IAAPA Expo 2023 will be taking place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, from 13 – 17 November, with the trade show floor opening on 14 November. Organised by IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry, it is a place for professionals from across the industry to connect and gain valuable insights. They can also discover the latest products and services.
This year’s expo has an expanded exhibit area. The indoor show space is sold out for the first time since 2019, with more than 1,100 exhibitors heading to the event.
New highlights for 2023
“The team has outdone themselves with the number and creativity of sponsorships and only-at-IAAPA Expo programming being offered this year,” says Jakob Wahl, president and chief executive officer for IAAPA. “IAAPA Expo 2023 is going to be great. We wanted to bring new offerings to the participants this year and the team has come up, together with our partners, of many fun ideas to present to the larger attractions industry.”
This year, the IAAPA Expo Insider Booklet, sponsored by Hasbro, is available to registered participants. This pamphlet reveals a take on Hasbro’s mystery game CLUE. It will be provided at the exhibit hall entrance, trade show floor entrances, and outside the opening ceremony. The award can be collected at IAAPA Member Central.
A new Alcohol, Beverage, and Innovation Pavilion will be present on the expo floor this year as IAAPA expands its membership and accepts new businesses that satisfy industry demands. This fully functional bar and networking space will feature offerings from 375 Park Avenue Spirits, Dogfish Head, Twisted Tea, Liquid I.V., BuzzBallz, Beverage Management, Craft Standard Draft Cocktails, and Taub Family Wines. To suit all preferences, this is in a different location from the Food & Beverage Pavilion.
IAAPA Expo’s official mobile app, Connect+, replaces the trade show programme in 2023. The entire IAAPA Expo schedule, as well as networking opportunities and the exhibitor list, is available on Connect+. With the support of a CaptureLife sponsorship, photographers will be able to scan badges from the IAAPA Expo to sync event photos to Connect+. This will give visitors a personalised photo gallery to help them remember the event.
Special events at IAAPA Expo 2023
Ahead of the official start of the conference on Monday 13 November, there will be several ticketed events taking place over the previous weekend. This includes the IAAPA Rookies: FEC 101 Institute Program on Saturday 11 November and two charity events on Sunday 12 November: the 20th Annual IAAPA International Charity Golf Tournament and the 13th Annual IAAPA Charity Motorcycle Run benefiting Give Kids The World. There will also be an EDUTour at Fun Spot America on Sunday.
In a sold-out Lunch and Learn event on Monday 13, attendees can hear from Tommy Jones and Chris Beatty of Walt Disney Imagineering, and David Duffy of Disney Live Entertainment. Together, they will explore how Disney brings story-driven experiences to global audiences. Also on Monday, a half-day afternoon experience for members of IAAPA’s Zoo and Aquarium community will take place at Orlando Science Center.
On Monday evening the Zoos and Aquariums Reception, the Water Park Operators’ Welcome Event, the Museum and Science Centers Reception and the Family Entertainment Centers Reception will be held.
The first Big Break Foundation Supporter Dinner is also taking place in the evening. During this event, the team will share updates on its ongoing initiatives, milestones achieved, and new developments on the horizon. The Big Break Foundation fights for equity and the inclusion of marginalized talent in the LBE industry.
EDUTours and more
On Tuesday, there will be an EDUTour of Pipeline The Surf Coaster at SeaWorld Orlando. Other ticketed events on Tuesday include two Learning Lunch sessions. One is focused on leadership in the Latin America and Caribbean region, and one is on recruitment for FECs. There will also be an Operators’ Roundtable Lunch. In the evening, delegates can attend the Opening Reception and the Young Professionals Reception.
Wednesday 15 November at IAAPA Expo 2023 kicks off with an EDUTour of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Walt Disney World, as well as the annual Leadership Breakfast. Learning Lunches on Wednesday include the Amusement Park and Attractions Constituency Lunch, an FEC Lunch on the power of emerging technologies, and the Water Park Operators’ Lunch and Learn.
On Wednesday evening, there will be an EDUTour called Fantasmic! Behinds-the-Scenes with Disney Live Entertainment. The Carnival and Showmen’s Reception, Latin America Fiesta, the EMEA Reception and the Water Park social will also be taking place.
The 17th Annual IAAPA Footprints from the Heart 5k Fun Run and 1 Mile Walk is scheduled for the morning of Thursday 16 November. There will also be several Learning Breakfast sessions, including the Asia Pacific Breakfast, the Canadian Breakfast and the Brazilian Breakfast.
Finally, on Thursday evening, attendees are invited to immerse themselves in a night of marine life, thrilling rides, and captivating attractions at SeaWorld, Orlando for the annual IAAPA Celebrates event.
Conference agenda highlights at IAAPA Expo 2023
IAAPA Expo 2023 features a packed agenda of insightful talks, panels, workshops and more. These allow attractions industry professionals to explore a range of relevant topics, from health safety and new attractions to F&B, the latest technologies, and all the trends that they need to know about.
Monday 13 November
On Monday 13 November, there will be EDUSessions taking place all day. Highlights include Quantifying Risk – How Much is Too Much? presented by Mark Stepanian of CAVU Designwerks. Delegates can also attend Beyond the Blockbuster: Exploring New Platforms for Visitor Experiences. This features insights from Jeffrey Wyatt, National Geographic Society; Bobbie Oakley, Museum of Science, Boston; Cynthia Brown, Museum EXP and Cloé St-Cyr, Moment Factory.
Later in the morning, Bepin Jose of Semnox Solutions will lead an EDUSession. This is called the Power of Recurring Revenue Through Subscription Offerings. In Emerging Technologies: What’s Next in Immersive Experiences? attendees will hear from Stephane Battaille of Alterface; Vince Kadlubek of Meow Wolf; Jean de Rivieres from UBISOFT; Mel McGowan of Storyland Studios and Chris Conte from Electrosonic.
In the afternoon, Mobaro‘s David Bromilow and Kevin Russell of Herschend Family Entertainment will lead an EDUSession called Unlocking the Power of Experience: How Capturing, Analyzing and Acting on Maintenance and Operations Data Can Enhance Guest Experience.
In Shall We Play a Game? Using Gamification In Your Experiences, delegates will hear from Meghan Gardner of Guardian Adventures; Anna Slafer from the International Spy Museum; Jason Veal of Sugar Creative; Elisabeth Garson from Steel Owl and Ed Cookson of Sarner International Ltd.
Closing the Loop: Managing Guest Feedback at Every Point Along the Circle will feature insights from Kevin McNulty, as well as Ben Story from Avius and Josh Liebman from AttractionPros. Later in the afternoon, Ray Smegal of ProSlide Technology, Lori Gogel from Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari and James Anderson of FORREC will discuss Accessibility and Inclusivity in Water Park Planning & Design
Tuesday 14 November
On Tuesday at IAAPA Expo 2023, one of the morning’s highlights is a session called Food & Beverage Case Studies. This features Jeremy Hoyum from Urban Air Adventure Park, Louie Quagliana of Herschend Family Entertainment and Gary Gochenour of SSA Group. Meanwhile, Ron Malinowski of Bob’s Space Racers; Alan Kanter of Circus Circus; Jason Mitchell from Intercard; Nick Dimatteo of Fortyfivegames and Eric Weigand will discuss Beat the Cheats: Countering Theft and Scams in the Amusement Industry.
