IAAPA Expo 2025: Indoors, Interactive, and Value-Driven

IAAPA Expo 2025 set a new record with 38,520 verified attendees, more than 28,000 qualified buyers, and an expanded floor featuring over 1,100 exhibitorsgt-nov-23. Philip and Scott break down the trends that truly mattered this year: the push toward indoor attractions (from SeaWorld Orlando’s new Vekoma indoor inverted coaster to Merlin’s $90 million Galacticoaster installations), the explosion of 'interactive' dark rides like Sally’s Phantom Theater and its new Mini™ dark ride heading to Qatar, and the rise of 'competitive socializing' through Triotech’s new Montreal trio. They also discuss the operational side: Roller’s new industry benchmark report showing mobile dominating bookings and F&B, membership driving repeat visitation, and digital wallets nearly doubling average spend. Across the board, the Expo revealed a sector leaning into indoor reliability, personalized experiences, and value-minded design. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.