The International Adventure & Trampoline Parks Association (IATP) welcomed members of the global adventure and trampoline park community to Clearwater Beach, Florida, September 14–16, for the 2026 IATP Annual Conference & Trade Show at the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach
The three-day event brought together 425 attendees, including 201 park owners, operators, managers and team members, representing significant growth for the Association’s annual gathering. Overall attendance increased approximately 26 per cent over 2025, while park attendance grew by more than 52 per cent.
The conference also welcomed 67 exhibiting companies, giving attendees the opportunity to explore attractions, technology, operational solutions, food and beverage products, insurance and risk-management services, guest-experience tools and other resources designed specifically for the adventure and trampoline park industry.
“Seeing our members come together in Clearwater was incredibly rewarding,” said Alexis Kierce, Executive Director of IATP. “The growth in park attendance was exciting, but what stood out most was the level of participation. People weren’t simply attending sessions or walking the exhibit hall — they were asking questions, sharing experiences, making introductions, and learning from one another. That sense of community is what makes the IATP Conference special.”
54 Speakers, 30 Sessions and Real-World Education
Education remained at the center of the 2026 conference, with 54 industry professionals contributing to 30 sessions, panels, and interactive discussions.
The program addressed nearly every aspect of operating and growing an adventure or trampoline park, including safety, ASTM standards, legal and insurance issues, leadership, employee retention, marketing, artificial intelligence, interactive attractions, guest experience, food and beverage, financing, arcade operations and facility management.
Technology and the changing guest experience were recurring themes. Sessions explored artificial intelligence, data, gamification, interactive attractions, social media, online bookings and new ways parks can use technology to improve both operations and engagement.
Safety and risk management were also prominent throughout the program. One of the conference’s featured educational experiences, The Hot Seat: Mock Deposition Live, gave operators a firsthand look at the questions and challenges that can arise following a serious incident. Additional sessions addressed claims documentation, evidence preservation, serious injury response, insurance-market conditions, ASTM standards and building a strong safety culture.
Leadership and workforce development were another major focus, with discussions centered on recruiting and retaining employees, developing young managers, strengthening workplace culture and helping park leaders build stronger teams.
Opening Keynote Focuses on People-First Leadership
The conference began with the IATP Annual Business Meeting and Opening Luncheon featuring keynote speaker Anthony Lambatos, founder of MIBE.
Lambatos shared his perspective on heart-led leadership and intentionally building strong workplace cultures, challenging business leaders to consider how leadership affects employees, guest experiences, retention and long-term organizational success.
His people-first message set the tone for a conference centered on leadership, relationships and learning from others throughout the industry.
An Exhibit Hall Built Around Connection
The 2026 Trade Show provided dedicated exhibit and networking time throughout Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing park decision-makers directly together with the companies developing products and services for the industry.
That engagement extended into the IATP conference app, where attendees generated 128,018 sponsor impressions, 491 exhibitor leads, 459 exhibitor passport interactions, 3,115 attendee profile views and 1,373 private networking messages. The event app achieved an 81% download rate, with 349 active users.
Those numbers reflect an important part of the IATP conference experience: creating opportunities for conversations that can continue well beyond the event itself.
Celebrating the 2026 IATP Award Recipients
The conference concluded with the IATP Awards & Celebration Dinner at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where the Association recognized individuals and organizations making an impact throughout the adventure and trampoline park community.
The 2026 Chair’s Award, IATP’s highest individual honor, was presented to Phillip Howell of Best American Trampolines in recognition of his contributions to the industry and the lasting influence of his work.
The Pioneer Award was presented to Dr. Raine Kajastila of Valo Motion, recognizing his contributions to immersive mixed-reality attractions, motion tracking and interactive entertainment.
Atheena Khoshaba of Hamilton Flying Squirrel Sports received the Jan Platt Memorial Scholarship. Khoshaba works full-time as the park’s main office administrator while completing high school and plans to pursue Political Science before continuing to law school.
The Gravity-Defying Contribution Award was presented to Mike Revak of Sky Zone in recognition of his longstanding leadership, collaboration and contributions to IATP and the broader industry.
The Marketing Campaign of the Year Award recognized Flying Squirrel Sports and the creative work of Orrin Neese, whose marketing has developed the Flying Squirrel character into a recognizable personality that can be carried across campaigns, seasons and social media content.
ROLLER received the Breakthrough Product of the Year Award for its Guest Experience Agent, an AI-powered solution developed to enhance the guest experience and support attraction operators.
The evening also introduced what may become one of IATP’s more memorable traditions. Rick Quintanilla of Amusement Management Partners became the first recipient of the Armadillo Award, a lighthearted recognition inspired by an unforgettable IATP conference story — and an actual armadillo tattoo — celebrating the friendships, stories and memories created when the industry comes together.
Looking Ahead to Scottsdale
Following a year of continued conference growth, IATP is already preparing for its next Annual Conference & Trade Show.
The 2027 IATP Annual Conference & Trade Show will take place September 13–15, 2027, at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The event will once again bring together park owners, operators, managers, suppliers and industry professionals for education, exhibits, networking and opportunities to share ideas with the people helping shape the future of the adventure and trampoline park industry.
Conference registration, exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities will become available in early 2027