IAAPA Expo Europe is headed to the Netherlands, with the premier event for the EMEA region’s attractions and leisure industries returning to Amsterdam for its 2024 edition.
Taking place at RAI Amsterdam from September 23 - 27, IAAPA Expo Europe 2024 invites industry professionals from around the globe to explore the diverse landscape of the European attraction’s market and shape the future of the industry, in an event that promises to immerse attendees in a blend of tradition and innovation for an unmissable experience that will “inspire and captivate.”
IAAPA’s largest European expo to date, this year’s event offers an extensive trade show floor, a comprehensive education programme and a host of exciting networking opportunities.
The show will also serve as a celebration of Dutch culture, kicking off with a spectacular opening ceremony on September 24, featuring traditional music and dance performances to reflect the Netherlands’ rich heritage.
“This year’s IAAPA Expo Europe is an absolute must-visit for everyone involved in the attractions industry,” said IAAPA EMEA VP and executive director Peter van der Schans.
“I’m delighted to see the show returning to my home country, The Netherlands, with its rich cultural history in theme parks and vendors. We are excited to showcase the latest innovations, delve into diverse educational programmes, and foster new connections.”
Here’s everything you need to know about IAAPA Expo Europe 2024.
Opening on September 24, this year’s show floor is set to be IAAPA Expo Europe’s largest yet, with more than 650 exhibitors from across the globe represented on the 18,500sq m (199,000sq ft) show floor. Here are just a few of the innovations set to be showcased at this year’s expo.
Canadian dark ride and interactive attractions specialist Triotech will spotlight several of its latest projects on the trade show floor.
Visitors to booth 10331 will get a sneak peek at new Triotech attractions: Into the Deep and SAGA City of Light.
Opening at Six Flags Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia, Into the Deep promises an “unparalelled immersive experience,” and is billed as the company’s “largest-ever” interactive dark ride, with the turnkey attraction spanning more than 2,400sq m (25,833sq ft).
The Puy du Fou SAGA City of Light Experience in China, Shanghai, meanwhile, is an immersive theatre attraction that combines dynamic platforms, special effects and simulations to transport guests to 1930s Shanghai.
In addition, Triotech’s new SuperBlaster coin-operated simulator will be showcased at the Bandai Namco stand, booth 8373.
Rollercoaster and water ride manufacturer Reverchon will be exhibiting its new Spinning Coaster Stall Turn attraction at this year’s IAAPA Expo Europe.
Recently launched in the US, the Spinning Coaster Stall Turn is an enhanced version of the company’s Spinning Coaster attraction and includes several new features to provide an elevated rider experience.
The innovative new offering includes a Power Lift option, which enables the lift to accelerate at a speed of 8 metres per second while the layout has been redesigned, based on calculations of five million cycles, to meet the latest EN131814 standards – which specifies the minimum requirements for the safe maintenance, operation and testing of theme park rides.
“Creativity is the key word for this year and 2025, as our research and development department is continuously committed to the creation of new attractions, both for existing rides and attractions,” said a Reverchon spokesperson.
Visitors to booth 12032 will be able to discuss the new rollercoaster with CEO Nicholas Reverchon.
AlterFace will reveal its new interactive dark ride, developed in partnership with Jora Vision and ETF Ride Systems, in an exclusive press conference on the trade show floor.
Taking place on the Jora Vision stand, booth 12416, on September 24 at 2pm, the press conference will reveal details of the attraction, called The Enchanted Greenhouse, which will debut at the upcoming Six Flags Qiddiyah City resort in Saudi Arabia.
Once open, the attraction will transport guests to a long-abandoned greenhouse where they will encounter the elusive ‘Farasha’, uncover the mysteries of the greenhouse and interact with its hidden inhabitants as they journey through the richly-themed environment.
“This experience goes beyond traditional gameplay, offering a unique co-operative adventure that immerses guests in a truly magical world,” said an AlterFace spokesperson.
Accesso will present its “most-innovative” range of attractions technology solutions yet, showcasing products including: accesso Passport, accesso Horizon and accesso Freedom.
