With IAAPA on the horizon, the four newest inductees are set to join the IAAPA Hall of Fame ranks.
IAAPA state they “represent some of the finest leaders of the global attractions industry and represent decades of innovation and evolution that have shaped the industry across a number of brands and sectors.”
The IAAPA Hall of Fame honours those extraordinary pioneers who have seen their personal dreams through to completion not for their own success, but for the growth and betterment of the entire industry.
Hall of Fame inductees will be celebrated at IAAPA Expo 2022 at the Orange County Convention Center between 14-18 November.
This year’s honourees include Joan Ganz Cooney, a pioneer in edutainment, something that has greatly and directly influenced theme parks.
Xavier Lopez Ancona is the driving force behind KidZania while Darrell Metzger has bridged more than four decades of working in the industry and built a successful global track record in the development, operation and revival of leisure/resort/residential communities and attractions.
Dennis Spiegel has loved the amusement and leisure industry for more than 60 years. His passion for the industry started at just 13, a young ticket taker at Coney Island Amusement Park in Cincinnati.
Called almost daily, Mr. Speigel has long been regarded the “go to” guy when an opinion or the most updated information is being sought. His professional highlights include Kings Island, Ohio; Taft Broadcasting, Virginia; and founding International Theme Park Services.
We could not be more thrilled with this year’s Hall of Fame inductees,” said Michael Collins, chairman of the IAAPA Hall of Fame and Archives Committee and senior partner with Leisure Development Partners LLP.
“These four individuals truly represent more than 100 years of influence and imagination that has resonated throughout our industry.”
The IAAPA Hall of Fame was established in 1990 to honour legends and pioneers for their significant and lasting contributions to the growth and development of the global attractions industry.
Over the past 32 years, dozens of industry pioneers from around the world have been inducted to the IAAPA Hall of Fame including Walt Disney (The Walt Disney Company); Milton Hershey (Hersheypark); Dick Knoebel (Knoebels Amusement Resort); Bo Kinntorph (Liseberg); Jack Lindquist (Disneyland); Franz Mack (Mack Rides/Europa-Park); Jay Stein (Universal Studios Florida); Geoffrey Thompson (Blackpool Pleasure Beach); Tom Williams (Universal Parks & Resorts); Antonio Zamperla (Zamperla).
Image: IAAPA
