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Hal McEvoy will permanently take the reins at IAAPA, being named the organisation’s president and CEO by the organisation’s Board.
McEvoy – who was named interim president and CEO of IAAPA following Paul Noland’s resignation in February – says it’s a “dream come true” to lead the global association for the attractions industry.
“Working with the IAAPA team of talented individuals to support the success of our passionate and innovative members around the world is indeed a privilege,” he says. “I’m deeply honoured to be named president and CEO by IAAPA’s Board.”
McEvoy joined the association in April 2017, taking up the position of chief financial officer and leaving SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment after more than 42 years at the company.
An active member of IAAPA long before joining the organisation, McEvoy has attended many of its expos and participated in a number of association task forces and panels, with particularly heavy involvement in the organisation’s Audit Committee, which was created in 2005. McEvoy has been a member of the committee and also chaired it from 2013 through to 2016.
He has a number of major IAAPA events and projects to oversee from the get go, with the organisation’s annual US expo returning to the Orange County Convention Centre in Orlando, Florida in November.
Also in Orlando, IAAPA is currently developing its new global headquarters, which are expected to open in 2019.
“We’re extremely proud to be a part of the Central Florida community,” he says. “Bringing our global headquarters to the heart of the attractions industry is the perfect next step for us, as we continue to better serve our members.”
IAAPA’s engagement with Orlando and the wider Florida economy is significant, with more than 500 members located in the state and the IAAPA Expo generating an estimated US$77m for the area each year.
In 2017, more than 38,000 people from 100 different countries attended the event.
“I plan to build on the foundations laid this year that will take IAAPA into the next 100 years,” says McEvoy.
“We will work to give our members the best expos, networking events, and educational programmes, as well as developing and delivering innovative new products and services. Our mission is to tell the story of this important and professional, yet fun-focused industry to the public, policymakers and press around the globe.”
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Rides: Themed dreams
We take a look at some of the major
openings at visitor attractions worldwide
Theme Parks: Fan power
Jordan Middleton explains how operators
can best work with their audiences
Tourism: The Tourist Trap
What role could attractions play to keep
tourism beneficial for residents and
visitors alike? Kath Hudson reports
Conference: Creativity Cocktail
This year’s SATE conference came to the global epicentre for themed entertainment – Orlando – as the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) searched for the secrets to “The Experience Recipe”.
Promotional feature: Whitewater
WhiteWater is branching out of the waterpark business as it
introduces two new attractions products and its brand new
Vantage guest engagement and management software
Show report: Enabling fun
Tom Anstey was on-hand to see what was
on offer at this year’s Euro Attractions Show
Promotional feature: Simtec - forward thinking
Simtec is a flying theatre and simulator ride supplier
for the attractions industry, as well as a manufacturer
of driving and flight simulation applications
Contrast therapy, based on the alternation of hot and cold rituals, has become one of the
most valued practices in the fields of wellness and recovery. [more...]
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Hal McEvoy will permanently take the reins at IAAPA, being named the organisation’s president and CEO by the organisation’s Board.
McEvoy – who was named interim president and CEO of IAAPA following Paul Noland’s resignation in February – says it’s a “dream come true” to lead the global association for the attractions industry.
“Working with the IAAPA team of talented individuals to support the success of our passionate and innovative members around the world is indeed a privilege,” he says. “I’m deeply honoured to be named president and CEO by IAAPA’s Board.”
McEvoy joined the association in April 2017, taking up the position of chief financial officer and leaving SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment after more than 42 years at the company.
An active member of IAAPA long before joining the organisation, McEvoy has attended many of its expos and participated in a number of association task forces and panels, with particularly heavy involvement in the organisation’s Audit Committee, which was created in 2005. McEvoy has been a member of the committee and also chaired it from 2013 through to 2016.
He has a number of major IAAPA events and projects to oversee from the get go, with the organisation’s annual US expo returning to the Orange County Convention Centre in Orlando, Florida in November.
Also in Orlando, IAAPA is currently developing its new global headquarters, which are expected to open in 2019.
“We’re extremely proud to be a part of the Central Florida community,” he says. “Bringing our global headquarters to the heart of the attractions industry is the perfect next step for us, as we continue to better serve our members.”
IAAPA’s engagement with Orlando and the wider Florida economy is significant, with more than 500 members located in the state and the IAAPA Expo generating an estimated US$77m for the area each year.
In 2017, more than 38,000 people from 100 different countries attended the event.
“I plan to build on the foundations laid this year that will take IAAPA into the next 100 years,” says McEvoy.
“We will work to give our members the best expos, networking events, and educational programmes, as well as developing and delivering innovative new products and services. Our mission is to tell the story of this important and professional, yet fun-focused industry to the public, policymakers and press around the globe.”
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Rides: Themed dreams
We take a look at some of the major
openings at visitor attractions worldwide
Theme Parks: Fan power
Jordan Middleton explains how operators
can best work with their audiences
Tourism: The Tourist Trap
What role could attractions play to keep
tourism beneficial for residents and
visitors alike? Kath Hudson reports
Conference: Creativity Cocktail
This year’s SATE conference came to the global epicentre for themed entertainment – Orlando – as the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) searched for the secrets to “The Experience Recipe”.
Promotional feature: Whitewater
WhiteWater is branching out of the waterpark business as it
introduces two new attractions products and its brand new
Vantage guest engagement and management software
Show report: Enabling fun
Tom Anstey was on-hand to see what was
on offer at this year’s Euro Attractions Show
Promotional feature: Simtec - forward thinking
Simtec is a flying theatre and simulator ride supplier
for the attractions industry, as well as a manufacturer
of driving and flight simulation applications
Jessica Sloyan, a wellness operations and training expert, has established an independent
private training academy to provide professional qualifications for practitioners looking to offer
immersive wellness experiences.
The International Spa Association (ISPA) has published its full 2026 US Spa Industry Study,
providing further insights into the region’s total US$1 billion (€855 million, £780 million)
industry revenue increase from 2024 to 2025.
Ameyalli, the 78-acre wellbeing resort and residential community in Midway in Utah, US, has
broken ground on phase two of the hot spring development – the Ameyalli Resort and Spa –
which is due to open in 2028.
TLee Spas and Wellness has revealed the design concept for a high-tech spa with body
mapping scanners to improve public health, for AI company Midjourney.
Gran Hotel Taoro in northern Tenerife, Spain, has completed the final phase of its three-year
renovation with the debut of its Sandára Wellness Centre.
Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa, the spa business with more than 650 locations across
the US and Canada, has appointed franchise expert Carrie Walsh as CEO as the company plans
to expand.
Synergy – The Retreat Show, the global trade show for retreats, has launched a global research
initiative that will provide insights into the retreat sector from both consumer and industry
perspectives.
The Wellness Tourism Association (WTA) has published a non-regulatory global industry
framework designed to ensure the retreat market offers responsible experiences.
A new survey of UK and international spa practitioners shows that stress, burnout and
wellbeing concerns have caused one in three respondents to consider leaving the industry.
Contrast therapy, based on the alternation of hot and cold rituals, has become one of the
most valued practices in the fields of wellness and recovery. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Trybe Trybe was founded back in 2020, and the past five years has seen Trybe become the fastest growing al [more...]
