Education Conference at IAAPA Virtual Expo

IAAPA Virtual Expo: Asia

July 28 – 30, 2020

Education sessions will be available after they are live. Attendees are encouraged to visit the virtual trade show during specified hours to meet with exhibitors but will have 24 hour access throughout the week.

Opening Remarks

Tuesday, 28 July
2:00 – 2:15 p.m. China Standard Time (CST)

SPEAKERS: Hal McEvoy, ICAE, President and CEO, IAAPA; Amanda Thompson, OBE, ICAE, Chairman of the Board, IAAPA, Managing Director, Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Operations Best Practices in Asia

Tuesday, 28 July
2:15 – 3 p.m. China Standard Time (CST)

With hundreds of parks in Asia, as the fastest growing region in our industry, together we will explore the cultural differences impacting attractions operations in Asia. Through examples and best practices, we discover ways to ensure safe operations and implement industry standards. Using cultural research, we uncover differences between guest expectations and how successful operators and their effective Standard Operating Procedures play into this knowledge.

SPEAKER: Daan Duijm, Director of Operations and Set Up, Sun World Holding Vietnam

Session sponsored by

Explore how training can be fun: Influencing Positive Behavioral Change Through Play-Based Learning

Tuesday, 28 July
3:30 – 4:15 p.m. China Standard Time (CST) 

Design thinking and innovation in your business is essential. Learn how to build up your business strategy by play, and how training can be fun with purposeful play by performance.

SPEAKER: Brian Tang, Founder and Chief Ding Officer of Ding Maker International Consulting Limited, LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® method facilitator

Session sponsored by

Global Attractions Safety: Theme Park and Amusement Rides 

Tuesday, 28 July
5 – 5:45 p.m. China Standard Time (CST) 

What does global media coverage tell us about attractions safety? What trends need our attention? In this session, you’ll review coverage worldwide and discuss the information operators can collect to close gaps and use feedback in your safety management system.

SPEAKER: Kathryn Woodcock, PhD, CCPE, ICAE, PEng, Professor, Ryerson University

MODERATOR: Franceen Gonzales ICAE, Executive Vice President, Business Development, Whitewater West Industries

Session sponsored by

Automation and Digitalization in Attractions Operations

Wednesday, 29 July
2– 2:45 p.m. China Standard Time (CST)

Digitalization in the attractions industry is here to stay, cutting labor and operational costs while vastly improving the guest experience. In this session, you'll explore automation opportunities within visual media, rides and ride systems, ride safety, kiosks, admission control, food and beverage, accepting currency, and guest wayfinding. Hear real-life examples of automation and digitalization from the panel of attractions in the Asia-Pacific region.

SPEAKERS: Aaron Glade, Director, Entertainment Operations at Studio City; Anna Danau ICAE, International Ride Training; Joseph Leung ICAE, Senior Director, Food Service Operations at Universal Studio Beijing.

MODERATOR: Randy Josselyn ICAE, Principal, Wildlife and Conservation at Gateway Ticketing Systems

Session sponsored by

What Can Water Parks Learn from Theme Parks, and Vice Versa

Wednesday, 29 July
3:30 – 4:15 p.m. China Standard Time (CST)

Parks, both theme and water, are continually looking for new ways in which to excite and engage guests. While the operations of each type of park are very different, they also share many similarities and have lessons to give each other which aren’t often shared. In this benchmarking session, panelists will compare their approaches to ticketing, safety procedures, queue management, passive capacity spaces, retail mix, and story and theming. You’ll reevaluate industry norms and challenge the boundaries between park types, discovering if hybrid parks are the future of the attractions industry.

SPEAKERS: Brad Loxley, Chief Operating Officer, Sun World Holding Vietnam; Chris Perry, Attractions Industry Consultant; Noel Dempsey, Business Director, Themed Attractions & Entertainment, Pico Play Pty Ltd.; Dawn Tong,  Senior Vice President Business Development, Greater China, White Water

MODERATOR: Nathan Jones, COO, CAVU Designwerks

Session sponsored by

Learning Lab: Strategic and Tactical Approaches to Turbo-drive Park Revenues

Wednesday, 29 July
5 – 5:45 p.m. China Standard Time (CST)

This will discuss the many ways to light a fire under your parks revenue streams, through both strategic and tactical means. Learn how to create a commercial culture, seasonal pass sales drivers, incremental ticket sales drivers, and secondary park spends such as food and beverage, ride photography, retail, sponsorship and supplier deals. Attendees will develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the influence of strategic planning and tactical execution. You’ll also take-home practical tools to share with your leadership and management teams that can start to immediately turbo-boost your park’s revenues.

SPEAKER: Mark Shaw, Executive General Manager, Eureka Skydeck and Eureka 89 Fine Dining and Events

Session sponsored by

Insights On The Changing Expectations of Asset and Safety Management In The Attractions Industry

Thursday, 30 July
2– 2:45 p.m. China Standard Time (CST)

Industry experts will be discussing the changing expectations in managing assets and safety in the Attractions Industry. We will be looking at the introduction of modern asset management thinking and techniques, including predictive management of issues, preventative strategies and proactive strategic planning and the guidance tools and accreditations available to manage the operational balance between cost, risk and performance of an organisation and how we can measure and control these three key elements.

SPEAKERS: Chris Deaves, Technical Specialist, Theme Park Asset Management Consultant; Clinton Ford, Consulting Engineer, Industry, Amusement & Attractions

Session sponsored by

How Interactive Edutainment Digital Content Empowers FECs in the Asia Pacific Region

Thursday, 30 July
3:30 – 4:15 p.m. China Standard Time (CST)

The digital age is challenging the attractions industry’s in more ways than one. In this session, you’ll learn how to adapt to changes in children’s play needs and young parents’ consumption of all things virtual. How can Family Entertainment Centers (FECs) stand out in the market environment facing the serious competition and saturated commercial real estate market, and obtain sustainable and high-quality profits? Explore how interactive educational digital content can empower the FEC and indoor playground sector to help your park continue to rejuvenate.

SPEAKER: Harry Haochuan Lu, Founder & CEO, Sindrax Technology

Session sponsored by

CEO Speaks

Thursday, 30 July
5 – 5:45 p.m. China Standard Time (CST) 

CEO Speaks gives you unique access to some of today’s most influential leaders in the attractions business. Listen in on a casual, unrehearsed conversation that will touch on such topics as what it takes to be successful in the industry of fun, maintaining focus on priorities and building a company and culture that last into the future.

SPEAKERS: Tom Mehrmann, BBS, ICAE, President and General Manager, Universal Beijing Resort; Sonaal Chopra, Group CEO, The Entertainment & Education Group; David Rosenberg, Immediate Past Chair IAAPA & VP, Vice President, Monterey Bay Aquarium

MODERATOR: Victor Danau ICAE, Director of Operations & Development Asia Pacific, Ripley Entertainment

Session sponsored by

Speakers

IAAPA Certification: Participation in the general education program at IAAPA Expo qualifies for eight (8) hours of credit toward IAAPA Certification.