Key Details
About This Event
<strong>IAAPA Expo 2026</strong> (Global Attractions, Theme Park & Family Entertainment Trade Show) convenes <strong>42,500+</strong> industry buyers, engineers, and executives at <strong>Orange County Convention Center (North/South Concourses)</strong> in Orlando, FL (November 17–20, 2026). Compare walkable Orlando corridor hotels with live wholesale rates, private steakhouse buyouts, 30-day advance utility cutoffs, and local 3-bid booth & AV suppliers.
Who Attends
42,500+ AttendeesEssential Trip Planning Benchmarks for IAAPA Expo
Book walkable or skybridge-connected Orlando headquarters hotels 60+ days out and pick up badges the afternoon prior to opening day to bypass Day-1 morning registration lines.
Day 1–2 Main Exhibition Hours (9:30 AM – 4:30 PM) & Evening Orlando Corridor Client Buyout Dinners.
West Building & North/South Open Surface Lots: $20 / day (standard passenger) • $30 / day (oversized vehicles) • Open-air surface lots — Unlimited clearance! (4–8 min walk to concourse lobbies).
Federal GSA Benchmark: $198/nt Lodging • $74/day M&IE. Smart business casual with cushioned footwear.
Walkable Convention Hotels, Private Dining Buyouts (12) & Local Suppliers
Select your target exhibit hall below to recalculate door-to-door walking minutes, skybridge or transit connections, and nearby buyout restaurants.
| Hotel Property & Transit Access | Commute to OCCC West Concourse | Show Rate vs. Off-Peak | Block Status | Room & Block Inquiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Hyatt Regency Orlando (Skybridge Connected)Covered Skybridge Direct to OCCC West Climate-protected pedestrian skybridge connects directly into OCCC West Concourse; 315,000 sq. ft. of on-site hospitality suites. | 4 min | ~$490/nt Off-peak: $189/nt | Limited (<15%) | |
 Rosen Centre Hotel (Skybridge Connected)Covered Skybridge + No Resort Fee Policy Direct skybridge to OCCC West Concourse with executive VIP suites and transparent corporate group billing. | 4 min | ~$405/nt Off-peak: $155/nt | Available | |
 Rosen Plaza Hotel (Adjacent Pointe Orlando)6-Min Walk to OCCC West + Pointe Orlando Sits directly between OCCC West Concourse and Pointe Orlando's private dining restaurants—zero shuttle dependence. | 6 min | ~$345/nt Off-peak: $135/nt | Available | |
 Hilton Orlando (Skybridge Connected)Covered Skybridge to North/South Concourse Premier headquarters hotel for OCCC North/South events via dedicated covered walkway; resort lawn handles 500+ guest outdoor receptions. | 11 min | ~$475/nt Off-peak: $179/nt | Limited (<15%) | |
 Rosen Shingle Creek (Executive Golf & Suite Resort)5-Min Universal Blvd Drive to North/South Minutes east of OCCC North/South without I-Drive traffic; favored for C-suite board retreats and A Land Remembered steakhouse dinners. | 12 min | ~$435/nt Off-peak: $175/nt | Overflow Block Open | |
 DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld (Group Value Block)4-Min I-Ride Trolley / Shuttle to OCCCPer-Diem Friendly 1,000+ room campus offering reliable sub-$198 GSA Per-Diem exhibitor team blocks 1 mile south of OCCC. | 12 min | ~$270/nt Off-peak: $112/nt | Available | |
 Tru by Hilton Orlando Convention Center (Per-Diem Value)9-Min Walk to OCCC North/South + Free BreakfastPer-Diem Friendly Fits comfortably under Orlando's $198/nt peak GSA Per-Diem cap while keeping booth staff within walking distance of North/South halls. | 14 min | ~$260/nt Off-peak: $109/nt | Available |
Who Should Attend IAAPA Expo (And Who Can Skip It)
- B2B vendors, enterprise software providers, and equipment manufacturers targeting sports, gaming & attractions buyers.
- Executive field-marketing teams hosting walkable private steakhouse dinners and off-floor deal suites.
- General retail consumers without commercial purchasing authority or industry credentials.
Concurrent Orlando Conventions
No overlapping mega-conventions exceed 25,000 attendees on the immediate adjacent dates, keeping off-corridor hotel rates and restaurant buyouts accessible.
Live From the Show Floor: Walkthrough Videos & Instagram Feed
Inspect real aisle traffic, booth builds, keynote crowds, and show-floor Reels before booking space or travel.
