jump to navigation search this article needs additional citations for verification . please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . unsourced material may be challenged and removed . march 2016 learn how and when to remove this template message international association of amusement parks and attractions abbreviation iaapa type 501 c 6 non profit organization tax id no. 36 2079990 headquarters alexandria virginia usa coordinates coordinates 38 48 13 n 77 03 26 w 38.8036808 n 77.0573128 w 38.8036808 ; 77.0573128 area served worldwide services amusement industry association trade news trade shows president ceo paul royce noland 1 chair john mcreynolds subsidiaries iaapa foundation eas usa the euro amusement show 1 revenue 2013 us 17 377 538 1 expenses 2013 us 15 977 166 1 staff 2013 38 1 volunteers 2013 100 1 mission to serve the membership by promoting safe operations global development professional growth and commercial success of the amusement parks and attractions industry . 1 website www.iaapa.org iaapa represents nearly 5 000 amusement industry members located in 99 countries worldwide and operates several popular global amusement industry trade shows with it annual iaapa attractions exposition based in orlando fl being recognized as the world s largest amusement trade show by both the number of attendees and exhibitors along with providing members insight into current amusement trends laws operational advise industry methodology and helps to promotes both guest and ride safety guidelines standards in conjunction with astm international and assisting its members to uphold the highest amusement industry safety and professional standards . iaapa represents all styles of location based entertainment facilities including amusement parks theme parks family entertainment centers arcades museums water parks aquariums science centers zoos and resorts . iaapa also represents industry equipment manufacturers distributors operators industry suppliers and service providers . contents 1 organization structure 2 trade events 3 trade publications 4 trade awards 5 member services 6 organizational history 7 references 8 external links organization structure edit founded in 1918 iaapa is the largest international trade association for permanently located amusement facilities and attractions and is dedicated to the preservation and prosperity of the attractions industry . iaapa represents nearly 5 000 facility supplier and individual members from 99 countries . member facilities include amusement and theme parks water parks attractions family entertainment centers zoos aquariums museums science centers and resorts . iaapa is a nonprofit organization . the association s global headquarters is in alexandria virginia united states . the association maintains regional offices in brussels mexico city hong kong and orlando . trade events edit the organization currently operates the premier trade show for the global attractions industry iaapa attractions expo along with asian attractions expo aae and euro attractions show eas . at each trade show iaapa offers many educational informational operational safety and leadership seminars conferences along with behind the scenes edutours of iaapa member amusement parks theme parks water parks family entertainment centers and more . trade publications edit iaapa publishes a monthly trade magazine to its members called funworld magazine and also helps its global membership base keep track of current and pending federal state and locally based amusement based laws and legislation along with its news flash a daily e newsletter that provides industry news stories from around the world . trade awards edit iaapa hall of fame the iaapa hall of fame was established in 1990 to celebrate outstanding achievement and contributions to the growth and development of the amusement park and attractions industry for an industry that like few others depends on the imaginations talents and vision of its dream builders such as pt barnum and other industry luminaries iaapa service awards the iaapa service awards honor members who excel in performing services for the association and the industry and are dedicated to its well being and future growth member services edit iaapa currently offers training for every aspect of the amusement park and attractions industry and provides members with opportunities to educate their personnel through various workshops on site seminars videotapes manuals webinars and via services provided by institute programs such as iaapa institute for attractions managers the iaapa institute for executive education and the iaapa safety institute . iaapa promotes amusement park safety standards to its members and maintains a constant partnership with the american society for testing and materials astm to both develop and update stringent amusement industry ride safety standards and ride maintenance requirements . iaapa s advocacy department reaches out to government bodies in numerous countries to represent the industry on attraction and amusement park legislation and regulations . organizational history edit in early 1917 after ten years of periodic attempts to join their collective voices together amusement park and other outdoor entertainment representatives from all over the united states gathered at the congress hotel in chicago illinois to discuss the possibility of organizing an association for their industry in keeping with the slogan common defense and common advancement . from this meeting emerged the national outdoor showmen s association nosa . in 1918 it officially became the first national organization in the united states for all segments of the amusement park and outdoor entertainment industry . prior to 1918 other formalized organizations represented the outdoor amusement industry but were essentially confined to a single segment like fairs circuses or carnivals . these groups included the international association of fairs and expositions iafe the carnival managers association and the showmen s league of america sla . the sla and iafe are still in existence today . the immediate task confronting nosa was to protect the industry from unjust legislation and to promote its best interests where needed . nosa worked hard