Then, at 9 a.m., attendees can enjoy the reimagined Opening Ceremony, sponsored by Simtec Systems. This is designed to launch a week of innovation, education, and new business opportunities.
During the morning, there will be a Sponsor Spotlight on Storyland Studios. During this, the Storyland team will explore the topic of strategic storytelling. In the afternoon, another Sponsor Spotlight will go behind the scenes at CAVU Designwerks.
The IDEA (Inclusivity Diversity Equity Accessibility) Roundtable will take place in the afternoon.
Panellists include Clara Rice from Adirondack Studios, Romee Popelier of RP Rides; Pamela Landwirth from Give Kids the World; Steve Bell and Sharon Parker from Gateway Ticketing Systems, Inc.; Nicolle Figueroa Rosada from the Big Break Foundation; Genein Letford of CAFFE Strategies, LLC; Adrea Gibbs of Alriginal Productions LLC; Evan Forman of Palace Entertainment; Kathryn Woodcock from Toronto Metropolitan University; Timothy Van De Bilt; Natalie Nielsen; Eric Hawkins, graduate student at the University of Denver; Myron Pincomb of IBCCES and Nick Taylor from Masterminds Studios.
Andy Povey of Convious will lead an EDUSession called Demystifying Dynamic Pricing later in the afternoon. Raven Sun Creative‘s Louis Alfieri will present Benchmarking as a Superpower: 10 Principles for Perfecting Your Performance.
Wednesday 15 November
On Wednesday morning, in an EDUSession called Walt Disney Imagineering: Constructing the Impossible; Designing Fantasy Elements to Become Real Through Technology, attendees will hear from Sanne Worthing and Kristy Pron of Walt Disney Imagineering.
Elsewhere, Logan Zawacki of Sally Dark Rides; Todd Hougland from Ripley Entertainment Inc.; Eric Bertch of Lost Island Themepark; Jeff Hornich from SeaWorld and Etienne Sainton from Alterface will speak in Interactive Guest Experiences – What is Being Offered Now, and What Can Guests Expect in the Future.
Later, Ben Story of Avius will explore How Online Surveys Should Be Used As We Head Into 2024 and… Are QR Codes Dead? while Austin Lemaster of accesso will present an Introduction to eCommerce Optimization.
In the afternoon, there is a series of Sponsor Spotlights. ROLLER will explore How Data-Driven Tech Drives Business Growth and Helps Deliver World-Class Experiences. Next, accesso will look at The Psychology of Queuing: From Frustration to Fulfillment. Hasbro will discuss Location-Based Entertainment: The Evolution of Branded Experiences.
The annual Legends Panel also takes place on Wednesday afternoon. In Legends 2023: Universal Beijing Resort – The Untold Story of Triumph Over Trying Times; COVID, Lockdowns, Quarantines, And More, attendees will hear from Tom Mehrmann of Universal Destinations and Experiences, Sylvia Hase from Hasbas Entertainment and Mike Hightower, former president of Universal Creative. As always, Bob Rogers of BRC Imagination Art will moderate the discussion.
Later in the afternoon, there will be an EDUSession called Family Matters 6.0: Behind the Curtains, Insights from Non-Family Employees at a Family Business. This will feature insights from Matt Eckert of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari; Philip Wilson of Extreme Engineering; Brian Knoebel from Knoebels Amusement Resort; Omid Aminifard of Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Mikayla Arnold from Ralph Alberts Co.
Thursday 16 November
On Thursday morning, Justin Brown of Universal Orlando Resort will present Managing Aquatic Related Emergencies – A Full Lifecycle Approach to Preparedness.
Another highlight is Empowering Women in the Entertainment Industry: Insights from IAAPA Executives. This will feature insights from Heather Barnes of Improv @ Work LLC; Aamna Jalal from Superfly Events; Rani Bal of The Hettema Group; Janet Gavidia from Thinkwell Group, Carolyn Franks of Gillie’s World and Fri Forjindam of Mycotoo.
In Emerging AI Trends in the Attractions & Theme Park Industry, attendees can hear from Michael Libby of Worldbuildr; Daniel Childs, real-time 3D Designer; Scott Simmons from ScareHouse; Angie Judge of Dexibit and Brad Weinstein of Newbridge.
Later, Megan Fulbright of Connect&GO will present “Water” You Doing To Survive The Staffing Shortage?
In the afternoon Sponsor Spotlights, Brogent Technologies, Inc. will present Beyond Roller Coasters: Flying Theaters and Media-Based Attractions. DOF Robotics will explore Brand Recognition: Audience Impacts of IP-Based Experiences. Finally, Gateway Ticketing Systems, Inc. will talk about Optimizing the Customer Journey.
In The Future of eCommerce: How to Create a Frictionless Visitor Experience, Andy Povey of Convious will join Randy Josselyn of Icon Experiences and Josh Haywood from Crealy Theme Park & Resort.
During the IAAPA Fireside Chat: Inspiring Minds of the Industry, attendees will hear from Xavier Lopez of KidZania; Kirin Sinha of Illumix; Michael Konzen from PGAV Destinations; Alex Cruz of PortAventura; Katja Mack from Europa-Park and Laurent Bruloy of Looping Group.
Integrated Insight, a leading consulting firm, will contribute to three EDUSessions on Thursday: Dynamic vs Variable Pricing – The Great Pricing Debate & Why It Matters To Your Consumer (And You), Money in Merchandising: Maximizing Sales from Analytics to Operations and Leveraging Simulation To Power Your Labor Scheduling.
On the trade show floor at IAAPA Expo 2023
Over 1,100 exhibitors be will heading to the expo this year. On the trade show floor, attendees will be able to discover innovations from across the industry. Here are some of the highlights.
7thSense
7thSense, the multi-award-winning media solutions specialist, will be showcasing its award-winning technologies as part of two partner demonstrations at IAAPA Expo 2023 following the launch of its new Performer Range of media serving, pixel processing and generative content solutions earlier in the year.
Attendees can see the firm’s products in action on the SimEx Iwerks booth, #2262, and at the Norxe exclusive 3D demonstration suite at the Hilton Orlando. To attend the demonstration, click here to register.
The company recently partnered with Sphere, an innovative entertainment format, on the inaugural Sphere venue in Las Vegas. The venue welcomed its first visitors on 29 September. Its major features include a 160,000-square-foot internal LED plane, with a 580,000-square-foot exterior titled the Exosphere. Both are driven by technologies from 7thSense.
