A Letter from our Chairman, Amanda Thompson OBE

Dear IAAPA Member,

Well here’s to a very Happy New Year filled with hope and confidence for a new way forward for us all in 2021.

This time last year no one could have imagined the year we have all been through.  I can honestly say a huge thank you to all IAAPA members around the world for coming together and working so closely with all the IAAPA teams within the regions.

The IAAPA doors were flung open to help everyone and I personally would like to say how proud I am to have been your Chairman in such a challenging year - I have realised how well we all work together to help each other.

We have sadly not met face-to-face and we were all thrown into the deep end learning quickly how to communicate through digital channels.  I am no Zoom expert and nor do I want to be, but it allowed us all a way to speak to and learn from each other.

Our industry has a way of understanding the value of change and 2020 has shown how we have all adapted in challenging times.Some members have sadly not been able to open, others thankfully have. I can speak from experience of being allowed to open our gates, how exhilarating it was for us all to work with new procedures and guidelines, to look after our guests in these turbulent times. We were sadly forced to close again after only 12 weeks of trading but our guests were so grateful to return to a space where they felt safe and confident - it gave us all a renewed excitement about how important and relevant our industry is in society today.

We must remain positive and focused on the future - as tomorrow will bring hope of a vaccine which in turn I trust will allow us all to travel and again meet in person. Shared experiences during these difficult times have been invaluable for us all. We all will look forward to that time when we can meet. How magical 2021 will be. Until we meet again - please stay strong, stay safe, be bold, be brave – be IAAPA.

I look forward to leading the way as your Chairman for another year.

Amanda Thompson OBE
2021 Chairman, IAAPA Board of Directors
Managing Director, Blackpool Pleasure Beach

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