VISITOR ATTRACTIONS
Universal Studios Japan
so because it attracts an older demographic . The capture of Mario and other characters from the beloved Nintendo gaming system allows Universal Experiences & Destinations to delight and entertain a multigenerational fandom experience .
As the industry continues to evolve , we have also seen an increase in the number of hybrid sport and entertainment facilities . These types of offerings fit within the broader health and respite zones but lend themselves to a trend we call “ competitive socialising .”
Experiences in that category , places like TopGolf and Puttshack , combine a few of IAAPA ’ s constituencies as it brings together indoor entertainment , a variety of suppliers and a myriad of operators . This trend will be a topic during Indoor Entertainment Day during IAAPA Expo 2023 , set to take place in Vienna , Austria , in September .
One significant trend IAAPA continues to track is the commitment to sustainability and how it is woven into daily operations and the overall foundation of the leisure industry . There has been more attention to social sustainability , diversity , and conscious buying of merchandise and food for both guests and operators .
This trend makes sense to us as 71 percent of our members indicated that sustainability is extremely or very important to their organisation , according to our most recent member survey .
IAAPA itself has committed to investment in sustainable practices when our board of directors approved commissioning a Materiality Assessment to get a better sense of the associations ’ opportunities to operate in a more sustainable manner . Our IAAPA Expo Europe 2023 is being organised to meet criteria to be awarded The Austrian Ecolabel as a certified green meeting .
Knowing that these trends are top-of-mind for the leisure and attractions industry , IAAPA ’ s education team for the Europe , Middle East , and Africa region are building a conference programme for IAAPA Expo Europe to cover these topics and more .
Peter van der Schans Executive Director and Vice President of IAAPA Europe , Middle East , Africa www . iaapa . org experienceuk . org 15