7thSense won’t be exhibiting on the show floor, but meetings with the team can be booked in advance here.
accesso – booth #5131
accesso Technology Group PLC, a leading technology provider for attractions worldwide, will debut its all-new, cloud-native accesso Freedom Restaurant & Retail platform. accesso Freedom unifies a venue’s restaurant and retail operations, with contemporary, cloud-hosted technology. It allows venues to transform from legacy, operator-driven sales terminals to a modern solution that supports mobile food ordering, self-service ordering kiosks, mobile point-of-sale and more.
Following its acquisition of VGS, accesso will also continue celebrating the addition of the accesso Horizon Ticketing & Visitor Management system. accesso Horizon empowers venue operators to manage all benefits, services and entitlements available to guests within a single portfolio.
The team will also demonstrate the latest version release of its award-winning accesso Passport ticketing suite. This includes a range of enhancements designed to streamline both operations and the user experience.
Attractions.io – booth #4343
Attractions.io, a leading creator of mobile visitor apps, will also be exhibiting. The team will present a not-to-be-missed reveal during the trade show.
The Attractions.io team will be available to demonstrate the firm’s core platform. This includes its native guest-facing mobile apps and robust operator console. It is ideal for attractions searching for a comprehensive guest experience platform that links every touch point in the guest journey. It can launch in as little as six weeks.
Attendees will be able to discover the new MapLayr function. This provides enterprise-grade mapping technology and wayfinding without the time and complexity involved with building map capabilities in-house. It offers multi-level, one-way, and accessible routes. To meet the many needs of the attractions sector, the team will announce at IAAPA Expo that its mapping feature will be available as a stand-alone SDK. It will also continue to be a key component of the core platform.
BLACKLIST
Blacklist, a leading creative agency specialising in international IP and brand initiatives across all creative solutions, production, themed attractions and gaming, recently announced plans to expand further into the LBE sector, building on its in-depth knowledge of brands and IP.
Founded in 2016, Blacklist is a full-service, multidisciplinary creative agency. It has worked with many internationally recognised companies and intellectual properties, including LEGO, Disney, Paramount, Peloton, Nickelodeon, Pokémon and more. The company has now set up Blacklist Experiences as it continues to expand into the world of LBE. To lead this chapter, it has appointed Annabel Rochfort as general manager of location-based entertainment.
Rochfort will be attending IAAPA Expo 2023 and attendees wishing to meet to discuss any of the above can contact her by email. Blacklist, in partnership with Simworx, will also be launching and showcasing a new bespoke concept during the trade show, 11:30 Tuesday 14 November at the Simworx booth, #867.
Capturelife – booth #964
Capturelife, the innovative digital platform reimagining attractions photography, is partnering with IAAPA directly through the official IAAPA Expo 2023 mobile app, IAAPA Connect+. Images of attendees and their colleagues will be available in the app through the Capturelife integration. Photographers will scan attendee badges and personal images & memories will then be available to view and download in the app.
Capturelife is a digital image and content capture and distribution platform. It enables operators to drive revenue, brand loyalty, and customer engagement for their business. Whether it is a theme park, excursion, adventure, resort, cruise, zoo, or any attraction or vacation destination where memories are made – an attraction brand is an experience. And consumers today spend 4x more on experiences than physical goods.
With Capturelife, operators can deliver memories from guests’ experiences the way consumers want them. They can engage with guests before, during, and after they visit with state-of-the-art workflow solutions. With an easy-to-implement model, attractions can quickly monetize and effortlessly boost current photo and digital content sales.
To engage with Capturelife, contact alexp@capturelife.com to schedule a time to meet in advance.
Cloward H2O – booth #2844
Cloward H2O, an expert in aquatic design, will be present at IAAPA Expo 2023. Since 1985, the firm has specialised in recreational aquatics, striving to bring the creative visions of its clients and designers to life in a collaborative design process. Perfecting all aspects of water, its end goal is to design safe, clean, and clear water for everyone to enjoy.
Cloward H2O’s mission as a full-service engineering firm specialising in all things water is to create aquatic attractions and recreational water projects. It has been involved in the creation of many of the world’s most prominent resorts and aquatic attractions, bringing industry-leading technology in design and engineering, water treatment, structural systems, and other integral components to each project.
Recently, the company celebrated the opening of Montgomery Whitewater, a major new outdoor lifestyle centre in Montgomery, Alabama, US.
To meet with the team at the trade show, please contact them via email.
CONDUCTR
CONDUCTR (CDTR), the UK-based innovation studio, will have a presence at IAAPA Expo 2023. Peter Cliff, CEO and founder, and Jos van der Steen, COO and founder will be walking the show floor and available for meetings.
Recently, CDTR teamed up with Alton Towers Resort in the UK for a horror-themed escape maze as part of this year’s Scarefest event. The technology-enhanced attraction brings together two immersive entertainment genres into one spooky experience called Daz Games: PANIC. This was designed by CDTR in collaboration with legendary YouTube star Daz Black.
The firm also launched its new Game Volt product division earlier this year. This aims to deliver quality, tech-enhanced social gaming products for the entertainment and leisure industry
Connect&GO – booth #2036
Connect&GO is a leading global provider of integrated technologies and RFID solutions for the attractions industry. It will be unveiling new product functionality at IAAPA Expo 2023. Attendees can explore how the firm’s flexible operations management platform seamlessly integrates eCommerce, POS, food and beverage, RFID, access control and cashless payments using proprietary virtual wallet technology to give you all your data in one place.
Connect&GO has recently solidified exciting collaborations with two renowned attraction groups: Six Flags and Looping Group. At Six Flags, Connect&GO is revolutionising the guest experience at select Hurricane Harbor waterparks through the innovative SixPay program. This program leverages Virtual Wallet technology and RFID wristbands to facilitate seamless cashless transactions, enhancing the overall guest experience and encouraging increased spending within the parks.
The company has also expanded its footprint in France through a strategic deployment in five parks belonging to the Looping Group. This expansion brings the total number of parks in France utilizing Connect&GO’s cutting-edge solution to over eight, further solidifying the company’s position as a pivotal player in the French and European markets.
Attendees can schedule a meeting to explore how Connect&GO can help their amusement park, water park, family entertainment centre, zoo, aquarium or attraction drive revenue and maximise customer engagement with easy-to-use technology and real-time data.
COST – booth #4726
COST, an industry leader in theme and speciality construction services, will be displaying multiple new award-winning projects for this year in its theme, museum, and zoo exhibit offerings.
The company will also be unveiling a brand new, never-before-seen product line that it encourages everyone to stop by and take a swing at! Jeff Shieber, Jared Stanwyck, Jordan Jones, Greg Marks, and president Mike Schmuhl will be in attendance.
To book a meeting, please contact Jeff Sheiber via email. <jsheiber@cost-inc.com>
D-BOX Technologies
D-BOX Technologies, a world leader in immersive motion entertainment experiences, will introduce innovative haptic concepts at this year’s event. This includes a versatile haptic floor. Using its world-renowned haptic technology, the company partnered with key organisations to develop the groundbreaking product, opening new opportunities in immersive entertainment experiences.
