Attractions are the main attraction this week
By Sara K. Clarke, Orlando Sentinel
5:12 PM EST, November 14, 2010
Attractions professionals roaming the floor of the Orange County Convention Center this week will see everything from the King Cobra water slide to the Mocapsuit, a motion-capture gaming device.
For six days, the latest innovations in the attractions industry will be on display at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions' annual convention. About 25,000 people from 90 countries are expected to attend the show in search of such things as new rides, ticketing technologies and food-delivery systems.
"Anytime you can get out of the office and connect with your peers and some of the leaders in the industry is a really good thing," said Jeff Stanford, spokesman for the Orlando Science Center. "It really helps us to get new ideas and get better perspective and stay competitive."
IAAPA announced during the summer that it plans to keep the show, which is not open to the public, in Orlando for the next 10 years. Local companies and executives are playing a big role during this year's event as exhibitors and speakers.
Tom Williams, chairman of Universal Parks & Resorts, will speak about the creative process behind Universal's new blockbuster, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, during a Wednesday breakfast for general managers and park owners.
Two big-time former Disney executives, Marty Sklar and Mickey Steinberg, will offer their thoughts on navigating huge, international projects such as Shanghai Disney.
Taking advantage of the show's surroundings, there will be behind-the-scenes tours of Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios theme parks, Universal Orlando's Wizarding World, SeaWorld Orlando, Wet 'n Wild, and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
"There are a lot of ideas that are kind of hatched and born at the show," said David Mandt, a spokesman for the attractions trade group. "But guests may not see them in the parks for several years because of the development process."
New for this year's show: a half-day symposium on social media. The educational seminar will feature information about using online social networks to connect not only with guests but with employees.
That's a priority for Mark Brisson, marketing director for Fun Spot of Florida Inc., which has amusement parks in Orlando and Kissimmee. Also, "We're always on the lookout for good sales on new or used rides," he said.
Fun Spot's Kissimmee park will also serve as a showroom floor of sorts, showcasing the LED lighting on its Ferris Wheel during a party on Wednesday.
Ripley Entertainment Inc., another locally based attractions company, said it will have its largest presence yet at the show.
"We're going to unveil a new attractions concept for our Guinness World Records brand," said Tim O'Brien, vice president of communications for Ripley. "Our push is to sell new franchises."
The Florida Attractions Association is hosting a booth at IAAPA for the first time in its 62-year history, in an attempt to attract new members.
"We're very excited about Orange County being the home of IAAPA for the next 10 years," said Bill Lupfer, the state association's president and chief executive officer. "We're chasing membership in our association from Florida-based attractions and international suppliers."
With the show coming two weeks after the mid-term elections, IAAPA's seminar on government relations is likely to be a big draw. The session will brings together the leaders of various state attractions associations to discuss what's happening in legislatures across the country and in Congress.
"We'll be very interested in understanding this year IAAPA's impression of a new Congress," Lupfer said. "The effect of the new Congress, the new House [of Representatives] on issues related to our industry."
By Sara K. Clarke, Orlando Sentinel
5:12 PM EST, November 14, 2010
For six days, the latest innovations in the attractions industry will be on display at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions' annual convention. About 25,000 people from 90 countries are expected to attend the show in search of such things as new rides, ticketing technologies and food-delivery systems.
"Anytime you can get out of the office and connect with your peers and some of the leaders in the industry is a really good thing," said Jeff Stanford, spokesman for the Orlando Science Center. "It really helps us to get new ideas and get better perspective and stay competitive."
IAAPA announced during the summer that it plans to keep the show, which is not open to the public, in Orlando for the next 10 years. Local companies and executives are playing a big role during this year's event as exhibitors and speakers.
Tom Williams, chairman of Universal Parks & Resorts, will speak about the creative process behind Universal's new blockbuster, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, during a Wednesday breakfast for general managers and park owners.
Two big-time former Disney executives, Marty Sklar and Mickey Steinberg, will offer their thoughts on navigating huge, international projects such as Shanghai Disney.
Taking advantage of the show's surroundings, there will be behind-the-scenes tours of Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios theme parks, Universal Orlando's Wizarding World, SeaWorld Orlando, Wet 'n Wild, and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
"There are a lot of ideas that are kind of hatched and born at the show," said David Mandt, a spokesman for the attractions trade group. "But guests may not see them in the parks for several years because of the development process."
New for this year's show: a half-day symposium on social media. The educational seminar will feature information about using online social networks to connect not only with guests but with employees.
That's a priority for Mark Brisson, marketing director for Fun Spot of Florida Inc., which has amusement parks in Orlando and Kissimmee. Also, "We're always on the lookout for good sales on new or used rides," he said.
Fun Spot's Kissimmee park will also serve as a showroom floor of sorts, showcasing the LED lighting on its Ferris Wheel during a party on Wednesday.
Ripley Entertainment Inc., another locally based attractions company, said it will have its largest presence yet at the show.
"We're going to unveil a new attractions concept for our Guinness World Records brand," said Tim O'Brien, vice president of communications for Ripley. "Our push is to sell new franchises."
The Florida Attractions Association is hosting a booth at IAAPA for the first time in its 62-year history, in an attempt to attract new members.
"We're very excited about Orange County being the home of IAAPA for the next 10 years," said Bill Lupfer, the state association's president and chief executive officer. "We're chasing membership in our association from Florida-based attractions and international suppliers."
With the show coming two weeks after the mid-term elections, IAAPA's seminar on government relations is likely to be a big draw. The session will brings together the leaders of various state attractions associations to discuss what's happening in legislatures across the country and in Congress.
"We'll be very interested in understanding this year IAAPA's impression of a new Congress," Lupfer said. "The effect of the new Congress, the new House [of Representatives] on issues related to our industry."