Powered by Accesso’s eCommerce capability, accesso Passport is an end-to-end SaaS platform that delivers intuitive shopping experiences to increase revenue by enabling guests to purchase tickets, season passes, parking and food and beverage during their visit.
accesso Horizon, meanwhile, is a ticketing and visitor management platform that can be implemented across all guest touchpoints and provides real-time intelligence, dynamic pricing and availability control.
A cloud-based restaurant and retail platform, accesso Freedom offers operators a flexible solution for food and retail transactions through mobile point-of-sale, mobile food ordering and self-service kiosks.
“Meeting the high expectations of today’s guests, means operators must provide the right experience across touchpoints from ticketing to restaurant, retail and more and that can be complicated. Our team is innovating in providing cloud-native solutions and constantly working to help our clients improve the guest experience,” said Accesso’s VP of sales, George Hambleton.
Simworx will be showcasing its extensive portfolio of dynamic media-based attractions, with several members of the team on hand to discuss upcoming projects and opportunities.
Visitors to booth 11113 can also learn about the company’s recent expansion into the sports entertainment sector, after partnering with C360 International to develop an immersive 360 degree in-stadium viewing experience.
Developed in partnership with former England manager Glen Hoddle, the concept is billed as “a new era in spectator experiences” and consists of travelling pods that offer a 360-degree perspective of sports events, immersing viewers in every angle of the match as their seat travels around the stadium.
Simworx is also gearing up for a number of exciting openings, with its Brass Ring Award-nominated Pegasus Flying Theatre attraction launching in Istanbul, Turkey, in the coming months, as well as several projects in the US, Saudi Arabia and the UK.
Attractions technology provider Semnox will present several of its latest innovations at this year’s IAAPA Europe Expo, including its Radian Smart Wristband.
A patented wearable technology designed for managing time-based activities, the Radian Smart Wristband uses RFID technology to send vibrations or glowing alerts to notify guests that their activity is beginning or ending and the time remaining.
The technology not only helps to enhance the guest experience and streamline operations but also helps to reduce staffing costs and maximise venue capacity.
Visitors to booth 8570 will also be able to explore Semnox’s full range of products, which includes the KwickFun Game Deduction mobile app, digital waiver solutions, self-service kiosks and POS systems.
Media-based attractions manufacturer Brogent will be sharing details of three major project openings in Asia and the US.
Among the openings is The Mission: Mobility Heroes, a new generation 4D ride at South Korea’s largest mobility theme park; Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang. Housed inside the park’s old 4D theatre, the attraction combines Brogent’s cutting-edge 6-DOF motion simulators with an immersive LED dome screen. Guests are sent soaring over the Seoul skyline before jumping into the midst of a wildfire, where they rescue people and animals alongside Hyundai’s future mobility heroes.
2024 has also seen the launch of Brogent’s newest and most high-end i-Ride flying theatre at Chicago’s Navy Pier in the US, as well as the opening of it’s first turnkey o-Ride at the Thaiwoo ski resort in China.
Guest experience platform Attractions.io has partnered with Cinchio Solutions on independent research delving into the future of technology in the attractions industry, with the report set to be released during the show.
Featuring insight from more than 1,000 guests and 200 operators from the US and Europe, the report will highlight the gap between guest expectations and operator plans for digital investments and provide insight into how operators can successfully bridge this gap.
The Attractions.io team, which has created mobile guest apps for some of the world’s most popular attractions, will also be on hand to discuss how a mobile-first approach can help operators to increase second gate spend, boost F&B revenue, drive guest engagement and loyalty and meet sustainability targets.
In addition, the company will be hosting it’s annual hAPPy hour ahead of the opening reception on September 24, offering attendees two exclusive beverages: Attractions.io’s Wayfinder Weizen and Virtual Brewing IPA.
Experiential design and technology firm Holovis is preparing to launch two of its largest 360Golf courses before the end of the year, as part of a wider project that will see 11 courses installed at an undisclosed location in late 2024.
The team, including Holovis’ head of creative Dean Wright and head of business development for 360Golf Matt Dobbs, will be on hand to discuss the innovative product at this year’s IAAPA Expo Europe.
Billed as a “reinvention of mini-golf,” 360Golf offers seamless tracking and automated stroke-counting technology inside the golf balls themselves, with the technology gamified to deliver a fun experience as player’s advance round the course.
