International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) is an umbrella organization founded in 1918 primarily for US amusement park operators based in Alexandria ( Virginia ).
history
At first, the IAAPA was only a national organization and was formed under the name of the “National Association of Amusement Parks (NAAP)”. Manufacturers presented their new rides at the third annual meeting, and so the fair developed over the years. In 1934, the operators of pools and beaches were added and the name was changed to "National Association of Amusement Parks, Pools, and Beaches (NAAPPB)".
Due to the economic effects of the Second World War, many parks were neglected or even closed, which caused the number of visitors to decline. In 1950, the members of the NAAPB then agreed on a Code of Conduct with standards that must be met by the members.
These standards include:
- clean, safe and healthy outdoor recreation
- Fairness towards members, employees, owners and visitors
- Fairness and friendship between manufacturers of amusement equipment
- as well as the industry's recognition by American society
In the mid-1950s, after the baby boom in the USA, the NAAPB got an important engine for the industry in Walt Disney. Imagination and the creation of completely new worlds found their way into the theme park industry with Disney.
After the association was now firmly established in the USA, the association decided in 1961 to expand beyond the USA. One reason for this was the increase in European-made rides on the American market. At the same time, the operators of the pools and beaches got out of the association and the name was changed to "International Association of Amusement Parks (IAAP)". The current name IAAPA was created in 1971 in order to integrate entertainment and amusement offers beyond the parks into the association.
measure up
The annual international trade fair organized by the association is called IAAPA Attractions Expo, or IAAPA for short. The association also organizes the Euro Attractions Show , which is related to the European region, and the Asian Attractions Expo for the Asian market.
The manufacturers of roller coasters, rides, simulators as well as providers of lighting and sound technology, competitions, decorations and much more are represented at the fair. While the European fair EAS changes location every year, the IAAPA as a fair usually takes place in Orlando (Florida).
Every two years the company presents the so-called Applause Award , a high-level award for amusement parks.