IAAPA officials have confirmed that the organisation will host the IAAPA Attractions Expo at the Orange County Convention Centre in Orlando, Florida, for the next 10 years.
The largest exhibition on the amusement trade show calendar, it attracts approximately 25,000 people from 90 nations annually. Prior to signing the new agreement, IAAPA Attractions Expo was scheduled to take place in Orlando in 2010, Las Vegas in 2011, and Orlando in 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2019. Now the Expo will take place in Orlando from 2010 to 2019, adding five years to the original agreements with Orlando.
The decision to move the expo to Orlando until 2019 was driven by a number of important factors, according to the association. Firstly, Orlando is a preferred location with both visitors and exhibitors and the Orange County Convention Center can comfortably accommodate the many large, tall and heavy exhibits, which fit perfectly on the single, ground-level trade show floor. It also has plenty of rooms for more than 100 education sessions, social gatherings, presentations and meetings that take place throughout the week.
Orlando is the unofficial capital of the theme park and amusement industry and so provides visitors to the show with the opportunity to see what’s new in the parks and attractions. It is also an affordable destination and easily accessible around the world.
More importantly the venue has a proven track record. The 91-year attendance and exhibit sales records for IAAPA Attractions Expo are well established. The agreement means the Expo will not take place in Las Vegas in 2011 as originally planned.