Developed in partnership with Adventure Golf & Sports (AGS), the game combines Holovis’ high-tech capabilities with AGS’ 30-plus years of mini-golf design experience, and has been well received by both the public and attractions operators since its 2021 launch.
Leading trade body Experience UK is bringing the UK Pavilion back for its sixth edition, with some of the UK’s top attractions suppliers set to be represented on the stand.
The UK Pavilion will act as a “centrepiece of British excellence in the leisure and attractions industry,” and will feature a range of companies, including Ucargo, Holovis, BatFast, Singa, Wild Republic, Sports Coach Simulator and Semantic.
Experience UK is also holding a UK Trade Mission to the Netherlands, with delegates from leading companies set to meet British businesses.
In addition, the trading body will host a hospitality lounge during the show and a social mixer, taking place on September 23 at the Leonardo Royal Hotel Amsterdam.
“This year’s UK Pavilion promises to be a true celebration of British creativity and technological innovation. We are excited to bring together such a diverse group of companies and showcase their groundbreaking contributions to the global attractions industry,” said Experience UK CEO Ian Clappison.
BoldMove is set to introduce Spinfinity Coaster, an innovative new dark ride system developed in partnership with E&S Rides, on the trade show floor.
Announced earlier this year, the family-friendly attraction combines the motion of a rollercoaster with the immersion of a dark ride, offering thrill effects and boomerang and shuttle motions and themed media scenarios, as riders make their way through the attraction.
The company has also developed a unique ride vehicle for the attraction, with passengers seated face to face in order to create a shared experience.
BoldMove will announce several energy-saving features and ride formats during the show.
Representatives from Italian rollercoaster and ride manufacturer Zamperla will be on hand to discuss two upcoming projects, slated to launch in Europe and Asia in 2026.
The show comes after a successful year for the company, which saw the opening of Snoopy’s Tenderpaw Twister, a Family Coaster 155, at Knott’s Berry Farm in California, US.
2024 also saw the launch of the company’s second Daddy Pig’s Roller Coaster attraction, the first of which opened at the Peppa Pig Theme Park in Florida in 2022. Known as Papa Wutz’ Autobahn, the second coaster opened at the new Peppa Pig Theme Park in Günzberg, Germany, while a third is set to launch at the upcoming Peppa Pig Theme Park in Dallas, US, in 2025.
In addition, the company will be showcasing its integrated rides concept, which combines Zamperla’s collection of flat rides with its collection of rollercoastes to create immersive, IP-driven experiences.
This year’s education offering features a host of keynote speeches and panel talks exploring a broad range of topics including artificial intelligence (AI), guest experience, social entertainment, storytelling, the climate crisis, inclusion and sustainability.
The always popular CEO Talk will offer valuable insight from some of the industry’s leading executives. Taking to the stage this year are Scott O’Neill; CEO of Merlin Entertainments, Zeina Dagher; SVP of Dubai Holding Entertainment, Michael Mack; CEO of Europa-Park, and Reinoud Van Assendelft de Coningh; MD of Van Assendelft en Partners, who will explore the cutting-edge advancements revolutionising the market and share the real-world experiences driving their success.
New for 2024 is CEO Talk II, which will explore the leadership journeys of three CEOs who have recently taken the helm of their respective companies. Speakers include Anne-Mart Agerbeek; CEO of Vekoma Rides, Wouter Dekkers; CEO of Momentum Leisure and Carl Lenaerts; CEO of Studio Plopsa.
Meanwhile, in 'Social Responsibility and Inclusion at Casa Battló, Ana Maria Acosta, director of cultural visits at Casa Battló, will discuss how the Barcelona-based Unesco World Heritage Site became the first of its kind to place neurodivergent guests, including individuals with autism, ADHD, dyspraxia, and other forms of neurodiversity, at the centre of its visitor experience. Through its collaboration with Specialisterne Global, Casa Battló now employs a team of over 60 neurodivergent individuals who work to create a more inclusive and accessible environment for all guests.
