More than 41,000 attendees made it to last week’s IAAPA Expo, a record number for the event, the Orlando-based International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions reports.

The Expo hosted 1,100 exhibitors and 27,000 buyers from 20,000 buying companies at Orange County Convention Center, IAAPA says.

Jakob Wahl, CEO of IAAPA, said the rise in attendance coincides with members’ improved outlook for the industry.

“The summer was a little flat, and then, in talking to many operators, they had at a very strong autumn. … You see an enthusiasm on the show floor,” Wahl said during the event.

“We are slightly above last year. Which would be great because I didn’t think that in the summertime we were that optimistic, considering where the industry stood,” he said.

The Expo, held annually in November in Orlando, has evolved beyond the usual theme parks and manufacturers, he said.

“You see more and more of those additional attractions coming. You see shopping malls coming. You see you see ski resorts,” Wahl said. “You have some newbies right now, and that’s great because our industry gets broadened.”

In addition to displays and deals on the trade floor, IAAPA Expo includes educational sessions for members, breaking news conferences, award ceremonies, social occasions and networking. This year’s event added two elements devoted to Halloween and the food and beverage sector on the north concourse of the convention center.

“Halloween has been big in Orlando, has been big in the U.S., but it has become a global phenomenon. … We see parks in China that which have Halloween parties with 50,000 people plus,” Wahl said. “This is where we said, hey, you know, there is a significant amount of vendors in that space and there’s a really significant interest of operators in the space to learn more about.”

The new Street Market featured an eclectic mix of food vendors, from Seoul to Table to Taffy Town to BuzzBallz.

Public interest is “the same with food and beverage,” Wahl said. “Every time you go to a restaurant, there must be some item which everyone gets a phone out and makes a picture for Instagram.”

The 2025 IAAPA Expo is scheduled for Nov. 17-21.

dbevil@orlandosentinel.com