IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry, has revealed that the IAAPA Expo Europe, which closed on 28 September, was a record-breaking success.
The event took place at the Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center in Vienna, and welcomed 12,289 verified attendees (of a total of 13,545 people who registered to attend). This includes 8,475 qualified buyers who were attending on behalf of 5,614 buying organisations, and 633 exhibiting firms. The 2023 event has set a new record for the largest show floor at IAAPA Expo Europe, with an exhibition space measuring 17,670 square metres.
Showcasing the future of the attractions industry
This year’s IAAPA Expo Europe, the industry’s leading event, brought together experts and enthusiasts from all over the world to discover the newest technologies, network with experts in the field, and celebrate the expansion and strength of the attractions industry.
Jakob Wahl, president and chief executive officer of IAAPA, says: “IAAPA Expo Europe 2023 has exceeded our expectations in every way. The incredible turnout of more than 12,000 attendees and the presence of 633 exhibitors underscore the strong optimism and dynamism of our industry. We are thrilled to see our community come together in person once again to exchange ideas and showcase the future of the attractions industry.”
“Vienna has been a fantastic host city, providing the perfect backdrop for this milestone event,” adds Peter van der Schans, executive director and vice president for IAAPA Europe, Middle East, and Africa. “The support of our members, partners, and exhibitors has been instrumental in the success of IAAPA Expo Europe 2023, and we are grateful for their dedication to our industry.”
The education conference, which is the centrepiece of all of IAAPA’s expos, featured 169 speakers, with women accounting for 30% of the panellists chosen to take part. During Wednesday’s CEO Talk, an all-female panel featured Natacha Rafalski, présidente of Disneyland Paris, Amanda Thompson, OBE, ICAE, CEO of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, and Susanne Mørch Koch, CEO of Tivoli Gardens.
Supporting talent
The IAAPA Foundation, which supports the future talent pipeline for the worldwide attractions sector, had a greater presence at the event. More than €12,000 was raised through the sale of bespoke Lebkuchen cookies (a popular traditional Austrian food), open giving by delegates, and an in-person auction event. The auction included lots donated by the sector, such as park visits, behind-the-scenes tours, and overnight stays. It raised over €5,000 in just half an hour.
A highlight of the auction is a Eurosat Coaster car which was donated by Europa-Park. Bidding for this lot opened with an in-person offer of €1,700, with a bid by Jim Pattison, Jr, chair of the 2023 IAAPA Board of Directors and in-person auctioneer at the event. Following this starting bid, an online auction for this lot is now live. This is open to the public and is running until 9 October. IAAPA has pledged to match the total raised in order to further support talent in the sector.
IAAPA Expo Europe 2024 is scheduled to take place in Amsterdam, Netherlands, from 23-26 September. 431 organisations have already booked 13,989 square meters of exhibit space at the event.
IAAPA has announced that second vice chair of IAAPA’s Board of Directors for 2024 will be Luciana Periales, CEO of Neverland Park in Argentina. Periales will serve as the first vice chair of IAAPA in 2025, and will then lead the association as the chair of the board in 2026.
