IAAPA Expo Europe 2022 Heads to London in September 

Rich in culture and bursting with attractions—like the iconic London Eye observation wheel, among myriad museums, theme parks, and family entertainment centers—London will be the next city to host IAAPA Expo Europe. 

Known as the leisure and attractions industry’s largest international trade show and conference in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region, IAAPA Expo Europe 2022 will be held at ExCeL London from Sept. 12 to 15, with the trade show floor open from Sept. 13 to 15. In addition to thousands of square meters in exhibit space, the venue offers a variety of food and beverage options, parking, and public transport, including an on-site Crossrail station with connection to Heathrow Airport. 

Attractions professionals from around the globe will gather at IAAPA Expo Europe 2022 to share insights, network, and gain new, valuable information on the industry’s latest developments. Attendees will be able to enjoy the innovations of the trade show floor, educational opportunities, key-note presentations, and tours of U.K. attractions.  

Explore Wonders Found on the Trade Show Floor 
Spanning over 15,000 net square meters, the trade show floor at IAAPA Expo Europe 2022 will be open Sept. 13-15 and feature more than 470 exhibiting companies. Exhibitors will showcase a diverse array of products, services, and new technologies. Attendees can explore these offerings and meet with exhibitors to find innovations in rides, inflatables, theming and design, food and beverage, water slides, ticketing and payment systems, games, and more to fit their attractions needs. 

Experience Dazzling Special Events  
IAAPA Expo Europe 2022’s lineup of special events will offer attendees the opportunity to connect, hear from expert speakers, and gain practical insights to grow their businesses.

An Opening Ceremony, sponsored by Interlink, on Sept. 13 will kick off the Expo, and the evening’s Opening Reception at the Museum of London Docklands will give attendees the opportunity to enjoy specialty food and beverages together with industry colleagues.

The Leadership Breakfast will take place the following morning—led by speakers Matthew Griffin, founder and CEO of 311 Institute, and Renato Lenzi, chief operating officer at The Dolphin Company—and a Young Professional Forum and Reception will be held in the evening. The Lunch and Learn event on Sept. 14 will focus on human resources, leadership, and work culture. 

Engage with In-Depth Learning Experiences
One of the long-standing pillars of IAAPA Expo Europe is its unique opportunities for learning, and 2022 will be no exception. Through the Education Conference, attendees can take part in 19 EDUSessions covering topics such as how to use data to improve guest experiences; leadership techniques; dynamic pricing strategies; food and beverage innovations; iconic attractions; hospitality and guest services; crisis communications; and the importance of inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA). 

Chessington World of Adventures Resort in Chessington, U.K., will host three events on Sept 12. During Safety Day, participants will hear about ride safety, standards harmonization, ride manufacturer training, ride accessibility, and new inspection guidelines. Sustainability Day will cover environmental, social, and economic sustainable operations. An EDUTour will offer a backstage view of Chessington World of Adventures Resort with the park’s operations team, which will speak on its attractions and history. The events will conclude with a joint networking reception.

Indoor Entertainment Day, designed for those interested in the business of indoor leisure facilities, will take place on Sept. 12 and visit Thurrock Hotel, Puttshack, Electric Gamebox, Wipeout, and Nickelodeon Adventure Lakeside. ExCeL London will host Water Park Day on Sept. 12 for water park owners, operators, designers, and manufacturers to learn about developments and trends in the industry, the psychology of play, health and safety issues, revenue operations, and design principles, followed by a reception. 

Ease and Unwind at IAAPA Member Lounge
First introduced in Barcelona, Spain, last year, IAAPA Expo Europe is now host to a special IAAPA Member Lounge, where visiting members can take the opportunity to rest and relax or check their emails. Complimentary drinks—such as coffee, tea, and water—will be offered in this location, as well as opportunities for members to renew their membership for 2023, receive special IAAPA gifts, and network.

Travel and Exhibition Considerations
Brexit has changed traveling to the U.K. for some. In general, EU citizens can still simply utilize their passport. Only citizens of few countries are required to obtain an entry visa. Learn more at gov.uk/standard-visitor/visit-on-business. 

Brexit has also changed how exhibition goods enter and exit the U.K. There are no major problems expected for IAAPA Expo Europe exhibitors if they start the process early and prepare the required documentation. For questions, contact IAAPA’s logistics partner at [email protected], and for more information, visit IAAPA.org/EuropeExhibitionLogistics.