Presented by the TEA, ‘Designing Experiences Beyond Opening Hours’ will share insights into designing outstanding guest experiences for attractions offering extended out-of-hours opening times. Panellists include Robert Wetherell; head of events and catering at London’s Natural History Museum, Danielle Tanton, director of business development at RWS and Kieran Stanley; founder, CEO and creative director of dan pearlman Experience Architecture.
In addition, this year’s show will host several networking opportunities taking place throughout the week.
Water Park Reception
When: September 24, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Where: IAAPA Member Lounge
New for 2024 is the Water Park Reception where water park professionals can network with their industry peers over drinks.
Tickets for the Water Park Reception are priced at €30 (US$33, £25) for members and €60 (US$67, £50).
Opening Reception
When: September 24, 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Where: Strandzuid
Day One of the trade show concludes with the annual Opening Reception, which this year is being held at Strandzuid, a water-side restaurant in the heart of Amsterdam.
Attendees can mingle with industry peers from around the world and celebrate the launch of this year’s show with speciality food and drinks and stunning views of the harbour.
Tickets for the opening reception are priced at €125 (US$140, £105) for members and €210 (US$235, £176) for non-members.
Zoo and Aquarium Reception
When: September 25, 3:30pm - 16:00pm
Where: IAAPA Member Lounge
The Zoo and Aquarium Reception is a new event designed for professionals in the zoo and aquarium sector to create connections with their peers.
Tickets for the Zoo and Aquarium Receptionare priced at €30 (US$33, £25) for members and €60 (US$67, £50).
The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) is hosting its annual mixer for its Europe and Middle East Division at Amsterdam’s Tobacco Theatre.
For TEA members only, this event will offer an evening of networking, music and food, as well as a selection of wine, beer and soft drinks.
Tickets for the TEA Mixer start from €76.54 (US$76.54, £57.48) plus fees.
A full list of the education sessions and networking events can be found here
Planet Attractions will once again be in attendance at IAAPA Expo Europe as the event’s official media partner, with Editor-in-Chief Tom Anstey roaming the show floor.
To book a meeting drop us an email - [email protected] - we’d love to see you!
Everything you need to know about IAAPA Expo Europe 2024 | Planet Attractions
feature
Everything you need to know about IAAPA Expo Europe 2024
IAAPA returns to Amsterdam for the 2024 edition of IAPPA Expo Europe. Here’s everything you need to know about the event Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 23 Sep 2024
IAAPA Expo Europe is headed to the Netherlands, with the premier event for the EMEA region’s attractions and leisure industries returning to Amsterdam for its 2024 edition.
Taking place at RAI Amsterdam from September 23 - 27, IAAPA Expo Europe 2024 invites industry professionals from around the globe to explore the diverse landscape of the European attraction’s market and shape the future of the industry, in an event that promises to immerse attendees in a blend of tradition and innovation for an unmissable experience that will “inspire and captivate.”
IAAPA’s largest European expo to date, this year’s event offers an extensive trade show floor, a comprehensive education programme and a host of exciting networking opportunities.
The show will also serve as a celebration of Dutch culture, kicking off with a spectacular opening ceremony on September 24, featuring traditional music and dance performances to reflect the Netherlands’ rich heritage.
“This year’s IAAPA Expo Europe is an absolute must-visit for everyone involved in the attractions industry,” said IAAPA EMEA VP and executive director Peter van der Schans.
“I’m delighted to see the show returning to my home country, The Netherlands, with its rich cultural history in theme parks and vendors. We are excited to showcase the latest innovations, delve into diverse educational programmes, and foster new connections.”
Here’s everything you need to know about IAAPA Expo Europe 2024.
Opening on September 24, this year’s show floor is set to be IAAPA Expo Europe’s largest yet, with more than 650 exhibitors from across the globe represented on the 18,500sq m (199,000sq ft) show floor. Here are just a few of the innovations set to be showcased at this year’s expo.
Canadian dark ride and interactive attractions specialist Triotech will spotlight several of its latest projects on the trade show floor.
Visitors to booth 10331 will get a sneak peek at new Triotech attractions: Into the Deep and SAGA City of Light.
Opening at Six Flags Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia, Into the Deep promises an “unparalelled immersive experience,” and is billed as the company’s “largest-ever” interactive dark ride, with the turnkey attraction spanning more than 2,400sq m (25,833sq ft).
