Business boom for suppliers at IAAPA 2014
by Tom Anstey | 25 Nov 2014
Sally Corp won a Brass Ring award for its booth at this year’s event / Tom Anstey
“Big starts here” was the official theme for this year’s IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando, Florida, and big was certainly what was delivered as millions of dollars worth of contracts were signed at the event. Meanwhile, attendees also shared insight, sparked new relations and saw new innovations on the show’s trade floor.
Speaking at the Kick Off event, president and CEO of IAAPA, Paul Noland, said to the thousands in attendance: “Whenever I visit one of these attractions, I see new menu items, new attractions, rides and new marketing campaigns. I ask the leaders of those parks ‘where do you get that idea’ and more often than not they say at an IAAPA expo."
This year’s event saw more than 1,000 companies exhibiting products, 225 educational speakers giving talks and more than 27,000 people from all over the world in attendance.
Some of the more notable unveils from the trade floor included Sally’s US$100,00 (€80,000, £64,000) Joker animatronic for the upcoming ride Justice League: Battle for Metropolis 4D, while Triotech offered new details on the Voyage to the Iron Reef dark ride and US Thrill Rides unveiled its record-breaking Polercoaster.
Meanwhile, several top names featured in sessions throughout the week – including new IAAPA chair Gerardo Arteaga; the outgoing IAAPA chair Mario Mamon and BRC Imagination Arts’ founder and chair Bob Rogers.
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IAAPA 2014: Triotech wins big at IAAPA
21 Nov 2014
Cruden powerboat simulator makes waves at IAAPA
21 Nov 2014
Ring’s the thing for Magic Memories
20 Nov 2014
IAAPA 2014: Latin America set for attractions boom says new IAAPA chair
20 Nov 2014
IAAPA 2014: World’s tallest rollercoaster a 'gamechanger', says its creator
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IAAPA 2014: New TEA president Steve Birket outlines vision
19 Nov 2014
IAAPA 2014: TEA honours Disney Electrical Parade creator with Thea award
19 Nov 2014
IAAPA 2014: Puy du Fou claims prestigious Applause Award and reveals plans to expand into China 'and beyond'
18 Nov 2014
IAAPA 2014: Firm behind UK Paramount resort aiming to drive project forward
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IAAPA 2014: 'Your next big idea is here' says IAAPA president
18 Nov 2014
IAAPA 2014: AZA chair urges zoos to be business savvy
18 Nov 2014
IAAPA 2014: Parks without digital solutions risk ‘50 per cent of potential revenue’
17 Nov 2014
IAAPA 2014: Chile's Gerardo Arteaga named IAAPA chair for 2015
17 Nov 2014
IAAPA 2014: Event kicks off today
FEATURE: Show Preview – IAAPA EXPO
“Big starts here” was the official theme for this year’s IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando, Florida, and big was certainly what was delivered as millions of dollars worth of contracts were signed at the event. Meanwhile, attendees also shared insight, sparked new relations and saw new innovations on the show’s trade floor. Speaking at the Kick Off event, president and CEO of IAAPA, Paul Noland, said to the thousands in
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