Who Judges the Theme Park Industry’s Best? | Theme Park Awards, Innovation | IAAPA | Matt Broughton
Exclusive interview with Matt Broughton, Editor at Park World Magazine, at IAAPA. Key Highlights: 1. Matt Broughton says he is speaking on the evening of the second day of IAAPA Expo Europe in London, at the Park World Excellence Awards. He describes the awards as a celebration of everything within the industry, with very senior people from across the industry joining the ceremony. 2. He says the magazine is proud that it does not simply hand awards to its sponsors. He says it is known in the industry that this is not an awards event where you buy a table of 10 and walk away with the trophy, which sometimes causes some upset. 3. He says this means winners know their award is legitimate, because it comes through independent judges who have taken time and consideration over their decisions. He says the awards always have great attendance, with the right kind of people. 4. He says the European edition of the show is in London this year, which is the magazine’s home turf. He says it was previously in Amsterdam and Barcelona and will be in Vienna next year, and that the North American edition takes place in November. 5. He says the whole industry comes together, from “the guys that make the buttons that go on machines” all the way up to the people producing the biggest rides in the world. 6. He says the show is mostly a series of press announcements from companies at every level of the industry, about big partnerships and launches that are coming up. 7. He says the magazine has only two or three opportunities a year when the industry is in one location, so it runs the awards at the end of the second day to get everyone in the same room at the same time. 8. He says the awards have become a really big part of IAAPA Europe, and that the magazine is grateful to still be held in high regard. He says business and times are tough, but everyone still makes the effort to attend the shows and the awards. 9. He says the evening lets people sit down, have a drink, enjoy the entertainment and the awards, and properly mingle without the noise of the show behind them. 10. He says he is not a judge, but the awards celebrate innovation, progress, and individuals who are achieving something in the industry, not only the big companies. He says they look at the progress parks are making in security and innovation, and in putting customers first rather than just backing technology. 11. He says there are now 20-plus awards, so every sector is covered and acknowledged. He says the judges come from a wide spectrum of positions in the industry, give their time and expertise, and that the magazine facilitates the awards but does not get involved in the outcome. About Travel And Tour World: Travel And Tour World is a global travel media platform covering travel, tourism, hospitality, aviation, MICE, cruise, and luxury travel, with readership across 195 countries. [IAAPA, IAAPA Expo Europe, IAAPA Expo Europe 2026 interview, IAAPA 2026, IAAPA London, Matt Broughton, Park World Magazine, Park World Excellence Awards, Park World Excellence Awards 2026, Park World Excellence Awards IAAPA Expo Europe London, theme park awards, theme park awards 2026, attractions awards, attractions industry awards, awards ceremony, awards night, industry awards, how are theme park awards judged, independent judges for industry awards, innovation and guest experience awards for attractions, theme parks, attractions industry, innovation, guest experience, what to expect at IAAPA Expo Europe, IAAPA Expo Europe press announcements, IAAPA Expo Europe networking evening, IAAPA Expo Europe 2027 Vienna, Travel And Tour World] #IAAPA #IAAPAExpoEurope #IAAPA2026 #IAAPALondon #ParkWorld #ParkWorldExcellenceAwards #ThemeParkAwards #AttractionsIndustry #ThemeParks #Awards #Innovation #GuestExperience #TravelAndTourWorld