IAAPA Expo booth staff and trade show models for 2026, hired in Orlando: ride queue hosts, VR pod hosts, arcade hosts, lead reps and lounge hostesses. One rate of $85 an hour per person, and no travel fees.
Sources: iaapa.org IAAPA Expo page (November 16–20, 2026, Orange County Convention Center, 1,100+ exhibitors, West Building new for 2026) and first-time attendee page (floor hours); IAAPA press release on IAAPA Expo 2025 (38,520 verified attendees, 28,598 qualified buyers, 102 countries, more than 565,000 square feet). The $85 rate is Purple Exhibits’ own.
At IAAPA Expo, buyers judge an attraction by trying it, so the person running the line is part of the pitch. Purple Exhibits supplies IAAPA Expo booth staff from the Orlando area: ride queue hosts, VR pod hosts, arcade floor hosts, prize counter hosts, lead desk reps, lounge hostesses and trade show models. Each role costs $85 per person per hour, with a four-hour minimum per shift. Our people already live near the convention center, so there are no flights, hotel rooms or travel fees on your bill. The 2026 trade show floor is open Tuesday to Friday, November 17–20, at the Orange County Convention Center, and IAAPA Expo returns to Orlando every November. Book four to six weeks out for the widest choice. Rush requests work with 72 hours’ notice.
| Event | IAAPA Expo 2026, produced by IAAPA |
|---|---|
| Education | Mon–Thu, November 16–19 |
| Show floor | Tue–Fri, November 17–20 |
| Floor hours | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Tue–Thu · 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Fri |
| Venue | Orange County Convention Center, Orlando |
| New for 2026 | The West Building joins the show floor |
| Buyers | Parks, FECs, waterparks, resorts, cruise lines, distributors |
| Rate | $85 per person per hour · 4-hour minimum |
On a floor packed with coasters, games and bright screens, a matched crew is what makes a booth look organized from the aisle. These are real Purple Exhibits teams, and the standard we bring to every IAAPA Expo booth.
The cover photo shows eleven hostesses in matching royal blue sheath dresses with print scarves and badges. A big, matched crew reads as one brand from far down the aisle, which helps on a floor as large as IAAPA’s.
See the cover photo ↑Real Purple Exhibits events.
Choose one look for everyone, or dress each zone differently: suiting on the meeting deck, polos at the ride. You ship any branded pieces; we gather sizes and check that every person arrives pressed and on time.
A fitted dress in your brand color with a printed silk scarf and a badge lanyard, like the crew on our cover.
Best for: Big islands, launch daysWhite blazers and trousers with a dark or metallic shoe. Clean, premium and easy to spot under bright booth lights.
Best for: Meeting decks, premium ride makersA simple white or black knit dress with a scarf in your accent color, a look that works under arcade lighting.
Best for: Arcade, gaming, VRA logo polo, a matching cap, dark trousers and cushioned sneakers, the way ride crews dress at a real park.
Best for: Ride queues, long shiftsAt IAAPA the crew follows what guests can try, not the size of your carpet. Enter your ride cars, VR pods and games, pick your days, and get a ticket strip with the cost for each day.
Eight services for IAAPA Expo exhibitors, from the queue at your ride car to the client dinner that evening. Each one is billed at the same $85 per person per hour.
Models work the aisle edge and invite park and FEC buyers in to try the attraction that fits their venue.
Ambassadors scan badges in the queue, hand out the giveaway after the scan and keep the line moving.
For a ride reveal or a press moment, promotional models present the new product and keep the crowd facing the stage.
Hostesses run your meeting deck and client lounge, check booked guests in and look after buyers between talks.
Demonstrators learn one short talk for a ride car, a VR pod or a game and deliver it the same way all four days.
Check-in staff handle guest lists for suites, dinners, park tours and receptions during IAAPA week.
Reps ask your questions, mark each lead by venue type and book the sales follow-up before the visitor leaves.
IAAPA draws buyers from about 100 countries. Ask for Spanish, Portuguese or another language early and we look for Orlando staff who speak it.
Staffing other events in Central Florida? Our Orlando trade show staffing team works every hall of the convention center and the resort hotels nearby. Still planning the booth itself? See our IAAPA Expo booth configurations.
A sample island with a ride car, VR pods, an arcade row and a prize counter. Tap any zone to read what the host there does, or follow the numbers to the crew list.
Example 40×40 island, not to scale. We mark up your real IAAPA floor plan the same way before the show.
Operators want to sit in the car and feel the restraint close. A queue host keeps a short, orderly line, helps people in and out, and hands the technical talk to your engineer standing by.