The Puy du Fou SAGA City of Light Experience in China, Shanghai, meanwhile, is an immersive theatre attraction that combines dynamic platforms, special effects and simulations to transport guests to 1930s Shanghai.
In addition, Triotech’s new SuperBlaster coin-operated simulator will be showcased at the Bandai Namco stand, booth 8373.
Rollercoaster and water ride manufacturer Reverchon will be exhibiting its new Spinning Coaster Stall Turn attraction at this year’s IAAPA Expo Europe.
Recently launched in the US, the Spinning Coaster Stall Turn is an enhanced version of the company’s Spinning Coaster attraction and includes several new features to provide an elevated rider experience.
The innovative new offering includes a Power Lift option, which enables the lift to accelerate at a speed of 8 metres per second while the layout has been redesigned, based on calculations of five million cycles, to meet the latest EN131814 standards – which specifies the minimum requirements for the safe maintenance, operation and testing of theme park rides.
“Creativity is the key word for this year and 2025, as our research and development department is continuously committed to the creation of new attractions, both for existing rides and attractions,” said a Reverchon spokesperson.
Visitors to booth 12032 will be able to discuss the new rollercoaster with CEO Nicholas Reverchon.
AlterFace will reveal its new interactive dark ride, developed in partnership with Jora Vision and ETF Ride Systems, in an exclusive press conference on the trade show floor.
Taking place on the Jora Vision stand, booth 12416, on September 24 at 2pm, the press conference will reveal details of the attraction, called The Enchanted Greenhouse, which will debut at the upcoming Six Flags Qiddiyah City resort in Saudi Arabia.
Once open, the attraction will transport guests to a long-abandoned greenhouse where they will encounter the elusive ‘Farasha’, uncover the mysteries of the greenhouse and interact with its hidden inhabitants as they journey through the richly-themed environment.
“This experience goes beyond traditional gameplay, offering a unique co-operative adventure that immerses guests in a truly magical world,” said an AlterFace spokesperson.
Accesso will present its “most-innovative” range of attractions technology solutions yet, showcasing products including: accesso Passport, accesso Horizon and accesso Freedom.
Powered by Accesso’s eCommerce capability, accesso Passport is an end-to-end SaaS platform that delivers intuitive shopping experiences to increase revenue by enabling guests to purchase tickets, season passes, parking and food and beverage during their visit.
accesso Horizon, meanwhile, is a ticketing and visitor management platform that can be implemented across all guest touchpoints and provides real-time intelligence, dynamic pricing and availability control.
A cloud-based restaurant and retail platform, accesso Freedom offers operators a flexible solution for food and retail transactions through mobile point-of-sale, mobile food ordering and self-service kiosks.
“Meeting the high expectations of today’s guests, means operators must provide the right experience across touchpoints from ticketing to restaurant, retail and more and that can be complicated. Our team is innovating in providing cloud-native solutions and constantly working to help our clients improve the guest experience,” said Accesso’s VP of sales, George Hambleton.
Simworx will be showcasing its extensive portfolio of dynamic media-based attractions, with several members of the team on hand to discuss upcoming projects and opportunities.
Visitors to booth 11113 can also learn about the company’s recent expansion into the sports entertainment sector, after partnering with C360 International to develop an immersive 360 degree in-stadium viewing experience.
Developed in partnership with former England manager Glen Hoddle, the concept is billed as “a new era in spectator experiences” and consists of travelling pods that offer a 360-degree perspective of sports events, immersing viewers in every angle of the match as their seat travels around the stadium.
Simworx is also gearing up for a number of exciting openings, with its Brass Ring Award-nominated Pegasus Flying Theatre attraction launching in Istanbul, Turkey, in the coming months, as well as several projects in the US, Saudi Arabia and the UK.
Attractions technology provider Semnox will present several of its latest innovations at this year’s IAAPA Europe Expo, including its Radian Smart Wristband.
A patented wearable technology designed for managing time-based activities, the Radian Smart Wristband uses RFID technology to send vibrations or glowing alerts to notify guests that their activity is beginning or ending and the time remaining.
The technology not only helps to enhance the guest experience and streamline operations but also helps to reduce staffing costs and maximise venue capacity.
