – WhiteWater, Booth 2254
11:30-11:55 a.m. – LAI Games, Booth 1034
12:05-12:30 p.m. – Hownd, Booth 1073

12:40-1:05 p.m. – Simtec Systems GmBH, Booth 1783

1:15-1:40 p.m. – Embed, Booth 1336

1:50-2:15 p.m. – Walltopia, Booth 1686

2:25-2:50 p.m. – SEVEN, IAAPA Central

3:00-3:25 p.m. – Valo Motions, Booth E7141
3:35-4:00 p.m. – Virtual Room USA, Booth E7401

4:10-4:35 p.m. – Rebound Unlimited, Booth 3606

4:45-5:10 p.m. – TrainerTainment, Booth 1735


Friday, Nov. 22
10:20-10:45 a.m. – Arihant Water Park Equipment, Booth 1844
10:55-11:20 a.m. – VFX, Booth 140
12:15-12:40 p.m. – Ride Engineers Switzerland, Booth 3472

About IAAPA Expo 2019
IAAPA Expo is the premier conference and trade show for the global attractions industry, including amusement and theme parks, where visitors spend $45.2 billion around the world. IAAPA Expo 2019 will draw more than 38,000 industry professionals, including more than 24,000 decisions-makers and buyers from more than 100 countries to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, Monday, Nov. 18 through Friday, Nov. 22. The 585,000-net-square-foot trade show floor will be open Tuesday, Nov. 19, through Friday, Nov. 22. Additional information is available at www.IAAPA.org/IAAPAExpo. #IAAPAExpo

About IAAPA 
IAAPA is a diverse and dynamic community of global attractions professionals. As the largest international trade association for permanently located attractions, IAAPA unifies the attractions community, connects people to learn and grow together, and strives to promote the highest professional standards for excellence and safety around the world.

Founded in 1918, IAAPA represents more than 6,000 attraction, supplier, and individual members from more than 100 countries. Members include professionals from amusement parks, theme parks, attractions, water parks, resorts, family entertainment centers, zoos, aquariums, science centers, museums, manufacturers, and suppliers.

The association’s global headquarters and North America office are located in Orlando, Florida, US. IAAPA also maintains offices in Brussels, Belgium; Hong Kong, China; Shanghai, China; Mexico City, Mexico; and Alexandria, Virginia, US. To learn more, visit www.IAAPA.org or connect through social media channels: @IAAPAHQ #IAAPA. 

IAAPA Attractions Expo 2017 Wrap Up

Every year, I look forward to attending the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions expo, which takes over a nice portion of the Orange County Convention Center. They fill the enormous show floor for sneak peaks of what we can expect from the future of theme park industry. It ranges from rides to food to even metal shop work, which we love here at Media Mikes! You literally need a few days to even properly cover this event fully. I have covered this event for the last few years with my dad. He is a Mike also, so fits with the site also 🙂 It has become a fun tradition. We split the event and conqueror. Only true way to see everything in the short week! This year a highlight year for sure!
Virtual reality definitely was the spotlight for this year, no question. It seemed like every place you turn there was a new VR experience to try. VR isn’t really my bag, so we didn’t partake too much but I am excited to see what these amusement parks have planned for the future. One that comes to mind was HALOGATE VR EXPERIENCE. This was one that I did try and I literally was blown away. I can see this be a very popular attraction. One that I have been on previously and would not recommend is definitely the MaxFlight simulator. It is old tech and a VERY ROUGH ride! Stay away from that one for sure!
If VR isn’t your bag there was tons of other great options to see including the outdoor sky-flying attraction called Aerodium Wind Tunnel. I could see myself doing this for sure and it is very easy to setup for companies. I feel like these could pop-up very easily anyway. There was also the Phoenix Pro virtual driving Formula 1 Simulator by Wave Italy. This was rad. You are sitting in a mock Formula 1 car and you are surrounded by screens in front of you as you speed through courses. Very interactive and a ton of fun!
The absolute highlight of this year for me has to be the Infinity Massage Chair station. I found my newest love with the Infinity Riage X3, the “world’s best massage chair”. This chair uses 3D Technology giving a state of the art Reflexology Massage with a Zero Gravity experience including Spinal Decompression and deep tissue massage. If that isn’t enough it even has Bluetooth for music and can be controlled by iPad application. If you are wondering YES I did buy one of these at the show, no joke! It was an amazing purchase and I honestly plan on using it daily!
Other than rides, there were also some great companies advertising costumes like full My Little Pony characters. These were really sharp and I know my daughter would have loved this when she was younger for sure! Stopped by Apple Industries booth, which was actually smaller from previous years, and had some fun with the photo booths. There was a fun “Fear the Walking Dead” zombie interactive experience, which had quite the line but was a ton of fun! I also found a super fun Willy Wonka coin game that had be glued it to it for a longer than I want to admit. I wish I would have bought one of those also but my wife would have easily divorced me for sure 😉
In previous years, I didn’t get to hit enough panels each year but this year we were able to catch the SeaWorld panel and it was definitely promising. Having worked personally for the company in the past, I am excited to see everything that it has planned for the future. Infinity Falls at Aquatica is going to be an amazing new ride! This park has always been a favorite of mine and I am glad to see that it has big plans for the future. All the theme parks had presence. I spotted plenty of high profile people over the week. So I expect to see some of this new attractions and technologies in a theme park near you!
Besides buying a massage chair, the most fun I enjoy is walking the floor and meeting the vendors and having them talk about all the excited new technology that they are working with and what we can expect even for next year. This convention is worldwide and the companies that come from all over the world to showcase what they are currently working on. I love meeting all these great people and I love getting a chance to try out these new attractions. I can’t wait for 2018, which also happens to be the 100th anniversary for IAAPA! So I can imagine that next year is going to be bigger than ever! Till next November!

 

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