Each pod runs a few minutes per guest. A pod host fits the headset, wipes it between riders, keeps the wait list on a tablet and scans each badge before the ride starts.
A row of cabinets on free play pulls family entertainment center owners in from the aisle. A floor host resets games, answers first questions on earnings and calls your sales lead for pricing.
If you sell redemption systems, show the full loop: card swipe, play, tickets, prize. A counter host runs it as a real store so buyers see how it works on a busy Saturday.
Everyone who asks about price ends up here. The rep scans the badge, asks your questions and marks the venue type: park, FEC, waterpark, resort, cruise or distributor.
A greeter on the busiest aisle asks one question, what kind of venue do you run, and walks the visitor to the right attraction in the booth.
Lines form fast at ride and VR booths. Keep the queue inside your space with stanchions so it does not block the aisle, and give the host a clear end point.
Big attraction deals start with a sit-down. A meeting host checks guests against your calendar, brings water and tells the account lead when the next park team arrives.
Brands that have booked Purple
Buyers at IAAPA ride, play and taste before they talk price. Lines form in different places and at different times, so we plan the crew one attraction at a time.
Operators want to sit down, pull the lap bar and feel the ride move. One host keeps the line tidy, loads and unloads guests, and fetches your engineer for the questions about throughput and maintenance.
Every rider needs a headset fitted and cleaned. A pod host keeps a tablet wait list, scans the badge before the ride and tells guests how long the wait is, so nobody leaves for the next booth.
Family entertainment center owners play first and ask about earnings second. A floor host resets games and runs the prize counter like a real store, then hands serious buyers to your sales team.
You cannot run water on the carpet, so the booth sells with models, video and samples of materials. A presenter tells the story of one installed project and books a site visit.
IAAPA added a food and beverage pavilion and live chef demos for 2026. Sampling hosts hand out tastes, keep the counter clean and collect a badge scan with every cup or plate.
Other Orlando shows run the same way at this venue. Our PGA Show booth staff host hitting bays in January, and our InfoComm booth staff run display and audio demos.
What each person does at an attractions booth, how many to plan for and when to lock them in.
| Role | What they do at IAAPA Expo | How many | Book by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ride queue host | Runs the line for your display car or simulator, helps guests in and out and passes engineering questions to your team | One per ride or simulator | 6 weeks out |
| VR pod host | Fits headsets, cleans them between guests, keeps a wait list and scans each badge before the ride | One per two pods | 6 weeks out |
| Arcade floor host | Keeps games on free play, resets cabinets and points FEC owners to your sales lead | One per 10 games | 5 weeks out |
| Prize counter host | Runs your redemption demo like a real store: card, play, tickets, prize | One per counter | 5 weeks out |
| Lead desk rep | Scans badges, asks your questions and tags each lead by venue type | One or two per booth | 5 weeks out |
| Greeter and trade show model | Works the aisle edge, asks what venue the visitor runs and walks them to the right demo | One per open side | 4 weeks out |
People who can run a ride line, explain a VR pod in one breath and turn an operator's badge into a booked meeting. These are the five roles we send to IAAPA Expo.
Presenters on a headset mic who walk park buyers through your new ride or game, live on the stage.
Ambassadors who scan each operator's badge at the edge of your attractions booth before they head in.
Hosts who run the station everyone wants to try: the ride seat, the VR pod or the arcade cabinet.
Hostesses who welcome park teams into your client lounge with drinks and a quiet place to talk.
Reps with a tablet who qualify each buyer by venue type and book the sales follow-up on the spot.
Send your attraction listRides, pods, games and counters.
We ride it firstEvery host tries each demo before opening.
Leads tagged by venuePark, FEC, waterpark, resort.
IAAPA Expo 2026 grows into the West Building, so the floor now spans both sides of the convention center. Where your booth sits changes your crew’s call time, entrance and break plan.
IAAPA lists the North/South Building as part of the 2026 show floor, alongside the new West Building. Its halls run long, so the walk from the main doors to a back-wall booth can take a while on day one.
Send us the hall letter and booth number. We set the call time by the door nearest to your booth, not by the main entrance.
IAAPA says the West Building adds nearly 50 percent more exhibit space. It holds dedicated pavilions for first-time exhibitors, food and beverage, haunt, operational services, and rides and equipment, plus the Innovation Hub and IAAPA Central. The Opening Ceremony is in the Chapin Theater (W320).
A pedestrian bridge and shuttle buses link the two buildings. We brief your crew on the bridge route so a staff swap takes minutes, not half an hour.
