There were already crowds of people congregating in the atrium of the vast Orange County Convention Center in Orlando on Monday, the stage for this year’s IAAPA Attractions Expo, which opens today.
Yesterday’s programme of conferences - combined with the exhibitors’ last-minute stand preparations - ensured that there were already hundreds of delegates at the venue.
Orlando is undoubtedly the heart of the attractions industry, but in truth, such is the size of the show that it requires an exhibition space that few other locations in the US can offer. This year’s IAAPA event is to cover 522,000sq.ft of exhibition space – both indoors and out.
Today will see 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.
IAAPA is arguably now the most important event for the international pay-to-play amusements sector, thanks in part to the broad audience that it attracts. While there are dedicated coin-op shows in key markets, IAAPA provides an opportunity to meet and do business with those outside of the existing, core marketplace.
The IAAPA Attractions Expo runs until Friday, November 22.
