GUEST OPINION: David Rosenberg, ICAE, IAAPA Chairman of the Board
As the song says, “I love Paris every moment of the year.” What a fantastic location for IAAPA Expo Europe — taking place Sept. 16-19 (see page 43) — in a momentous year for the global attractions industry, for IAAPA and for me, as the association’s chairman of the board and vice president of the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, Calif.
It has been a commemorative period for IAAPA. Coming off an amazing centennial celebration, we launched our second century of serving members around the world. And we found new ways to keep the momentum.
IAAPA is all about building and strengthening connections — starting with service to our guests, the heart of all we do. Within IAAPA, connections may begin on a trade show floor or during a networking event. They often forge relationships that will be valued and beneficial for many years.
In 2019, IAAPA focused on furthering connections that will position our members for success. We hosted more regional networking events than ever, with opportunities to come together, share and learn. We traveled to Finland and Russia, to Guatemala and China, to Las Vegas and Chicago, and to many more places. With each visit, we focused on helping members build stronger relationships with one another and with IAAPA.
I’m honored to be part of the IAAPA Sustainability Task Force, a committed global team that is helping define sustainable business practices for the attractions industry and the association. Additionally, as a member from the zoo and aquarium community, I am deeply connected to the issues facing facilities with animals. IAAPA has taken bold, proactive steps to demonstrate our support for responsible members with animals in their care — developing resources and encouraging important conversations.
I’m particularly excited about IAAPA’s newly opened global headquarters in Orlando. This beautiful building will serve as the central connection point for you and the global attractions industry into the future.
Which brings us back to Paris, the City of Light. I can’t imagine a better place to celebrate the power of our connections. Bienvenu!
This article appears in the SEPTEMBER 2019 issue of Amusement Today.
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