at its designated task and succeeded in eliminating the amusement tax on outdoor amusements as well as obtaining special consideration from the government regarding deferments from military service for amusement men because of the importance of recreation to the armed forces and civilian population . as time went on however it became evident the amusement park segment of the association was carrying most of the responsibility both financially and otherwise . eventually the membership in nosa gradually decreased until it consisted almost solely of amusement park owners and managers . in january 1920 just one month prior to the annual meeting of nosa a special meeting was held at the fort pitt hotel in pittsburgh pennsylvania to discuss the future of the association where it was advised that a new organization devoted more completely to protecting and advancing the best interests of america s approximately 1 500 amusement parks be developed and in february 1920 the new national association of amusement parks naap was born . at the 2nd annual convention of naap three manufacturers displayed samples of new amusement devices on the convention floor and 45 exhibits of amusement park equipment were displayed at the 3rd show and then was born the trade show element of the convention . the new association and trade show met with universal enthusiasm and grew so rapidly that it was necessary to move to larger hotels to accommodate attendees and exhibitors . the naap weathered the stock market crash of 1929 and the great depression with the assistance of many loyal members who advanced their personal funds to enable the organization to carry on as the number of parks dwindled to around 400 by 1935 . but a vibrant new source of members was soon to appear because of rapid growth of the swim industry during the 1920s a number of leaders in that industry formed the american association of pools and beaches aapb but four years later the aapb members decided they would be better served if the group became part of the naap . thus at the 1934 annual meeting of naap a new organization was formed the national association of amusement parks pools and beaches or the naappb . however in 1935 most of the naap manufacturer and distributors members decided to break away to form the american recreational equipment association area an organization known today as the amusement industry manufacturers and suppliers international aims . by the end of the 1940s many existing parks were worn down by deterioration and disrepair due to the cumulative effects of the great depression world war ii and its immediate aftermath . to address this backlash the naappb adopted a code of ethics at its 1950 convention to address the public s concern over the sorry state of existing park properties . but due to the post war baby boom generation exploding in the early 1950s and existing amusement parks rode the boomer wave to renewed success by buying new rides and creating areas catered to younger guests . but the kiddie phenomenon was fairly short lived however . a major event in the future of the amusement industry occurred during this period with the concept of themed amusement park developed by amusement pioneers such as charles wood the great escape walter knott knott s berry farm and bill koch holiday world . but in 1955 walt disney and his innovative new industry paradigm disneyland first showed the people in the united states and eventually throughout the world what a fully realized theme park could be like and since then the amusement industry has never been the same changing in ways no one could have predicted even to this very day . under walt disney s meticulous care imagination and fantasy became the most important ingredients in the amusement park effect and experience creating something wholly different and sensational than anything before . as noted designer james rouse stated disneyland took an area of activity the amusement park and lifted it to a standard so high in its performance that it really became a brand new thing . never one to miss an educational opportunity at a fabulous new venue the naappb hosted its 1956 summer meeting at disneyland and walt disney spoke to the attendees about the creation of disneyland describing his use of such industry innovations as one central entry gate beautiful landscaping original rides and attractions and extensive theming . the opening of disneyland represents perhaps the most important line of demarcation in the history of the amusement industry . also of critical importance to the long term future of naappb was its formal decision around this time to begin evolving into a truly global organization while rooted in the united states the association was an international group . prominent amusement parks in europe such as tivoli park in denmark liseberg in sweden and blackpool pleasure beach in england participated and contributed to the fast growing association . however in 1961 after much discussion regarding the composition of the organization it was decided that a concerted effort should be made to bring parks outside the united states into the association . this decision was strengthened by the sudden appearance of european rides in the american market . at the same time the swim club pool and beach members of naappb decided to end their affiliation with the association . thus in 1962 the organization became known as the international association of amusement parks iaap . the amusement sector witnessed another first in 1971 with the opening of the new walt disney world in orlando florida a truly state of the art destination theme park complex many times the size of walt s original california park and aimed at not only entertaining their guests just for the afternoon but for multi day visits full of rides shows shopping dining and nightlife . in 1972 responding to the emergence of other types of entertainment and amusement facilities iaap became what is known today as the international association of amusement parks and attractions or iaapa . and through the 70 s and 80 s the industry continued its rapid pace of modern day innovation started by walt disney with the first dedicated waterpark wet n wild also opened in south florida in 1977 . by the 1980s