Dion Marketing Joins The Creation Nation at IAAPA

The Dion Marketing team enjoyed a week full of creativity and fun while working offsite at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions’ (IAAPA) Annual Convention and Trade Show last month. The global conference show for the attractions industry provided a unique way to truly immerse ourselves in our Family Entertainment Center (FEC) clients and their industry.

The Expo represented 32,000 professionals from 100 nations.  All attendees were linked by a passion for the attractions industry and the desire to build relationships, test new innovations and learn best practices.

Every November in Orlando, IAPPA provided a unique convergence of networking, learning, and fun into a single package. A virtual midway, complete with more than nine miles of aisles, transformed the convention center into the epicenter of the business of fun. The trade floor showcased new rides and virtual reality experiences that the Dion Team loved testing out.

“Bringing the team to IAAPA this year was amazing,” says Dion.  “I’ve been going for many years, and it was so wonderful to have the team meet some of our key clients and understand their industry more as a whole, as well as have a lot of fun ourselves!”

Social media and communication technology keeps the Dion Team connected to clients who are both local and far, however nothing compares to being able to enjoy a week spent with them in person. IAAPA provided opportunities to mix and mingle, form new relationships and strengthen existing ones.

The convention was filled with conferences, workshops and lunch & learns that provided unique business opportunities for attendees. Julie Dion, President of Dion Marketing Company, is a marketing faculty member for Rookies and Newcomers, a 3-day class offered to entrepreneurs who are opening a family entertainment center.  She also was the speaker for a lunch & learn event to provide marketing strategies based on her two decades of marketing, advertising, media planning and media buying experience. The workshop provided insights on how to develop a successful marketing plan. Julie shared the stage with two of Dion Marketing’s clients, Icon Attractions and Putt-Putt FunHouse.

Sometimes you have to take a break from the “work” of your work to sharpen your skills. The Dion team returned from IAPPA with new ideas and approaches that we are excited to try out in order to be more effective and efficient for our clients.