July 2017 – Breaking: IAAPA buys Darden land for new HQ
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) closed on the purchase of nearly 7 acres of land in southwest Orlando for its new headquarters.
The deal has been in the works for IAAPA since earlier this year, as documents filed with Orange County showed IAAPA had sought approval for a “land use conversion from 250 hotel rooms to 150,778 square feet of office” space.
The land, owned by Darden Inc., southwest of Darden’s Taft Vineland offices and west of the 128-room Courtyard by Marriott Orlando South/John Young Parkway hotel that opened in 2015.
Darden previously confirmed with Orlando Business Journal that land was under contract with IAAPA.
IAAPA is relocating its headquarters from Alexandria, Va., to Orlando to be closer to the most-visited tourist destination in the world. That move will bring many of its staff and now put the association in the same city that hosts its annual IAAPA Expo, a trade show for all things tourism industry that draws thousands of attendees and generates millions in economic impact.
Stay tuned as this is a developing story.
Richard Bilbao
Senior staff writer
Orlando Business Journal