ORLANDO, FLORIDA (March 31, 2022) - IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry, has appointed Peter van der Schans, executive director and vice president of the IAAPA Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region starting April 4, 2022. Based in the association’s regional office in Brussels, Belgium, van der Schans will lead IAAPA’s efforts to grow membership, enhance member services in the region, and increase participation in IAAPA events including IAAPA Expo Europe.
“We are excited to welcome Peter to the IAAPA EMEA team,” shared Jakob Wahl, chief operating officer, IAAPA. “He comes to IAAPA with more than 15 years of leisure industry experience from a number of attractions including theme parks, zoos, and theatres. We’re excited for the perspective he can bring to the region and to the IAAPA Expo Europe show floor.”
Most recently, van der Schans served as general manager, Dierenrijk, a family zoo in Mierlo, Netherlands after holding the role of manager at the Pathé Theatre in Nijmegen, Netherlands helping to grow attendance from 180,000 to 600,000 visitors annually. Prior to that, he was the park manager of Attractiepark Toverland, in Sevenum, Netherlands where he contributed to the strategic expansion of the organization with Avalon and The Magical Valley.
Van der Schans completed the IAAPA Institute for Attractions Managers in 2014, and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Leisure Management from Stenden university in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. He will report to Wahl.
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About IAAPA
IAAPA is a diverse and dynamic community of global attractions professionals. As the largest international trade association for permanently located attractions, IAAPA unifies the attractions community, connects people to learn and grow together, and strives to promote the highest professional standards for excellence and safety around the world.
Founded in 1918, IAAPA represents leading industry attractions and supplier companies, consultants, and individual members from more than 100 countries. Members include professionals from amusement parks, theme parks, attractions, water parks, resorts, family entertainment centers, zoos, aquariums, science centers, museums, cruise lines, manufacturers, and suppliers.
The association’s global headquarters and North America office are in Orlando, Florida, U.S. IAAPA also maintains offices in Brussels, Belgium; Hong Kong, China; Shanghai, China; and, Mexico City, Mexico. Visit IAAPA.org or connect through IAAPA’s social media channels: @IAAPAHQ #IAAPA
