Inside IAAPA: Next-Gen Ideas Shaping Themed Entertainment
We did 72,000 steps. That's what my watch told me after four days at the IAAPA Expo. Eight miles a day of walking, networking, and discovering. IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) is packed with inspiring people and creative energy.
NextGen Showcase
Small room, big ideas. The NextGen Showcase stood out as one of highlights, offering a glimpse into the future of entertainment, brimming with up-and-coming bright minds and enthusiasm as different groups presented their innovative concepts.
Their presentations were polished and comprehensive, detailing not just their ideas, but also the steps they'd taken to get to this stage.
We spoke to the participants, offering advice and exchanging contacts. This wasn't just a student showcase - it was tomorrow's themed entertainment industry in action.
Net Walking
TEA’s event was a walk in the park… literally.
While strolling around Amsterdam at 9am, we discussed JPSS with a Disney Imagineering Director. The casual morning setting encouraged genuine conversations and productive networking.
Unexpected Encounters
At the Science Centre & Museum reception, we had an unexpected hour-long chat with a dinosaur transporter and a zoologist. Not our usual crowd.
But we learned about the process of transporting Dinosaurs to museums and how they handle deceased or terminally ill animals when preserving their bodies for science.
We spent an hour exchanging insights about our vastly different worlds. These unexpected conversations often become the most memorable parts of expos… where else would we turn up and just have a chat like this?
Innovation Showcase
Beckhoff's stand turned industrial tech into entertainment. Their floating Pac-Man demo drew crowds and showcased how seemingly mundane systems power creative experiences.
Their tech drives attractions worldwide, including Changi Airport's kinetic rain sculpture. A refreshing reminder innovation often comes from unexpected places.
