AP Podcast - Episode 431: IAAPA Expo 2025 Recap

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IAAPA Expo is often described as the “most wonderful time of the year” for attractions professionals, but it can also be overwhelming: long days, packed schedules, and endless conversations. By unpacking the expo, Matt and Josh share how they turned the week into a soul-filling, business-building experience through people, intentional design, and investing in the next generation. In this episode, Matt and Josh talk about how to turn IAAPA Expo into the most meaningful and memorable week of your professional year.

People, Meetups, and Becoming the “Elder Statesman”
“This was such a huge ‘people’ experience for me.”

Matt’s first big takeaway is simple: people. From the AttractionPros Meetup until leaving Epic Universe on Thursday night, he was in constant conversation, reconnecting with long-time colleagues, and supporting first-time speakers. Matt also talks about his evolving role as a kind of “elder statesman,” helping newer professionals, making the event as much about lifting others up as about his own experience.

Booths as Mini Attractions
“An expo booth should operate like a mini attraction.”

Josh shared how he treated his exhibit booth as a mini attraction. With two interns, they focused on fundamentals of guest service. Details mattered: enhanced carpet padding that felt like “walking on a cloud,” comfortable lounge-style furniture, and a coffee station with branded cups and carefully placed lids so the logo was always visible.

Inclusion Beyond Accessibility
“Inclusion is not the same as accessibility.”

Matt highlights a powerful session on inclusion led by Sharon Newhardt and Enzo Piscopo of Morgan’s Wonderland. Enzo, presenting from a wheelchair on a stage accessible by a newly installed lift, shared how physical accessibility does not automatically equal inclusion. He explained that while ramps and designated seating may check compliance boxes, they can still leave guests and employees feeling excluded such as never being able to choose a seat behind home plate or in a dream location at a ballpark.

When IAAPA Expo Really Is a Family Reunion
“You never know who you’re related to at the Expo.”

Josh shares a story that turns the “family reunion” metaphor into reality. In the middle of a packed Tuesday, he receives a text from his mom: “We have a cousin exhibiting at IAAPA.” The next day, Josh finally met his second cousin once removed — someone who has been in the industry longer than he has, working on the chemistry behind skin for animatronics. They realize they’ve likely been in the same building at the same time for years without knowing it.

Quick Hits: Energy, Words, Appreciation, Rest, and Instagrammable Workplaces
“Sleep and rest are not the same thing.”

Matt runs through a series of “quick hits” that left a mark on him. From the Women in the Industry Luncheon, he shares Lauren Hodges’s concept of managing energy, not just time, reframing mindset language, demonstrating a deeper sense of appreciation, and differentiating sleep from rest. Finally, seeing IAAPA staff proudly taking selfies in their own event space prompts the question: is your workplace Instagrammable for your team?

The Intangible Value of IAAPA
“The overall value of IAAPA Expo is intangible and sometimes is not even realized until much later in the future.”

While you can quantify tickets, sessions, and receptions, the real value of the week for Josh’s interns came from introductions, mentorship, and compounding opportunities. Josh intentionally introduced them to every person who came to the booth, encouraged them to talk about their own career goals, and encouraged them to attend separately-ticketed events. By midweek, they had lost count of how many executives they’d met. While organizations often focus on hard ROI, it is the personal growth, expanded networks, and renewed passion that attendees bring back are equally valuable, even if they’re harder to measure.

What were your biggest takeaways from IAAPA Expo?

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