IAAPA ‘the best in five years’.
THE best show in five years – that’s how Steven Tan of UNIS described November’s IAAPA Attractions Expo. It was an opinion shared by many of the exhibitors across the mammoth Orange County Convention Centre floor.
To give a sense of scale, the IAAPA show is worth an estimated $50m to the local Orlando economy, attracting 29,000 visitors from across the international attractions industry, most of whom require hotels, restaurants, entertainment, etc. The event is to remain in the city for several years yet, although, as many believe Florida to be its natural home, it seems unlikely to move elsewhere. There are few other locations that could hold such an event, given its size.
This year’s IAAPA expo covered 522,000sq.ft of exhibition space – both indoors and out – and saw more than 1,100 companies present their latest products for the leisure sector, with those from the coin-op amusement sector sitting alongside theme park, family entertainment centre and other attractions suppliers.
“There was a palpable energy throughout IAAPA Attractions Expo 2013,” said IAAPA president and CEO Paul Noland. “Business is clearly booming. The week was filled with big project announcements, exciting ride reveals, contracts being signed and education sessions overflowing with attractions professionals.”
Read the full article in the December issue of InterGame.
