IAAPA has announced plans to relocate its offices from Washington to Orlando, with the attractions capital of the world also to host the organisation’s annual expo through to at least 2030.
According to IAAPA, relocating to Central Florida will make it easier for its members worldwide to connect with each other and engage with the organisation when they travel to the region to meet with industry suppliers, many of whom are based in the region.
As IAAPA's staffing needs grow in the future, the association says the move will also facilitate its ability to recruit local candidates with industry experience.
"There is one location that truly serves as the epicentre of the worldwide attractions industry," said IAAPA chair John McReynolds, speaking during a press conference announcing the move. "Whether FEC, waterpark, small attraction, world-class theme park, manufacturer or supplier, we all come to Orlando to benchmark against the best."
The Washington headquarters currently employs about 45 staff members, who will be relocating to the new offices. The organisation is not yet releasing details about when the move will take place and what the premises will be. However, McReynolds said he imagines the move will happen sooner rather than later, though making the transition easy for the staff will be the priority.
"We're coming up on our 100th anniversary in a couple of years, and so we're taking a series of steps to help position us for the next 100 years," IAAPA president Paul Noland told
Attractions Management. "As a practical consideration, we've outgrown our office space, so it was a great time to think through where we wanted to be."
"It's about setting the vision for the next 100 years," added McReynolds. "Where is the best place for industry professionals to come together and not only celebrate their differences but build on the synergies between all of us? That's Orlando. That's where people congregate to benchmark against each other, no matter what industry segment they're in."
In addition to its planned Orlando move, IAAPA has continued to show its commitment to the city, extending its plans to host the annual IAAPA trade show through to 2030.
An extension of five years, the move is good news for the city, with the week-long event hosted in Orlando since 2010 bringing 30,000 people to the region, generating an estimated US$51.3m (€46m, £39.5m) for the local economy each year.
