ORLANDO, Fla., US (May 17, 2018) – Today, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), the largest trade association for the worldwide attractions industry, officially broke ground on its brand new 22,000-square-foot global headquarters located on seven acres at 4155 Taft-Vineland Road in Orlando. Construction is slated to be complete by summer 2019 on the international headquarters which sits at the global epicenter of the theme park and attractions industry. With 73 employees worldwide, and 47 based in Orlando, the new headquarters is a $14 million investment for the association and for its members worldwide.
“We are a rapidly growing association supporting a dynamic and growing industry. It’s exciting during our 100-year anniversary to take our vision to the next level by breaking ground on our new global headquarters,” said Andreas Andersen, chairman of the IAAPA Board of Directors and CEO and president of Liseberg Group in Sweden. “Having the ability to increase our member engagement at all levels was a driving force behind our decision to relocate. Orlando is the perfect place for IAAPA. We have a wide array of members based here and many of our international members travel regularly to Central Florida. We look forward to continuing to support and connect with attractions industry professionals from around the globe.”
The new IAAPA headquarters will feature a unique wave pattern on the exterior, representing the constant and dynamic movement of the attractions industry. Inside, the building will have dramatic aesthetic elements including three different ceiling heights throughout, beginning with an impressive 21-foot-high entry. There will also be dedicated member space with meeting rooms, special event space and a lounge, as well as a library for the association’s archives and many thematic elements and displays reflecting the diversity of members around the world.
“We are extremely proud to now be a part of the Central Florida community,” said Hal McEvoy, interim president and CEO, IAAPA “Bringing our global headquarters to the heart of the attractions industry is the perfect next step for us as we continue to better serve our members.”
With more than 500 members located in Florida, IAAPA is best known locally for its IAAPA Attractions Expo held each November at the Orange County Convention Center. The annual conference and trade show, currently booked to remain in Orlando through 2030, has an approximate economic impact of $77 million to Central Florida. In 2017, more than 38,000 people from 100 different countries attended the event.
About IAAPA
Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2018, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) began as an advocacy office in 1918. Since that time, IAAPA has become the largest international trade association for permanently located attractions dedicated to the preservation and prosperity of the global attractions industry. As a non-profit organization, IAAPA represents more than 5,300 attraction, supplier, and individual members from more than 100 countries. Members include professionals from amusement parks, theme parks, attractions; water parks, resorts; family entertainment centers; zoos, aquariums; science centers, museums; and industry manufacturers and suppliers.
IAAPA helps members improve their efficiency, marketing, safety, and profitability while maintaining the highest possible professional standards in the industry worldwide.
The association's global headquarters is in Orlando, Florida, US. The non-profit organization maintains offices in Brussels, Belgium; Hong Kong, China; Shanghai, China; Mexico City, Mexico, and Alexandria, Virginia, US. To learn more, visit IAAPA.org or connect through social media channels: @IAAPAHQ #IAAPA100
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Editor’s Note: To download photos of the groundbreaking ceremony and the building rendering, visit www.IAAPA.org/IAAPAgroundbreaking. To download b-roll of the event, click here.
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