The floor is fully customisable when it comes to the haptic experience, leveraging D-BOX’s
signature ability to hand-code more than 65,000 unique effects of movements, vibrations and textures, perfectly synchronised to the content being shown. Select demonstration videos can be viewed at booth #883.
In addition, some of D-BOX’s sim racing partners will be at IAAPA Expo, including ImSim (booth #262). Requiring minimal space and no attendants, sim rigs are ideal for FECs looking to expand offerings in competitive socialising. Unlike traditional cabinet games, sim racing raises the immersion factor with a realistic environment and vehicle dynamics created with precise haptic feedback. This allows drivers to feel every moment of the race,
Nicolas Fournier, director of commercial sales, will be onsite and available to meet to discuss any potential projects. Meetings can be scheduled here.
DOF Robotics – booth #1063 & #1362
DOF Robotics, a producer of dynamic simulation platforms, interactive VR games, and high-tech VR and AR amusement attractions, will be showcasing the new Monster Jam Grave Digger Ice. It will also present the all-new design for the Hurricane 360 VR product.
Recently, blooloop spoke to Bakit Baydaliev, CEO and co-founder, to find out more about the company’s mission to create unforgettable experiences and learn about some of its upcoming developments.
The firm is dedicated to developing unique experiences that revitalise entertainment spaces and entice customers to visit again and again. It holds several patents for technical and thematic designs, amusement projects, and simulation rides and machines. Its products can be found in more than 80 countries across the globe.
Earlier this year, DOF also debuted a new VR movie, Homeland: Rise of Nomads.
To schedule an appointment with the team, please click here.
Dronisos – #751
Dronisos, a leading drone light show specialist, has curated unparalleled expertise in crafting permanent displays for theme parks. Powered by cutting-edge technology, it serves renowned amusement parks globally, including Disneyland Paris, Dollywood, Puy du Fou, and more.
Whether orchestrating a spectacle with a few hundred or several thousand drones, indoors or outdoors, the company specialises in delivering captivating light performances. Earlier this year, Dronisos provided Europe’s biggest-ever drone show for the Bastille Day celebrations at Disneyland Paris. The show took place above the Sleeping Beauty Castle and featured 1,495 drones. These were accompanied by light effects, fountains and pyrotechnics.
The company has also announced that its partnership with Dollywood will continue for a second year.
Attendees can book a meeting at the show to discuss how to collaborate on an exceptional experience that sets their destination apart.
Electrosonic – booth #2065
Electrosonic, a leading international audiovisual and technology services company, will be offering complimentary coffee when attendees stop by the booth at IAAPA Expo 2023. Located in the ‘Show Production and Design Pavilion’, Electrosonic will have its technology designers and partners on-site to provide blue-sky ideation around delegates’ next projects.
Electrosonic’s people are passionate about helping bring their clients’ visions to life. Drawing upon their heritage and pioneering spirit, they provide expert design, engineering and support consultancy utilising the right technology solutions. The team has worked on more than 50 Thea award-winning projects.
Electrosonic recently joined forces with Float4 to create eight accessible multimedia exhibits for View Boston. This is a new observatory on top of the Prudential Tower, a key landmark on the city’s skyline. Earlier this year, the firm spoke to blooloop about how new technologies can create more environmentally sustainable spaces, the benefits of virtual AV control and management systems, and how master planning and taking a collaborative approach from the start of a project is key.
Sign up for a 30-minute complimentary charette session for a one-on-one meeting with an executive consultant.
Embed – booth #1040
Embed is a leading worldwide supplier of point-of-sale and revenue management systems. It will showcase another industry first at this year’s IAAPA Expo.
Attendees will be able to discover the new Embed Success Squad, which the company has created to elevate the Embed family, providing high-value, cost-free benefits to Embed clients. In addition, the Embed Success Squad is presenting Embed GoTrain. This is gamified, in-venue training for FEC operators and staff on how to generate increased Mobile Wallet registrations and sign-ups.
The team will also be demonstrating the new smartTOUCH+ and the eSHOP, alongside a new world-class support and training platform, Embed Help Centre.
Environmental Street Furniture – booth #872
Environmental Street Furniture (ESF) is a supplier of exterior street furniture products. It will debut its independent stand at IAAPA Expo 2023, presenting its innovative, environmentally conscious street furniture designs.
The company is an international designer and supplier of high-quality outdoor furniture that combines technology, innovation, and contemporary materials with exceptional design. The family-owned firm was founded in 1998 and has been under the current ownership since 2012. It exports to more than 27 countries across the world.
Attendees can discover ESF’s solar-powered Brite Bin and the Solar Powered Steora Bench. The Brite Bin is fully powered by solar energy. This, not only encourages litter-free streets but also illustrates the firm’s commitment to renewable energy solutions. Additionally, the Solar Powered Steora Bench blends utility and design, offering comfortable seating while making use of the power of the sun.
Delegates will also be able to meet with CEO Alan Lowry. Lowry will be available to provide detailed information, answer questions, and discuss how the products can enhance public spaces sustainably.
ETF Ride Systems – booth #5129
ETF Ride Systems, a leading ride designer and manufacturer, will be showing some of its latest projects. This includes Volkanu, an attraction by Sally Dark Rides at the new Lost Island theme park, as well as the water ride Tiki Splash Roulette, Maus au Chocolat and a ride at the experience museum Grotte Cosquer.
ETF Ride Systems is a partner for people movers and interactive dark rides. It offers a broad range of ride concepts including trackbound or trackless rides, rides in the water, on the ground, elevated or suspended, all electrical driven. the firm’s ride concepts have the flexibility to integrate specific customer requirements.
To create a total ride experience, customers can integrate passenger ride interactivity options like speed control or directional control. For other enhancements including audiovisual, decorations and more, ETF works closely with many partners in this field.
This year, the company celebrates 25 years in the attractions industry.
Extreme Engineering – booth #2659
Extreme Engineering, a leading adventure attractions company, will highlight new products at IAAPA Expo 2023. Attendees can find out more about the all-new Ollie-Loop attraction, as well as the firm’s suspended coasters and shade systems.
Ollie-Loop is a thrilling, family-friendly ride that spins and shoots riders sky-high, inspired by skateboarding. It features abrupt jumps, circular motions, and unpredictable motions, all while securely holding up to six riders. The Ollie-Loop offers a vast array of motion, lighting, and sounds to create a completely immersive experience. There are also more options for theming, which opens up endless branding possibilities.
The team will also present the new Cloud Coaster ride vehicles. The all-new Cloud Coaster Storm and Cloud Coaster Typhoon are both tandem suspended ride vehicles. The Cloud Coaster Storm is configured for riders to sit side by side. Meanwhile, the Cloud Coaster Typhoon configures riders to sit back to back.
The patent-pending FLX Shade will also be on show. This was developed to provide a high-quality, cost-effective solution to help outdoor parks, attractions, and recreation areas offer shade from direct sunlight for their guests.
Extreme Engineering won two Brass Ring awards at last year’s trade show.