Full Uncut IAAPA 2025 Show Floor Tour! | The Complete Walkthrough #iaapa #iaapaexpos
IAAPA EXPO Orlando 2025 - Amusement and Theme Park Show Floor Highlights
Inside IAAPA Expo 2025: Theme-Park Industry’s Big Reveal @IAAPAHQ
👀 Get a sneak peek of the IAAPA Expo 2026 Show Floor! Meet the finalists for the IAAPA Best New Product Awards, showcasing new concepts that bring fresh ideas to rides, attractions, games, technology, and more. The aw…
Say Hello to Holly Phillips, the operations manager at Dig World in Grapevine, Texas. 🚜 Every day, Holly is on the frontlines as she is responsible for staffing, maintenance, and the guest experience at a theme park roo…
Jeff Ellis is taking his place in the IAAPA Hall of Fame. 🎖️ When it comes to keeping water parks safe, few people have made a bigger splash than Jeff Ellis. In 1983, he changed the game for aquatic safety by creating n…
Hosting an executive happy hour, investor dinner, or hospitality-suite reception alongside show week? Compare local venue buyout and catering proposals.
Verified Google Facility Reviews, Attendee Ratings & Exhibitor ROI
Combining authentic Google Maps facility reviews with verified Conventions.com booth-ROI and travel evaluations.
“Submit electrical, dedicated VLAN internet, and rigging before the 30-day advance cutoff at OCCC Orlando, and rent 75" 4K monitors plus tension-fabric structures from a local Orlando EAC supplier to eliminate cross-country LTL drayage.”
“Peak decision-maker aisle traffic hits day 1–2 main exhibition hours (9:30 am – 4:30 pm) & evening orlando corridor client buyout dinners.. Lock private dining rooms within a 10-minute walk of OCCC Orlando at least 45–60 days before opening morning.”
“Book walkable or skybridge-connected Orlando headquarters hotels 60+ days out and pick up badges the afternoon prior to opening day to bypass Day-1 morning registration lines. Wear broken-in shoes for 2,053,820 net exhibit sq. ft. of floor coverage and pre-book evening client meetings near the main concourse.”
“I had an amazing time at MegaCon 2026 in Orlando, held at the Orange County Convention Center. The venue was spacious, clean, and very well organized, which made the whole experience even better. The atmosphere was incredible—so much energy, great people, and so many cool things to see and do. The staff was friendly and helpful, and everything ran smoothly from start to finish. One of the highlights for me was getting the chance to meet Snarky Jay—she wa…”
“If you’re heading here for a trade show, buckle up this place is a beehive of activity! I’ve attended shows here before and even exhibited with a booth, and this visit reminded me just how massive and well-run this convention center really is. We lucked out this time by parking at the Hyatt and simply walking across the street. That alone made the experience smoother, because traffic in this area during major events is no joke. It took us nearly an hour t…”
“Great place, clean, super friendly staff. Huge center! Close to many hotels. Easy to uber to. Great food vendors and even had a few with gluten free options that were delicious! Areas to sit outside, shade or sun, or inside. Great place for all kinds of events! I world NOT stay in the attached hotel. While attached to is great, the hotel is not. Better if at other local area hotels, unless it's a bunch of adults who like to smoke and drink, then yo…”
“Humongous building! Very cool and decent kept. Freezing lol they must have had the temp at 65 the whole week. Lots of food options from vendors (but obviously pricey) parking was crazy but there was construction going on at the building plus other events on top of our 8 weeks of AAU Volleyball Nationals we had. So busy busy, but they handled it pretty well!”
“I just visited the Orange County Convention Center for Megacon, and I’m really impressed! This place is absolutely huge, there’s so much to see and do inside. The AC was nice and cold, which made walking around the massive convention really comfortable. Parking wasn’t as plentiful as I hoped, but there are plenty of neighboring hotels if you’re staying nearby, and a number of stores and restaurants are easily walkable from the convention, which is super c…”
Ask Anything About IAAPA Expo 2026 Specs, Union Rules, Hotels or Buyouts
Ask specific operational questions — hand-carry monitor limits, electrical & drayage rates, closest walkable hotels, or 30-person VIP dining buyouts.
Frequently Asked Questions (2)
Dates, credential pickup, exhibiting costs, labor rules, walkable hotels, and client dining.
IAAPA Expo 2026 takes place November 17–20, 2026 at Orange County Convention Center (North/South Concourses) in Orlando, FL, organized by IAAPA — The Global Association for the Attractions Industry.
Submit electrical, internet, and rigging orders before the 30-day advance deadline to avoid 30%–40% floor penalties, and source 4K monitors, rush print, and turnkey rental booths from local Orlando suppliers to bypass cross-country LTL drayage.
IAAPA Expo Historical Attendance & Booth Space Rate Trends
Year-over-year audited attendance and raw exhibit space rates across recent editions.
| Edition | Attendance | Raw Booth Space Rate | Edition Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Upcoming) | 42,500+ Attendees | $38 – $58/sf | Hosted at Orange County Convention Center (North/South Concourses) (Orlando, FL) |
Planning Your Own Trade Show or User Conference at Orange County Convention Center (OCCC)?
Inspect hall-by-hall capacities (2,053,820 net exhibit sq. ft.), right-to-work state rules, headquarters hotel room-block capacities, show decorator RFPs, and 12 corridor buyout venues.