IAAPA Announces 2026 Hall of Fame Inductees

(eap) The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) has announced this year’s new inductees into the “IAAPA Hall of Fame”, who will be honored for their contributions to the global leisure and attractions industry during an official celebration event at IAAPA Expo 2026 in Orlando, Florida. The new members of the IAAPA Hall of Fame are Chip Cleary, Jeffrey Ellis, Bob Gurr and Miguel Quintana Pali.

“The IAAPA Hall of Fame Award recognizes the visionaries whose ideas, leadership, and contributions have had a lasting impact on the attractions industry,” said IAAPA President and CEO Jakob Wahl. “Each of these honorees have transformed our industry in remarkable ways. From advancing safety and engineering to reimagining guest experiences and sustainable tourism, their influence spans generations and regions around the world, and we are proud to welcome them into the IAAPA Hall of Fame.”

The new inductees were selected by the “IAAPA Hall of Fame Judging Task Force”, which is composed of former Chairmen of the IAAPA Global Board as well as the five current Chairmen of IAAPA’s Regional Advisory Boards.

Chip Cleary: For nearly 50 years, Cleary has helped shape the attractions industry through innovation, outstanding operations and leadership. His career includes a formative role in the development of themed water parks, executive positions at Palace Entertainment and his involvement in the development of Europa-Park’s Rulantica water world, for which Cleary has served as a consultant for many years. Cleary also served as President and CEO of IAAPA and supported the association’s global growth.

Jeffrey Ellis: As founder of Ellis & Associates, Ellis has spent more than four decades advancing safety concepts for aquatic facilities and water parks around the world. His innovative approaches to lifeguard training have influenced standards in more than 40 countries and continue to help protect millions of guests.

Bob Gurr: As one of Walt Disney’s original Imagineers, Gurr played a key role in redefining how attractions are designed and experienced. His engineering developments include the vehicles for “Autopia”, the Disneyland Monorail, “Matterhorn Bobsleds”, “Submarine Voyage” and the “Omnimover” ride system. His innovations continue to shape themed experiences and generations of attraction designers to this day.

Miguel Quintana Pali: With Grupo Xcaret, Quintana Pali developed a pioneering model of destination entertainment that combines nature, culture, sustainability, hospitality and immersive experiences. His approach demonstrates how environmental responsibility and authentic cultural experiences can be compatible with commercial success, helping establish Grupo Xcaret as an international benchmark for sustainable tourism and innovation.

The honorees will be officially inducted into the IAAPA Hall of Fame on Monday, November 16, during “IAAPA Legends: A Hall of Fame Celebratory Affair”. According to IAAPA, proceeds from the ticketed event will benefit the IAAPA Foundation, which supports scholarships for the next generation of leaders in the attractions industry. ■