Falcon’s Beyond – booth #1073
Falcon’s Beyond Global is a fully integrated development enterprise for IP-driven parks, resorts, media and merchandise. The team returns to IAAPA Expo amid a notable year for the company. On 6 October, Falcon’s Beyond began trading on the Nasdaq after closing its previously announced business combination with FAST Acquisition Corp. II. To celebrate, Falcon’s Beyond rang the Opening Bell at Nasdaq on 10 October.
This year, the company opened Katmandu Park | Punta Cana. This features cutting-edge, first-of-its-kind rides and attractions, through its “Big-Experience, Small-Footprint” approach, that immerse guests in the company’s original, proprietary franchise, The Hidden Realms of Katmandu.
Falcon’s also recently announced its debut project as part of its joint venture with Raging Power Limited, an arm of K11 Group, the Hong Kong-based cultural commerce giant. Through the joint venture, Falcon’s will collaborate to develop and launch new entertainment franchises and location-based entertainment (LBE) attractions across China.
At its IAAPA booth, Falcon’s will showcase a slate of its proprietary rides and attractions technologies. These are scalable and suitable for a variety of different themed entertainment projects. This includes a mini-demo of its ON!X Theater attraction from Katmandu Park.
Attendees can meet Jason Ambler, president of Falcon’s Digital Media; Daryl White, EVP of global licensing & business development; Saham Ali, EVP of technology; Toni Caracciolo, EVP of marketing and Sophie Masse, marketing specialist. To schedule a meeting, please click here.
Gateway Ticketing Systems – booth #4847
Gateway Ticketing Systems, a leading provider of admission control systems, is inviting attendees to get actionable ideas for creating personalised guest journeys at IAAPA Expo 2023. The team will be offering bookable immersive, interactive guest journey experiences at the booth.
The Guest Journey will immerse operators in their guest’s experience, from purchasing a ticket to accessing the venue, being upsold, stopping at the gift shop or cafe, exiting the attraction, and upgrading your ticket to a membership or season pass.
Attendees can follow their ticket and guest account live and watch as Gateway’s Galaxy Ticketing and Guest Experience solution registers transactional touchpoints, forming a 360-degree view of the visit and enabling the Gateway team to personalise the experience. To book, please click here.
Gateway, which celebrates 35 years in the business this year, also recently released a new version of its Galaxy Connect product.
Great Coasters International – booth #2273
The team from Great Coasters International Inc. (GCI), a coaster manufacturing company recognised for its exceptional wooden roller coasters, will be on hand to talk about the firm’s Infinity Flyer, Millennium Flyer and Mini-illenium Flyer Cars, as well as the Titan Track.
Recently, the company announced that it is building its first wood and steel hybrid coaster in China. This will be coming to OCT Xiangyang’s Kunlun Fantasy Land. The coaster, provisionally named The Anger of Yeti, will reach 26.2m in height. It has a total track length of 789.52 m. Passengers will enjoy top speeds of 78.9 km/h, with a 49.5-degree angle of inclination and a pivot angle of 67.2 degrees. GCI also created the Zambezi Zinger at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City.
Clair Hain, owner/president; Joyce Stablewski, office director; Hayden Hain, project manager; Bryson Ebright, project manager; Dean Ross, project manager; Ryan Felty, procurement manager, and Olivia Hain, director of PR/marketing, will all be present. To set up a meeting, please email Olivia Hain.
Greenspan Projects – booth #3886
Greenspan Projects Ltd., a creative design and build specialist, will be demonstrating Puttify, an addictive new golf game.
The product proved popular when it launched at IAAPA Expo Europe in September, and will now make its US debut. This cutting-edge golf game concept is ideal for entertainment complexes, cruise lines, bars, and family entertainment centres among others. It is coined the “next generation of social entertainment” and aims to heighten the visitor experience across multiple venues.
The Greenspan team is encouraging people to play Puttify and experience the game firsthand to find out for themselves why it’s taking the social entertainment scene by storm.
Greenspan will also be showcasing its flagship project City of Dreams Mediterranean. This is a full adventure park design and build launched in July. It includes all the firm’s iconic attractions; from complex climbing walls and high ropes reaching 8m, to high-speed zip-coasters and competitive adventure golf. Plus, at the stand, there will be previews of all the latest projects underway across the globe, so attendees can get a glimpse of what the creative and professional process looks like.
Immotion – booth #1086
Immotion, a global leader in immersive edutainment, will be showcasing its outdoor VR solutions with a first-look preview of our latest live-action film experience, ahead of its worldwide release in 2024. This will give attendees a taste of what’s to come next year.
Rod Findley, president, Stacy Ignacio, partnerships director, and Moshe Eshaghian, head of marketing, will be present, along with a handful of other Immotion team members. To book a meeting, please email Stacy Ignacio.
Findley recently spoke to blooloop about the company’s vision, the process of creating its unique VR experiences, and the impact that immersive edutainment can have. Immotion’s latest immersive VR adventure, Flight of the Mantas, debuted at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) mid-year meeting in Oklahoma City in March 2023.
Inowize – booth #3473
Inowize, a creative company delivering interactive experiences, will reveal a new game for QBIX, its innovative unattended 6-player attraction. This adds to the existing lineup of three captivating titles. Since its debut at IAAPA 2022, QBIX has been making waves in the amusement industry, quickly expanding its footprint globally. It has a strong presence in North America and Europe.
In addition, attendees can discover the new 2-Player Arkadia Virtual Reality Cabinet. The Cabinet is the only VR arcade system where guests engage in true multiplayer mode, playing against each other, solo or team-based, within a compact, labour-free setup. In multiplayer mode, guests can connect with their friends in virtual worlds, enhancing the social aspect of the experience. There are currently VR games available.
Intamin – booth #3825
Intamin, a creator of record-breaking amusement rides, alongside Qiddiya Six Flags, will be revealing the train of the world’s fastest/longest and highest coaster being built during the show. The team will also present a new ride system, which is a reimagined classic.
Earlier this year, Intamin celebrated the opening of a new LSM Multi Launch motorbike coaster at Fuji-Q Highland. Named Zokkon, the over 1,300-metre-long coaster reaches a height of 24 metres. It also reaches top speeds of more than 70 kilometres per hour.
The team also recently spoke to blooloop about its commitment to sustainability, exploring some of its recent innovations.
To book a meeting, please contact the team via email.
Katapult – booth #671
Katapult, the international guest experience design agency and the world’s first B Corp Certified themed attraction design company will once again be in attendance at IAAPA Expo. Hosted at the UK Department for Business and Trade, delegates will be able to hear from the team about some of the firm’s recent theme parks, resorts and visitor attraction projects
Chief creative officer and co-founder Phil Higgins will be joined by projects director Cathrin Winsor and creative director Andy Sinclair-Harris. Katapult designs award-winning themed attractions and experiences that amaze and engage visitors globally. Its work is enjoyed by 50 million visitors, at 81 attractions, in 18 different countries, every single year.
