Hal McEvoy will permanently take the reins at IAAPA, being named the organisation’s president and CEO by the organisation’s Board.
McEvoy – who was named interim president and CEO of IAAPA following Paul Noland’s resignation in February – says it’s a “dream come true” to lead the global association for the attractions industry.
“Working with the IAAPA team of talented individuals to support the success of our passionate and innovative members around the world is indeed a privilege,” he says. “I’m deeply honoured to be named president and CEO by IAAPA’s Board.”
McEvoy joined the association in April 2017, taking up the position of chief financial officer and leaving SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment after more than 42 years at the company.
An active member of IAAPA long before joining the organisation, McEvoy has attended many of its expos and participated in a number of association task forces and panels, with particularly heavy involvement in the organisation’s Audit Committee, which was created in 2005. McEvoy has been a member of the committee and also chaired it from 2013 through to 2016.
He has a number of major IAAPA events and projects to oversee from the get go, with the organisation’s annual US expo returning to the Orange County Convention Centre in Orlando, Florida in November.
Also in Orlando, IAAPA is currently developing its new global headquarters, which are expected to open in 2019.
“We’re extremely proud to be a part of the Central Florida community,” he says. “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.”
IAAPA’s engagement with Orlando and the wider Florida economy is significant, with more than 500 members located in the state and the IAAPA Expo generating an estimated US$77m for the area each year.
In 2017, more than 38,000 people from 100 different countries attended the event.
“I plan to build on the foundations laid this year that will take IAAPA into the next 100 years,” says McEvoy.
“We will work to give our members the best expos, networking events, and educational programmes, as well as developing and delivering innovative new products and services. Our mission is to tell the story of this important and professional, yet fun-focused industry to the public, policymakers and press around the globe.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2018 issue 4
Rides: Themed dreams
We take a look at some of the major
openings at visitor attractions worldwide
Theme Parks: Fan power
Jordan Middleton explains how operators
can best work with their audiences
Tourism: The Tourist Trap
What role could attractions play to keep
tourism beneficial for residents and
visitors alike? Kath Hudson reports
Conference: Creativity Cocktail
This year’s SATE conference came to the global epicentre for themed entertainment – Orlando – as the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) searched for the secrets to “The Experience Recipe”.
Promotional feature: Whitewater
WhiteWater is branching out of the waterpark business as it
introduces two new attractions products and its brand new
Vantage guest engagement and management software
Show report: Enabling fun
Tom Anstey was on-hand to see what was
on offer at this year’s Euro Attractions Show
Promotional feature: Simtec - forward thinking
Simtec is a flying theatre and simulator ride supplier
for the attractions industry, as well as a manufacturer
of driving and flight simulation applications
Hal McEvoy will permanently take the reins at IAAPA, being named the organisation’s president and CEO by the organisation’s Board.
McEvoy – who was named interim president and CEO of IAAPA following Paul Noland’s resignation in February – says it’s a “dream come true” to lead the global association for the attractions industry.
“Working with the IAAPA team of talented individuals to support the success of our passionate and innovative members around the world is indeed a privilege,” he says. “I’m deeply honoured to be named president and CEO by IAAPA’s Board.”
McEvoy joined the association in April 2017, taking up the position of chief financial officer and leaving SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment after more than 42 years at the company.
An active member of IAAPA long before joining the organisation, McEvoy has attended many of its expos and participated in a number of association task forces and panels, with particularly heavy involvement in the organisation’s Audit Committee, which was created in 2005. McEvoy has been a member of the committee and also chaired it from 2013 through to 2016.
He has a number of major IAAPA events and projects to oversee from the get go, with the organisation’s annual US expo returning to the Orange County Convention Centre in Orlando, Florida in November.
Also in Orlando, IAAPA is currently developing its new global headquarters, which are expected to open in 2019.
“We’re extremely proud to be a part of the Central Florida community,” he says. “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.”
IAAPA’s engagement with Orlando and the wider Florida economy is significant, with more than 500 members located in the state and the IAAPA Expo generating an estimated US$77m for the area each year.
In 2017, more than 38,000 people from 100 different countries attended the event.
“I plan to build on the foundations laid this year that will take IAAPA into the next 100 years,” says McEvoy.
“We will work to give our members the best expos, networking events, and educational programmes, as well as developing and delivering innovative new products and services. Our mission is to tell the story of this important and professional, yet fun-focused industry to the public, policymakers and press around the globe.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2018 issue 4
Rides: Themed dreams
We take a look at some of the major
openings at visitor attractions worldwide
Theme Parks: Fan power
Jordan Middleton explains how operators
can best work with their audiences
Tourism: The Tourist Trap
What role could attractions play to keep
tourism beneficial for residents and
visitors alike? Kath Hudson reports
Conference: Creativity Cocktail
This year’s SATE conference came to the global epicentre for themed entertainment – Orlando – as the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) searched for the secrets to “The Experience Recipe”.
Promotional feature: Whitewater
WhiteWater is branching out of the waterpark business as it
introduces two new attractions products and its brand new
Vantage guest engagement and management software
Show report: Enabling fun
Tom Anstey was on-hand to see what was
on offer at this year’s Euro Attractions Show
Promotional feature: Simtec - forward thinking
Simtec is a flying theatre and simulator ride supplier
for the attractions industry, as well as a manufacturer
of driving and flight simulation applications
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
+ More news
COMPANY PROFILES
Polin Waterparks Polin was founded in Istanbul in 1976. Polin
has since grown into a leading company in
the waterpa [more...]
