IAAPA

Thank you to all who attended, presented, exhibited, and contributed to the success of IAAPA Expo 2024👏 #IAAPAExpos #AttractionsIndustry #IndustryGrowth #GlobalCommunity IAAPA North America | IAAPA EMEA | IAAPA América Latina y Caribe | #IAAPAAsiaPacific

Last chance to get IAAPA Certified in 2024! ⌛ Don't wait to validate your expertise and join a select community of industry leaders. Take the online exam to become an ICAP (Certified Attractions Professional) or ICAE (Certified Attractions Executive). View the requirements and submit your application and fees by Nov. 30 to take the exam this December. This is your chance to gain the edge for advancement you need within the attractions industry! 👉 Start your journey now: https://bit.ly/3BqUi0o #IAAPAEducation #ICAP #ICAE #AdvanceYourCareer

That’s a wrap on IAAPA Expo 2024! Thank you to all our amazing attendees and exhibitors for a great show! We look forward to seeing you at future IAAPA North America events and IAAPA Expo 2025!

As the week like no other comes to a close, the connections, learnings, and conversations forged at IAAPA Expo 2024 will only continue to grow. On Friday, IAAPA President and CEO Jakob Wahl recalled the message shared by Gordon Hartman of Morgan's Wonderland during IAAPA Expo's leadership breakfast: be welcoming and accessible to all. Watch it here #IAAPAExpos

Thought leadership at IAAPA Expo: Ronald Dahl built his family’s German strawberry farm into a "retailtainment" powerhouse as an attraction operator. Offering an innovative assortment of retail and entertainment experiences, Dahl now operates six facilities in Germany—with another 13 locations in the planning stages, including an expansion into the United States. Dahl shares his vision, thoughts on failure, and how to connect with employees with IAAPA News. Click on the gray arrow below to learn more. #IAAPAExpos

We have the capacity to drive change🌟 The inaugural Women’s Networking Lunch brought a group of inspiring women and allies together to have an open conversation on how to better support, champion, and advance women in the global attractions industry. Luciana Periales, CEO of Neverland Parks and Second Vice Chair of IAAPA, and Heather Barnes, Founder & CEO, Improv @ Work, led the discussion on steps we can take to drive positive change and shared advice on their career journey as women in the industry. Luciana’s biggest advice? Find a mentor! #IAAPAExpos #WomenInAttractions #WomenEmpowerment #PositiveChange

IAAPA Expo is where news is made. Merlin Entertainments CEO Scott O'Neil announced at IAAPA Expo a new partnership with Microsoft that will bring Minecraft attractions to a property in the U.K. and the U.S. The $110 million investments are slated to open in 2026 and 2027. The Funworld team spoke to O'Neil just after the announcement in this exclusive interview. #IAAPAExpos

From strawberries to San Diego to Microsoft, today's IAAPA Expo Fireside Chat spotlighted inspiring minds who represent how innovative and diverse the attractions industry is.   IAAPA President and CEO, Jakob Wahl, brought together a powerhouse panel of leaders who are always moving forward despite the challenges they face. The panel featured: Robert Dahl, Founder & CEO, Karls Erlebnis-Dorfer Scott O'Neil, CEO, Merlin Entertainments Steve Thomas, President, Business Operations, Belmont Park   The session ended with Kayleen Walters, the Vice President Franchise Development for Gaming at Microsoft, joining the panelists to dive deeper into the announcement of Mojang Studios joining forces with Merlin Entertainments to bring Minecraft adventures to life. #IAAPAExpos #InspiringLeaders #KeepMovingForward #IAAPA

Thought Leadership at IAAPA Expo: Jared Orton, the president of Savannah Bananas/Fans First Entertainment, redefined the baseball experience by creating “Banana Ball." With its emphasis on entertainment, employee empowerment, and creating “fans” rather than customers, the Savannah Bananas have become an overnight success drawing over one million “fans” annually on their “Banana Ball World Tour.” He shares his views on what makes a leader in 2025.

IAAPA bestowed the highest honor in the global attractions industry to four professionals on Monday night. The newest inductees to the IAAPA Hall of Fame include: Dick Chance, Geoff Chutter, Rick Hunter, and J. Clark Robinson. Watch the excitement from LEGENDS: A Hall of Fame Celebratory Affair here.