Visitors to booth 8570 will also be able to explore Semnox’s full range of products, which includes the KwickFun Game Deduction mobile app, digital waiver solutions, self-service kiosks and POS systems.
Media-based attractions manufacturer Brogent will be sharing details of three major project openings in Asia and the US.
Among the openings is The Mission: Mobility Heroes, a new generation 4D ride at South Korea’s largest mobility theme park; Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang. Housed inside the park’s old 4D theatre, the attraction combines Brogent’s cutting-edge 6-DOF motion simulators with an immersive LED dome screen. Guests are sent soaring over the Seoul skyline before jumping into the midst of a wildfire, where they rescue people and animals alongside Hyundai’s future mobility heroes.
2024 has also seen the launch of Brogent’s newest and most high-end i-Ride flying theatre at Chicago’s Navy Pier in the US, as well as the opening of it’s first turnkey o-Ride at the Thaiwoo ski resort in China.
Guest experience platform Attractions.io has partnered with Cinchio Solutions on independent research delving into the future of technology in the attractions industry, with the report set to be released during the show.
Featuring insight from more than 1,000 guests and 200 operators from the US and Europe, the report will highlight the gap between guest expectations and operator plans for digital investments and provide insight into how operators can successfully bridge this gap.
The Attractions.io team, which has created mobile guest apps for some of the world’s most popular attractions, will also be on hand to discuss how a mobile-first approach can help operators to increase second gate spend, boost F&B revenue, drive guest engagement and loyalty and meet sustainability targets.
In addition, the company will be hosting it’s annual hAPPy hour ahead of the opening reception on September 24, offering attendees two exclusive beverages: Attractions.io’s Wayfinder Weizen and Virtual Brewing IPA.
Experiential design and technology firm Holovis is preparing to launch two of its largest 360Golf courses before the end of the year, as part of a wider project that will see 11 courses installed at an undisclosed location in late 2024.
The team, including Holovis’ head of creative Dean Wright and head of business development for 360Golf Matt Dobbs, will be on hand to discuss the innovative product at this year’s IAAPA Expo Europe.
Billed as a “reinvention of mini-golf,” 360Golf offers seamless tracking and automated stroke-counting technology inside the golf balls themselves, with the technology gamified to deliver a fun experience as player’s advance round the course.
Developed in partnership with Adventure Golf & Sports (AGS), the game combines Holovis’ high-tech capabilities with AGS’ 30-plus years of mini-golf design experience, and has been well received by both the public and attractions operators since its 2021 launch.
Leading trade body Experience UK is bringing the UK Pavilion back for its sixth edition, with some of the UK’s top attractions suppliers set to be represented on the stand.
The UK Pavilion will act as a “centrepiece of British excellence in the leisure and attractions industry,” and will feature a range of companies, including Ucargo, Holovis, BatFast, Singa, Wild Republic, Sports Coach Simulator and Semantic.
Experience UK is also holding a UK Trade Mission to the Netherlands, with delegates from leading companies set to meet British businesses.
In addition, the trading body will host a hospitality lounge during the show and a social mixer, taking place on September 23 at the Leonardo Royal Hotel Amsterdam.
“This year’s UK Pavilion promises to be a true celebration of British creativity and technological innovation. We are excited to bring together such a diverse group of companies and showcase their groundbreaking contributions to the global attractions industry,” said Experience UK CEO Ian Clappison.
BoldMove is set to introduce Spinfinity Coaster, an innovative new dark ride system developed in partnership with E&S Rides, on the trade show floor.
Announced earlier this year, the family-friendly attraction combines the motion of a rollercoaster with the immersion of a dark ride, offering thrill effects and boomerang and shuttle motions and themed media scenarios, as riders make their way through the attraction.
The company has also developed a unique ride vehicle for the attraction, with passengers seated face to face in order to create a shared experience.
BoldMove will announce several energy-saving features and ride formats during the show.
Representatives from Italian rollercoaster and ride manufacturer Zamperla will be on hand to discuss two upcoming projects, slated to launch in Europe and Asia in 2026.
The show comes after a successful year for the company, which saw the opening of Snoopy’s Tenderpaw Twister, a Family Coaster 155, at Knott’s Berry Farm in California, US.