The company’s clients include The LEGO Group, Ferrari, Cartoon Network, Merlin Entertainments, Warner Bros. and more. This year, Katapult will be continuing to showcase its themed resort design expertise. For over 10 years, the UK-based team has worked on both new-build and existing themed resort projects, helping to bring a magical guest experience to destinations around the world.
Lagotronics – booth #2681
Lagotronics Projects, the media-based attractions specialist, will showcase its GameChanger maquette. This is a rotating interactive dark ride that offers endless possibilities for theming and gameplay. Attendees can also meet one of the firm’s animatronics.
Earlier this year, Lagotronics Projects announced that there are now three levels of theming and storytelling available for the Battle Arena. Every level’s goal is the same: score as many points as you can by striking objects hidden in the background or on nearby gondolas. This is happening as the gondolas rise and fall at predetermined but erratic intervals. Visitors can also rotate their gondolas using a joystick to see all targets and adversaries.
Lagotronics Projects is a leading company in the field of interactive attractions, show experiences and dark rides. It combines game-changing technology with a passion for creating unforgettable memories. Whether attendees need a turnkey solution or a custom-made project, the team can help turn their vision into reality.
CEO Mark Beumers, together with sales representatives Tom Bouwens and Michael Thiesen, will be on hand to answer any questions. To book a meeting, please contact the team via email.
Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering – booth #1840
Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering is a world-class aquatic firm. It is returning to IAAPA Expo 2023 to exhibit its patent-pending Blue Mar Basins technology for creating multi-acre lagoons that support swimming, water sports, and even surfing. Visitors to the booth can view a scale model of a site plan demonstrating its superior water quality through an embedded video screen.
After opening the largest indoor beachfront waterpark in the country—the Island Waterpark at Showboat Atlantic City—Martin Aquatic was honoured last month with the World Waterpark Association’s Leading Edge Award for the project.
The company has also remained busy with upcoming projects such as Surf ATL and Sports Illustrated Resorts. However, the largest body of water project will be the 20-acre surf lagoon at Thermal Beach Club, set to break ground in early 2024.
With its headquarters in Orlando, Martin Aquatic has a major presence at IAAPA Expo, with dozens of team members attending, including president & creative director Josh Martin, vice president of business development Matt Kent, and vice president of Blue Mar Basins Alessandro Orio. To check availability for a meeting at Martin Aquatic’s booth, email Matt Kent.
Moonraker VFX
Moonraker VFX Ltd. is an Emmy and Thea award-winning UK-based VFX studio. It has developed a bespoke pipeline for producing Flying Theatre and Fulldome content. This includes a proprietary tracking and stabilising software allowing the seamless integration of CG and live action in both Fulldome and half dome formats.
Having worked with both Simtec and Brogent systems, Moonraker is currently completing work on two Flying Theatre films in Asia and Europe. This follows on from the success of its Changbai Mountain Flying Theatre film.
In addition, following the release of the award-winning Fulldome film, Moonbase: The Next Step, Moonraker is developing a new pipeline for giant resolution films for Fulldome. Moonraker VFX Ltd. began screening Moonbase: The Next Step at The Royal Observatory’s Peter Harrison Planetarium. It takes visitors on an inspiring lunar experience which pushes scientific and technological advances to the limit.
Jon Grafton from Moonraker will be attending IAAPA Expo and would be happy to talk about any Fulldome or Flying Theatre projects in addition to more general immersive and AV Media Visitor Attraction projects. He can be contacted via email.
Nassal and PCL
Nassal and PCL will be at IAAPA Expo 2023 and will be sponsoring the Zoo and Aquarium Day on Monday afternoon.
In May, PCL Construction Enterprises announced the acquisition of The Companies of Nassal to meet the evolving needs of clients in the entertainment, cultural, hospitality and gaming market sectors. Nassal is a leading global speciality theming fabricator and program manager. It provides fabrication and installation of immersive environments for theme parks, cultural experiences, hospitality, zoos and aquariums, and other themed environments.
Attendees can meet Matt Brown, vice president, Melissa (Ruminot) Oviedo, vice president of marketing and global development, and Martin Zurauskas, managing director, nFusion. Meetings can be booked through email.
OpenAire – booth #2243
OpenAire, a leading designer and manufacturer of retractable roofs and skylights, will also be present at IAAPA Expo 2023.
Last month, the team won a Leading Edge Award at the WWA Annual Trade Show for the Island Waterpark project. Leading Edge Awards celebrate creativity in developing new themes, facilities, programs, services or operational concepts in the water attractions industry. They are also given to suppliers who have developed new concepts, products or services to the benefit of park members, their customers and the industry.
At 100,000 square feet, Island Waterpark at Showboat in New Jersey is the world’s largest indoor beachfront water park. It is also the largest indoor water park in North America under a single retractable roof.
In the spring, OpenAire also celebrated the opening of a new indoor retractable roof waterpark on the Gulf Coast, Tropic Falls Waterpark at OWA in Foley, Alabama.
PLAYMIND – booth #429
PLAYMIND, a leading creator, developer and producer of video games, attractions and immersive digital experiences, will reveal the updated PLAYBOX at IAAPA Expo. The PLAYBOX is an immersive and interactive ball-toss attraction, designed for family entertainment centres, amusement centres, and theme parks.
This high-end multiplayer arcade platform is designed to enhance visitor enjoyment and encourage return visits. It also produces a strong return on investment. To win, visitors toss soft balls at moving targets on the big LED screen to score the most points.
PLAYMIND first launched PLAYBOX at IAAPA Expo 2019. Since then, the firm has made several improvements to the product. It will be showcasing the redesigned PLAYBOX at IAAPA Expo 2023, where attendees can try it for themselves, alongside the new two-layer PLAYBOX Mini and the company’s latest game, Dino Rampage.
ProSlide – booth #2254
ProSlide Technology Inc., the global leader in water park design and manufacturing, will present an impressive lineup of new water park rides.
This includes Saifa at Siam Water Park, Tenerife, Vikingløp RallyRACER at Rulantica, Germany, Turtle Coaster at The Land of Legends, Turkey, Quetzal at Zoomarine, Portugal, Camp IDAH2O at Roaring Springs, Idaho, Rocket BLAST at Waldameer Water park, Pennsylvania, and the upcoming Aqualibi multi-flume expansion in Belgium.
ProSlide is also sponsoring the Water Park Social and the Water Park Operator events.
Looking ahead to 2024, ProSlide is already working on new record-breaking projects in the Dominican Republic, the Middle East, the Philippines, the USA, and many more.
To schedule meetings, please contact Melissa Poirier, director of global marketing and creative studio, via email.
Rovio
Rovio Entertainment Corporation is a Finnish mobile-first gaming company and the creator of the Angry Birds brand. It is a sponsor for IAAPA Expo 2023.
The firm’s partners will be displaying Angry Birds products on the booths, including a fun bowling session with Red on the Brunswick Bowling stand. In addition, new collaborations will be announced.
