IAAPA EMEA Spring Summit 2022 Brings Education and Entertainment to Rome
In May, IAAPA EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) Spring Summit 2022 welcomed over 90 attendees from 23 countries—including Canada, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States—to Rome for educational presentations, unique experiences, and networking opportunities amid the colorful attractions of the region.
The event’s presentations touched on the attractions industry’s resiliency despite the struggles of recent years and how professionals have pulled through difficult times with innovation and passion. Among the summit’s speakers, Massimiliano Freddi, ICAE, founder and CEO of Wonderwood, gave insights on the Italian market, its overall successes, and the challenges it has been facing. Filip de Witte, CEO of Familypark, enlightened audiences on how attractions survived amid COVID-19 by sharing the story of his Austrian park, owned by Compagnie des Alpes, which is headquartered in Paris. Speakers were transparent and highlighted advice on making businesses leaner, better, and more sustainable, while not compromising their bottom line.
Attendees participated in three behind-the-scenes EDUTours throughout the summit at Cinecittà World, MagicLand, and Zoomarine. Cinecittà World shared interesting insights on how it added a second gate, Roma World, to keep improving the park and create special experiences. MagicLand told the story of how it rebranded its park, as well as spoke on its plans for future growth. Lastly, Zoomarine educated attendees on social responsibility, sustainability, and animal welfare. Summit guests even got to enjoy Zoomarine’s Selfie Museum.
IAAPA EMEA Spring Summit 2022 also offered a variety of networking and learning opportunities, such as discussions about influencer marketing, how best to prepare for a crisis, and what creates a truly “engaging moment” for attractions guests. Stephanie Dahl, of Karls Tourismus GmbH, delivered a keynote that took participants on a journey through her experience in retail at Karls, and Jürgen Gevers, of Der Verband Deutscher Freizeitparks und Freizeitunternehmen (VDFU), shared about the future of the industry.
