New IAAPA chair John McReynolds has praised the innovation seen at this year’s IAAPA show, which concluded today (21 November).

McReynolds, who is senior vice president of external affairs for Universal Parks and Resorts, hailed an incredibly successful show, which saw an array of seminars and talks, including a well-received keynote speech from SeaWorld CEO Joel Manby, and featured the second-largest trade show floor in IAAPA’s history.

“I’ve seen innovation down there,” said McReynolds speaking to Attractions Management. “We talk about ‘what’s now, what’s new and what’s next’. It’s a perfect slogan for what’s happening out there. You see innovation on the floor, you see growth on the floor, you see excitement on the floor. What I’ve seen personally is the overall picture of a dynamic industry.”

Close to 33,000 industry professionals from 120 countries explored the innovations on display across the 558,610sq ft trade show floor during the course of the week. McReynolds said this year’s show represented the future, with the next big ideas for the industry represented at the show.

“I’ve been seeing existing technologies used in new and exciting ways, and I’ve seen completely new technologies that are going to change the way we do things in this business,” he said. “At the kick-off show we put Fred Hollingsworth, the inventor of the dark 3D attraction, into the IAAPA Hall of Fame. When he created that technology it was unheard of and look at it today. Now we are seeing the next wave of innovation. Fred was somebody who dared to dream and that’s what this industry, and this show, is all about.”

The 2016 edition IAAPA Attractions Expo 2016 will take place between 14-18 November 2016 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. With the show only just having come to a close, more than 200 companies have already reserved booth space on the trade show floor for what will likely once again be a can’t miss event.