IAAPA Expo is an opportunity for attraction professionals of all kinds to explore new products and learn about industry developments, all while connecting with new suppliers. But for facilities and operations managers, it’s also a great way to find solutions to the challenges unique to operations and facilities management behind the scenes.
While new rides and guest-facing technology are often what draws the most attention at the Expo, the equipment that supports daily operations deserves significant attention as the backbone of these attractions. From maintenance machinery to electrical systems to displays, every facility contains assets that need to be both maintained and protected.
Attending IAAPA with these operational needs in mind can help managers look for opportunities to improve maintenance processes, protect equipment, and prepare their facilities for the demands that next season will bring.
IAAPA: A Breakdown of the Expo
IAAPA is not just another amusement park expo. It brings together thousands of manufacturers, suppliers, and professionals from across the global attractions industry, with the trade show floor featuring products and services for everything from rides to guest experience to things relevant to facilities and operations staff, like facility management, operations, safety, and maintenance.
It’s worth it to explore all areas, even if they’re currently outside of your immediate responsibilities. A product that may be designed for a certain part of the facility could still offer a solution to a problem that your team has been working on. It’s a good idea to use the Expo to compare options, ask questions, and learn how other attractions are able to approach similar operational challenges.
What Should You Look for If You Work in Park Operations?
For those who work in park operations, it can be easy to pay attention to the newest rides or technology at IAAPA. And while it’s great to keep your park on the up and up, it’s also a good idea to bring your attention to improving what goes on behind the scenes.
While walking the trade show floor, think about the equipment that supports your facility each and every day. The attractions industry relies on plenty of equipment that guests never even lay eyes on, and protecting that equipment can be just as important as selecting it in the first place.
Think about:
How equipment is stored when it isn't being used
How equipment is moved around a facility
How equipment is protected during off-hours
How equipment is exposed to weather or the elements
For Equip, this is one of the most interesting parts of IAAPA. Not only do we get to see what equipment parks are purchasing, we also get insight into the operational challenges that parks are dealing with and help them figure out ways that we can help with custom cover solutions.
Facilities and Operations Managers Look Beyond the Attraction
There’s so much more to an attraction than what guests perceive—behind every ride is a network of equipment that keeps the entire facility operating, whether that’s control and electrical equipment or maintenance machinery and safety equipment. Each type of equipment comes with different requirements for care, and equipment may need to be stored, transported, or even protected from the elements depending upon its location and environment.
That’s the kind of problem that Equip solves every day: How can you protect a piece of equipment when a generic or stock cover doesn’t fit the application?
Custom covers from Equip provide a solution designed around the equipment itself. At IAAPA, it’s a good idea to look beyond the rides themselves and pay attention to the equipment, as well as the requirements for caring for it, to make it all possible.
Be On the Lookout for Operations and Facilities Exhibitors
With such a variety of companies exhibiting at IAAPA, there’s good reason to review the exhibitor list beforehand. Not only can it help you make better use of your time while you’re at the expo, you won’t have to just rely on what catches your attention while you’re walking the floor. To get the most out of the expo, identify suppliers and product categories that relate to your facility’s current needs before you go.
Look for exhibitors offering:
· New equipment
· Maintenance supplies
· Storage solutions
· Safety products
· Services relevant to park operations
Make note of what companies you want to visit and any questions you might have for them. If you’re thinking of potentially making a purchase, consider what information is most important during the buying process to be able to compare options once you return to your facility.
Leave room for the unexpected as well. Sometimes, the most useful conversations and connections may come from a supplier you didn’t even know you were looking for. A little preparation can help you plan out meetings while also getting the opportunity to explore new solutions too.
How to Make Every Conversation Count at IAAPA
Because IAAPA is an opportunity to connect with suppliers and compare products, it helps to enter into these conversations with a clear understanding of your team’s needs. If you’re looking for new equipment or ways to improve existing procedures, take some time to prepare a few questions for potential suppliers. Ask about things like maintenance requirements, equipment lifespans, and installation, for instance.
It’s also a good idea to talk to exhibitors about what challenges you’re working to solve, even if you haven’t figured out a product that will help. They may be able to suggest an approach you hadn’t thought of or even point you towards the right resource.
Lastly, take some notes on the products or ideas that stand out to you. Be sure to include what you’ve learned, who you talked to, and any follow-up information that will help you connect with the exhibitor later on. After the Expo ends, you can look through your notes with your team and see which ones are worth exploring further.
Educational Sessions at IAAPA: An Opportunity for Park Operations
IAAPA’s educational sessions are yet another way to learn from other professionals across the attractions industry. On the tradeshow floor, you’ll find products, but educational programming can help you to better understand broader operational challenges, new practices, and what approaches other facilities are using.
Even if the educational schedule doesn’t directly relate to your job title, there is something new to learn in just about any session. Sessions can vary from maintenance to safety to operational efficiency, and all of them may apply to what you do at your own facility. Think about what challenges your team is currently working through and ensure you prioritize sessions that provide useful information or a different perspective on an old problem.
Rather than trying to capture everything, try to bring back specific takeaways for your team. Whether that’s a new maintenance approach, an industry contact that adds value, or ways to improve existing processes, the goal is to return with useful information your team can implement, not just a list of sessions that you attended.
Making the Most of IAAPA in Operations and Facilities
IAAPA is not just for attractions executives and other guest-facing decision makers—facilities and operations employees can gain a lot of value out of the Expo as well. From new maintenance procedures and products to solutions that will extend equipment lifespans, there is a plethora of opportunities for saving facilities time, money, and labor.
FAQS
What is IAAPA Expo, and who should attend?
The IAAPA Expo, put on by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, is an event held every year that brings together professionals from across the attractions industry. Exhibitors range from ride manufacturers to those who sell guest-facing technology like ticketing kiosks, but the Expo isn’t just for executives and decision makers to attend. There’s something for just about everyone in the attractions industry at the Expo.
Why should facilities and operations managers attend IAAPA?
Vendors from all around the world come to help facilities and operations professionals to solve specific challenges that face these types of jobs, every single day. In additional, these people also have a unique perspective on the challenges that attractions face every single day, making them the perfect ones to discover solutions to these problems.
What should park operations professionals look for at IAAPA?
Park operations and facilities professionals should look for solutions to problems in their parks for categories such as facility management, operations, and safety, and maintenance. Educational sessions can also offer value, allowing professionals to learn useful information that they can bring back to their attractions.
Meet Equip at IAAPA
Looking for a chance to discuss maintenance and operations solutions with a manufacturer who produces custom covers? Check out Equip at IAAPA—we’ll be in Booth W1911 for the Expo. Schedule a meeting with us or stop by for a quick chat while you’re in Orlando.
