The annual IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) Expo was officially opened by the association's chair, Rob Norris, and president, Charlie Bray, yesterday (15 November) in Atlanta, US.

The expo is the largest of its kind within the attractions industry and includes a trade show which this year occupies one million sq ft (93,000sq m) – with a total of nine miles of aisles – at the Georgia World Congress Centre.

The Expo attracts delegates and exhibitors from 90 different countries and attendance is estimated to exceed 24,000 attendees, with exhibitors representing more than 120 product categories.

As well as the trade show, the expo includes a programme of seminars and special events, including the 2006 Spirit of Excellence Awards.

The awards honour IAAPA member facilities which demonstrate commitment to human resources training and professional programmes that attract, motivate and retain talented people while advancing industry employment standards.

This year's winners included Legoland California, US, which received the award for the best guest relations programme. The CN Tower in Toronto, Canada, was a double winner, picking up the awards for both the best safety awareness programme and the best employee recognition programme.

During the opening ceremony, Mats Wedin, president of Liseberg Group in Gothenburg, Sweden was named chair of IAAPA for 2007, taking over from Rob Norris.

Photograph: Rob Norris and Charlie Bray cutting the ribbon at the opening ceremony of this year's IAAPA Expo