In the summer, Rovio celebrated the opening of the first-ever Angry Birds café, in collaboration with SCG America. Known as iSwii by Angry Birds, the new venue in New York offers an entertaining and interactive experience for fans of the gaming franchise. Visitors can enjoy pastries, cakes, and treats as well as bubble teas and coffees. The café will also offer gaming, a shop area, and photo opportunities.
The company also recently teamed up with Attraktion! on the latest title for the Playneo game system, Pigvasion.
To book a meeting, please contact Rovio by email.
Sacoa Cashless System – booth #1815
Sacoa Cashless System, a leader in revenue management systems for the amusement, entertainment, and leisure industries, will also be in attendance. It invites attendees to explore its latest developments and connect with the team.
In addition to its presence on the show floor, Sacoa Cashless System supports IAAPA Rookies: FEC 101 as a Silver Sponsor, offering valuable insights for newcomers to the industry from November 11 to 13. Sacoa is also a Category Sponsor Diamond for the ADIBRA International Networking event. This will be held on 14 November at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando.
To schedule a meeting, please click here.
Sarner International – booth #773
Sarner International, the leading experiential design expert, will be exhibiting at the UK Department for Business and Trade booth, alongside projects director Ed Cookson’s contribution to the EDUSession Shall We Play a Game? Using Gamification In Your Experiences as mentioned above. In this, he will talk about the company’s new historical immersive attraction. This was developed with Assassin’s Creed developer Ubisoft using a recreation of Anglo-Saxon Winchester.
Sarner International also recently partnered with Figment Productions and the Science Museum group to develop a brand new Flying Scotsman VR experience at the National Railway Museum in York.
Simworx – booth #876
Simworx, the dynamic media attractions specialist, will be returning to IAAPA Expo to promote its array of media-based attractions, each designed to deliver a one-of-a-kind experience.
The team is anticipating the opening of the first Pegasus Flying Theatre in Europe. This has been making waves since its initial launch at last year’s show. Pegasus provides an immersive and thrilling flying theatre experience for guest entertainment. It is also a cost-effective solution with scalability as its hallmark feature to appeal to owners and operators.
Amongst the firm’s latest offerings is Zombie Metro Mayhem, a showcase of the storytelling capabilities inherent in the Metro Mover attraction. This experience takes visitors on an adrenaline-pumping metro journey as they strive to escape a city plagued by a zombie apocalypse.
Alongside their Metro Concept, Simworx will continue to promote the award-winning Overdrive AGV Dark Ride concept. This high-octane chase experience offers an exhilarating race through the metropolis. Riders assume the roles of either law enforcement or cunning robbers, all powered by AGV Dark Ride technology. In addition, orders remain strong for the company’s Immersive Tunnel, 4D Effects Cinema and Dynamic Motion Simulation attractions.
Simworx will be well-represented at the event by key team members including Terry Monkton, CEO; Andy Roberts, COO; Ralf Schipper, business development director; Matt Clarkson, lead creative; Nicole Sangster, digital content producer; Claire Monkton, sales and marketing coordinator and Rafael Smith, sales representative for Spain and South Europe.
Soft Play – booth #1369
Soft Play, a global leader in innovative and safe children’s playground equipment, will also exhibit at this year’s trade show.
Recently, the company has been assisting customers in repurposing vacant IMAX theatres to improve education and offer highly interactive, easily monetizable experiences. Some IMAX settings, such as science centres and museums, have been trying to find ways to make their spaces more “sticky.” IMAX theatres associated with some of these locations may at times be lacking in film variety. Or the location may just be seeking other alternatives.
The successful space exploration project Planet Play at Kennedy Space Center in Orlando, Florida, marked Soft Play’s initial entry into this market sector. Due to this project’s success, other clients with comparable needs and regions have become interested.
Storyland Studios – booth #1373
Storyland Studios, the three-dimensional storytelling firm, will be on the trade show floor with a giant air stream trailer, tiki bar and campfire. During IAAPA Expo 2023, it will host a world-exclusive themed entertainment destination reveal at the booth, on Wednesday 15 November. It is also a global sponsor for IAAPA. Storyland is supporting the association with its expos, conferences, and events, both across the globe and virtually.
In terms of recent projects, the company partnered with YoStarGlobal to create a story-driven exhibition booth for AnimeExpo 2023 earlier this year. Yostar approached Storyland to design an elaborate and unconventional Yostar Games booth concept, which would blend elements of gameplay, retail merchandising, and entertainment all in one cohesive space.
Storyland Studios has also announced the groundbreaking ceremony for Kebulania, a new film city park in Nigeria.
A large team will be present, and attendees can contact Storyland Studios ahead of the show via email.
Studio Create
Studio Create will attend at IAAPA Expo once again this year, represented by creative director, Eddie Saul.
This year has been a busy one for Studio Create, with numerous successful projects under its belt and several more in the pipeline. In addition to its significant design contributions to Madame Tussauds, it has also left its design mark on other notable ventures, including Merlin Entertainments brands such as Shrek’s Adventure and The Dungeons, as well as a design and redevelopment of the Ghost Train ride for Thorpe Park.
Outside of the Merlin portfolio, Studio Create has been actively engaged in projects for world-famous toy store Hamleys, Twycross Zoo, and Legoland. It has recently collaborated with Fever on upcoming London experiences.
Saul will be available on the show floor for meetings. To schedule a meeting, please contact him via email.
Triotech – booth #1058 & #1357
Triotech, an award-winning creator of media-based attractions, will showcase miniature models of various attraction types. This includes the Walkthrough, Hyper Ride interactive dark ride, and Dome Theater.
Furthermore, the company is showcasing a full range of attractions for FECs and arcades, including its new coin-op premium 4-player interactive simulator, QUBE, the XD Dark Ride interactive theatre, the VR interactive coin-op simulator STORM, and the quintessential coin-op, media-based simulator ride Typhoon.
Recently, the company announced the reappointment of company veteran Gabi Salabi as managing director – projects. This announcement comes after a busy year for Triotech, marked by the successful launch of its next-generation interactive dark coaster, Primordial, at Lagoon Park. In addition, the firm celebrated the grand opening of the walkthrough attraction PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS at LOTTE World in Seoul, South Korea. Champi’Folies also opened at Le Pal in France in 2023.
Triotech is hosting a press conference on Wednesday 15 November at 2:30 pm. During this, the company will unveil a significant project for a new large attraction, in collaboration with a “mystery client”. Click here to book a meeting with the team.
Valo Motion – booth #4678 & #4879
Valo Motion is a pioneer in combining interactive technology with physical activities. It will be bringing its complete suite of groundbreaking mixed-reality attractions—ValoClimb, ValoJump, and ValoArena—to the United States for the first time.
The team will demonstrate to North American operators and attendees how these three attractions function as an interconnected ecosystem, seamlessly integrated into a single operating system for a diverse and complete entertainment experience.
