Orange County

IAAPA cancels Orlando attractions expo due to ’ongoing impacts of COVID-19′

On the opening day of the IAAPA Attraction Expo in Orlando, SeaWorld Senior Director of Attraction Design, Brian Morrow, debuted the vehicle that will take guests on a first-of-its-kind ride to the frozen south in the park’s 2013 attraction and all-new realm, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin.

ORLANDO, Fla. — The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions announced it has canceled its IAAPA Expo 2020 in Orlando due to the pandemic.

The expo highlights new technology in the attractions industry.

“IAAPA Expo serves as the global marketplace for the attractions industry. We recognize this year there are many challenges facing our members from around the world,” said Hal McEvoy, president and CEO of IAAPA. “Together with input from members, exhibitors, the IAAPA Board of Directors and our team, we have decided to cancel this year’s expo due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19. The continuing barriers to international and domestic travel coupled with the evolving guidance on mass gatherings, and members’ need to focus on their businesses helped lead to this decision.”

Read: ‘Fared better than many’: Closing theme parks was pivotal in fighting COVID-19, Orange County mayor says

The IAAPA announced it will host a virtual expo that will take place Nov. 16-18, the same week the expo was originally planned for.

Participants will be able to virtually attend 25 sessions and two keynote presentations, according to the IAAPA.

Read: Inside look at Central Florida theme park deemed ‘not in compliance’ by coronavirus task force

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Katlyn Brieskorn, WFTV.com

Katlyn Brieskorn is a Digital Assignment Editor at WFTV. She joined Channel 9 in July 2019.

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