2024 also saw the launch of the company’s second Daddy Pig’s Roller Coaster attraction, the first of which opened at the Peppa Pig Theme Park in Florida in 2022. Known as Papa Wutz’ Autobahn, the second coaster opened at the new Peppa Pig Theme Park in Günzberg, Germany, while a third is set to launch at the upcoming Peppa Pig Theme Park in Dallas, US, in 2025.
In addition, the company will be showcasing its integrated rides concept, which combines Zamperla’s collection of flat rides with its collection of rollercoastes to create immersive, IP-driven experiences.
This year’s education offering features a host of keynote speeches and panel talks exploring a broad range of topics including artificial intelligence (AI), guest experience, social entertainment, storytelling, the climate crisis, inclusion and sustainability.
The always popular CEO Talk will offer valuable insight from some of the industry’s leading executives. Taking to the stage this year are Scott O’Neill; CEO of Merlin Entertainments, Zeina Dagher; SVP of Dubai Holding Entertainment, Michael Mack; CEO of Europa-Park, and Reinoud Van Assendelft de Coningh; MD of Van Assendelft en Partners, who will explore the cutting-edge advancements revolutionising the market and share the real-world experiences driving their success.
New for 2024 is CEO Talk II, which will explore the leadership journeys of three CEOs who have recently taken the helm of their respective companies. Speakers include Anne-Mart Agerbeek; CEO of Vekoma Rides, Wouter Dekkers; CEO of Momentum Leisure and Carl Lenaerts; CEO of Studio Plopsa.
Meanwhile, in 'Social Responsibility and Inclusion at Casa Battló, Ana Maria Acosta, director of cultural visits at Casa Battló, will discuss how the Barcelona-based Unesco World Heritage Site became the first of its kind to place neurodivergent guests, including individuals with autism, ADHD, dyspraxia, and other forms of neurodiversity, at the centre of its visitor experience. Through its collaboration with Specialisterne Global, Casa Battló now employs a team of over 60 neurodivergent individuals who work to create a more inclusive and accessible environment for all guests.
Presented by the TEA, ‘Designing Experiences Beyond Opening Hours’ will share insights into designing outstanding guest experiences for attractions offering extended out-of-hours opening times. Panellists include Robert Wetherell; head of events and catering at London’s Natural History Museum, Danielle Tanton, director of business development at RWS and Kieran Stanley; founder, CEO and creative director of dan pearlman Experience Architecture.
In addition, this year’s show will host several networking opportunities taking place throughout the week.
Water Park Reception
When: September 24, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Where: IAAPA Member Lounge
New for 2024 is the Water Park Reception where water park professionals can network with their industry peers over drinks.
Tickets for the Water Park Reception are priced at €30 (US$33, £25) for members and €60 (US$67, £50).
Opening Reception
When: September 24, 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Where: Strandzuid
Day One of the trade show concludes with the annual Opening Reception, which this year is being held at Strandzuid, a water-side restaurant in the heart of Amsterdam.
Attendees can mingle with industry peers from around the world and celebrate the launch of this year’s show with speciality food and drinks and stunning views of the harbour.
Tickets for the opening reception are priced at €125 (US$140, £105) for members and €210 (US$235, £176) for non-members.
Zoo and Aquarium Reception
When: September 25, 3:30pm - 16:00pm
Where: IAAPA Member Lounge
The Zoo and Aquarium Reception is a new event designed for professionals in the zoo and aquarium sector to create connections with their peers.
Tickets for the Zoo and Aquarium Receptionare priced at €30 (US$33, £25) for members and €60 (US$67, £50).
The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) is hosting its annual mixer for its Europe and Middle East Division at Amsterdam’s Tobacco Theatre.
For TEA members only, this event will offer an evening of networking, music and food, as well as a selection of wine, beer and soft drinks.
Tickets for the TEA Mixer start from €76.54 (US$76.54, £57.48) plus fees.
A full list of the education sessions and networking events can be found here
Planet Attractions will once again be in attendance at IAAPA Expo Europe as the event’s official media partner, with Editor-in-Chief Tom Anstey roaming the show floor.
To book a meeting drop us an email - [email protected] - we’d love to see you!