Its emphasis remains on being a reliable, long-term supplier for operators. This commitment is also highlighted as it broke a new record of engaging more than 200,000+ players daily, keeping it on track for its 2030 goal of one million plays per day.
Valo Motion also recently launched Mine Time, its new title for the ValoJump trampoline game platform. This features quick two-minute game cycles suitable for players aged four and up. This casual puzzle game will also be featured in a special competition at the company’s booth during the trade show.
For a VIP demo of the attractions and new game releases, attendees can book a timeslot in advance here.
Vekoma – booth #5124
Vekoma Rides, the Dutch roller coaster specialist, will be talking about the company’s newest products and services.
The firm has enjoyed a strong year, with its award-winning Family Launch Coasters Big Bear Mountain at Dollywood in the US and Lightning at Furuvik in Europe. Plus, in the spring, Liseberg opened a custom design Family Boomerang, Luna. This summer the world’s first Super Boomerang, Cloud Shuttle, was launched at Xuzhou Fantawild Wonderland in China.
2024 is also set to be a record-breaking year for Vekoma in the USA. Thrill coasters like the Tilt Coaster Circuit Breaker will open at Cotaland and North America’s first Super Boomerang THE FLASH: Vertical Velocity will open at Six Flags Great Adventure. Furthermore, the Horus Family Coaster Midnight Flyer will open at Santa’s Village in Jefferson(NH), Family Boomerang Rebound and Snoopy’s Soap Box Racers will open at Kings Island. Plus, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari is opening a custom design Family Boomerang, Good Gravy!, located in its Thanksgiving section.
Elsewhere, the firm will deliver a Suspended Thrill Coaster and Family Boomerang with intertwined design at Emerald Park in Ireland, a Kalypso Family Coaster and Mine Train at Energylandia in Poland, a Family Boomerang and a fifth Top Gun Launch Coaster at Fantawild in China.
Warner Bros. Movie World in Australia will open the world’s first Wizard of Oz precinct. This will include a Vekoma Family Boomerang Racer as well as a Suspended Family Coaster.
Walltopia – booth #4636
Walltopia Group, a world leader in the climbing and adventure & leisure industries, will be demonstrating a wide range of products. This includes trampolines, slides, the Rollglider, fun walls, ropes courses, net mazes and caves.
Last month, the company shared details of a recent project, Nomad Entertainment Center in Hawally, Kuwait. This features a wide range of the firm’s active entertainment products, catering to visitors both young and old.
The layout offers 3200 square metres of fun activities for the whole family. This makes it a prime example of efficient use of available space. The way the various attractions are interconnected to create a cohesive, colourful area full of enjoyable activities is what makes it so appealing.
Walltopia also recently announced the release of three new Ropes Course configurations, which offer venues a unique experience combined with an eye-catching aesthetic.
Attendees can meet Plamen Dilchovski, COO and head of project management; Pencho Penchev, head of design; Magdalena Markova, product manager of 8 AE products and Vasil Nikolov, product manager for ropes courses.
WhiteWater – booth #2236
WhiteWater, a leading waterpark manufacturer, will cover an intersection of the show floor at IAAPA Expo 2023. It will have four corners, representing its water parks, water rides, surf, and software divisions. At a press conference on 15 November, WhiteWater will discuss new products and give updates on the progress of large projects in each region. It will also make a major joint announcement with a special guest.
The water parks unit will present products launched this year as well as introducing an exciting innovation that creates a brand-new zero-G water slide experience. Booth visitors are invited to build their own AquaForms—a highly configurable, modular aquatic play structure—from WhiteWater’s equally configurable model.
Meanwhile, WhiteWater’s water rides division will showcase a life-sized vehicle that will be installed in a prominent project. Visitors to the surf booth will also learn more about WhiteWater’s full spectrum of surf products: FlowRider sheet waves, FlowSurf deep flow stationary waves, and Endless Surf surf lagoons.
Furthermore, the Vantage booth will allow visitors to experience, hands-on, what a personalised and interactive guest journey at a theme park or water park feels like and how it is implemented.
Appointments can be booked here.
Wiegand – booth #3415
Wiegand is a family-owned manufacturer of toboggan runs, rail-mounted toboggans and stainless steel dry slides. It will present its upgraded version of the LIM-powered CoasterKart as well as the AlpineCoaster 2.0, which has already been installed in seven locations worldwide. AlpineCoaster 2.0 is the premium version of a mountain coaster slide with many years of experience and worldwide installations.
In the field of waterslides, the Xslide is the focus of attention – the first ever crossing in a waterslide. Also full of innovation are Wiegand’s dry slides which are full of new interactive LED and sound effects.
In the summer, Wiegand brought new thrills to the top of Speikboden Mountain in Italy. Next to the popular Wiegand AlpineCoaster, Klausberg-Flitzer, guests can now whizz down seven new terrain slides. These are built into the landscape and also have the same difficulty-level colours as ski slopes. The firm has brought a total of 240 metres of sliding fun to the visitor destination.
Zamperla – booth #2024
Zamperla, a leading ride manufacturer, will also showcase several new rides. This includes the Gogo Bounze 8.4. Attendees will be able to have a sneak peek of the Gogo Bounze 8.4. They will also have the chance to try it out.
In addition, the team will present upcoming roller coaster projects and talk about its integrated rides. Zamperla’s wide portfolio allows it to design solutions tailored to each park’s needs. The results? More fun in a compact footprint.
The firm collaborated with Cedar Point, Ohio, to develop Top Thrill 2. This will be the fastest and tallest triple-launch strata roller coaster in the world. It has been engineered and developed by Zamperla’s Roller Coaster Business Unit to offer a unique ride experience. Top Thrill 2 blends the ride’s original and iconic top hat with a new 128-metre (420 ft) spike.
Zamperla’s sales team and some of its engineers will be on-site to answer any questions as well as to discuss the firm’s solutions.
Sponsors
Platinum-level sponsors for IAAPA Expo 2023 include accesso, Adyen, Alluvii Pos Software, Angry Birds, Brogent Technologies, CAVU Designwerks, DOF Robotics, Gateway Ticketing Systems, Hownd, Illumix, Ligh Up Toys, McGowan Allied, Outdoor Factory, ROLLER, Sansei Technologies, Simtec Systems, Sky Elements, Squishmallows, Storibox and Storyland Studios.
Gold-level sponsors are Aramark, Capturelife, Coca-Cola, Disney, EPR Properties, Ernst & Young, JJ Snack Food Corp, Polin, Satisfi Labs, SPREE Interactive, TAIT, and Vekoma. Meanwhile, Silver-level sponsors include AiFi, AMPP, A&ES, Billings Productions, Chargerent, CLM Risk Management, GoPhoto, Harris Mini Golf, Hasbro, Intercard, Moss Distributing, Nassal, ProSlide, Qubica AMF, Redemption Plus, Sacoa Cashless System, ShimmerTech, State Fair Mini Donuts, THG, Triotech, Unclaimed Baggage, Visit Orlando, Water Safety Products, Whirley and WTI.
