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Orlando ready to welcome IAAPA Attractions Expo
2012 from November 12 to 16
Update : 06/11/12 - 18h06Published by François Mayné the 5 November 2012, Event.
This is in a week that will see the beginning of the most important event for the global industry of amusement parks and attractions with the opening of the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2012 conference and tradeshow at the Orange County exhibition center in Orlando, USA.
Hosted by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) from November 12th to 16th, it is expected to attract more than 25,000 attendees this year, including owners, operators and managers of attractions around the world who come to see, test, buy and even taste the products and services of nearly 1,100 exhibitors on an exhibit space of over 44,600 sqm / 470,000 square feet.
With its slogan "Game On!", the show will highlight profitable strategies that amusement park and attractions operators can implement to gain the competitive edge in the marketplace. To do so, attendees will discover on the show floor nearly a hundred types of products and services, including rides, shows, midway games, play equipment, novelties, souvenirs and food and beverage. To help buyers and sellers with specific interests and expertise in the attractions industry together, IAAPA will once again organize guided trade show floor tours in fields such as point-of-sale systems, theming and design, museum suppliers, participatory play providers, show production and entertainment, and inflatable products.
"The who’s who of the worldwide attractions industry will gather in Orlando for IAAPA Attractions Expo 2012 to find the next big idea in our industry,” said Chip Cleary, IAAPA President and CEO. “The trade show floor is where industry professionals can see those potentially business-changing ideas come to life."
More than 85 events are on the agenda
The IAAPA Attractions Expo being above all a networking and learning place for professionals working in the same industry worldwide, many events (educational and networking) will be organized in parallel to the trade show.
IAAPA will thus offer a comprehensive program of conferences - about sixty in total - to keep the industry professionals updated on the latest developments, best practices and industry trends. Presented by leading industry representatives (eg CEO of Cedar Fair Entertainment Company Matt Ouimet and CEO of Six Flags Entertainment Corp. Jim Reid-Anderson), many topics will be discussed including communications and public relations, facility operations, emergency preparation, finance, food and beverage operations, social media, human resources, sales and marketing, retail merchandising, and safety. Two Symposiums will also be held during the week and one of them will be devoted to incident management.
“Respected industry leaders will deliver invaluable information about best practices, the latest trends, and the future of the attractions industry during the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2012 education conference,” said Doug Stagner, Corporate Senior Director of Operations at SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment and IAAPA Education Committee chair. “The conference offers practical takeaways that will appeal to all areas of attractions operations as well as management levels.”
Regarding special events, the program will be up to the event with no less than 7 receptions, 10 breakfasts and luncheons (including a GM and owners' Breakfast with Jim-Reid Anderson), 7 guided tours in local attractions (including Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, LEGOLAND Florida, Walt Disney World and SeaWorld Orlando), several charity events (in partnership with Give Kids The World) and a party at Universal Studios Florida where attendees will enjoy the park and many entertainments.
Awards ceremonies
The IAAPA Attractions Expo 2012 will also be the scene of several awards announcements, starting with the Brass Ring Awards given by IAAPA in different categories such as human resources, food & beverage, retail, marketing and live entertainment. Several European amusement parks and operators are nominated, such as Disneyland Paris, Europa-Park, Efteling, Merlin Entertainments or the Walibi brand (CDA).
During the opening ceremony will also be announced the winner of the 2012 Applause Award, a prestigious award for which three amusement parks are in competition: Puy du Fou (France), Ocean Park Hong Kong (Hong Kong) and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (USA). Finally, the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) will also announce the winners of the Thea Awards 2012 which aim to reward excellence in themed entertainment.
New on the trade show floor
This 2012 edition is the opportunity for IAAPA to introduce several new features beginning with a free mobile application that allows participants to prepare their visit via various tools (interactive map, exhibitors list, agenda, conference program details, etc.) In addition, the theater in which the opening ceremony or the Brass Ring Awards ceremony will be presented will now be located on the trade show floor and not apart.
Intellectual Property Protection
For the first time at IAAPA Attractions Expo, IAAPA’s new intellectual property rights policy will be in effect. The policy takes steps to protect IAAPA members and exhibitors from patent, trademark, and copyright infringements. The new rules, which apply to any activities taking place under the IAAPA umbrella, require companies own the intellectual property of their featured products or have the rights to sell that product on behalf of the owner. During the Euro Attractions Show 2012, IAAPA’s IP representatives addressed more than 12 cases that required the removal of catalogs, posters, or other content from the trade show floor or involved issues that appeared to be in violation of the policy.
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For more information about IAAPA Attractions Expo 2012, see our related articles below or visit www.iaapa.org
NewsParcs will do a full coverage of the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2013 in Orlando to have a look at the latest trends and developments of the global theme park industry.