Parking, loading docks and the layout of each hall are in our Orange County Convention Center exhibitor guide. Building facts above come from IAAPA’s own 2026 announcements.
IAAPA brings park operators, FEC owners, waterparks, resorts and distributors to the same aisle. Each one needs a different next step, so our reps send every scan down the right lane.
We askWhich rides are you replacing or adding, and for which season?
Send toRide sales lead, with a meeting on the deck
We askHow many games and attractions do you run now, and what earns best?
Send toArcade or redemption specialist
We askIs this a new park, an expansion or a refresh of an old area?
Send toProject team for a site visit
We askWhere would the attraction go on your property, and who signs off?
Send toNew-markets lead, same day
We askWhich country or region do you cover, and which lines do you carry now?
Send toExport or channel manager
Tick off each step as you go. Your progress stays saved in this browser.
Four floor days sit inside a longer week. Here is the 2026 schedule from IAAPA, and the work our Orlando crew covers on each side of it.
Education startsFirst-Timer Welcome, 4–5 p.m., room W307ABCD. Your crew walks the booth and rides every demo.
Floor opensOpening Ceremony at 8:30 a.m. in the Chapin Theater (W320). Floor 10 a.m.–6 p.m. IAAPA After Hours 6–8 p.m., West A/B Lobby.
Full floor dayFloor 10 a.m.–6 p.m. A good middle day to book sit-down meetings on your deck.
Last full dayFloor 10 a.m.–6 p.m. IAAPA Celebrates: Universal Epic Universe from 7 to 11 p.m., limited capacity.
Short dayFloor 10 a.m.–4 p.m. A smaller crew covers the last buyers and the close.
Sample crews by booth size at $85 per person per hour. The crew builder above prices your own attractions and days.
| Booth | Typical crew per shift | People | Per day | Whole show |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10×10 inline | A booth rep with a scanner and a greeter | 2 | $1,360 | $5,440 |
| 10×20 with two games | An arcade floor host, a lead rep and a greeter | 3 | $2,040 | $8,160 |
| 20×20 with VR pods | Two pod hosts, a lead rep and a greeter | 4 | $2,720 | $10,880 |
| 20×30 with a ride vehicle | A queue host, two pod hosts, a lead rep, a greeter and a meeting host | 6 | $4,080 | $16,320 |
| 40×40 attraction island | Queue host, 2 pod hosts, arcade host, prize host, 2 lead reps, greeter, meeting host and a relief host | 10 | $6,800 | $27,200 |
| Hospitality suite only | A suite host and a check-in host for invited guests | 2 | $1,360 | $5,440 |
8-hour days × 4 show days × $85 per person per hour. No travel, hotel or agency markup.
A 20×30 booth with one ride car and four VR pods runs on six people per shift: a queue host, two pod hosts, a lead rep, a greeter and a meeting host. Compare that crew hired in Orlando with the same six flown in for the week.
| IAAPA Expo 20×30, four floor days | Cost |
|---|---|
| Purple local staff | |
| Travel, hotel, per-diem | $0 |
| Your IAAPA total |
| Typical fly-in agency, same team | Cost |
|---|---|
| Staff hours at $85 | |
| Round-trip flights ~$380 each | |
| Hotel International Drive, IAAPA week · ~$289/night | |
| Per-diem ~$69/day | |
| Fly-in total |
How the choices stack up for IAAPA Expo exhibitors, row by row.
| Purple local crew | Fly-in staffing agency | General temp agency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate | $85 per person, every role | Agency rate plus travel markup | Low hourly, untrained for booths |
| Getting staff here | They commute in | Flights (~$380) and hotel nights (~$289) | Local, but unscreened |
| IAAPA venue know-how | Works these halls all year | Learns the venue on show day | Hit or miss |
| The IAAPA edge | Every host tries each demo before opening. | Not local | Not specialised |
| Product briefing | Included before day one | Varies by agency | Rarely |
| Scanner and follow-up | Notes in the scanner for sales | Depends on the team | Untrained |
| No-show plan | Briefed local within two hours | Usually none mid-show | Next available temp |
Fly-in costs use the same typical IAAPA rates as the budget above. Other agencies’ pricing varies.
About three minutes. No deposit to ask.
We’ll email your quote within 24 hours, usually much sooner. Need it now? Call (800) 994-8030.
A ride car or VR pod can draw a queue of 20 people. Without stanchions inside the booth, the line spills out and your neighbors complain to show management.
A host who has not sat in the car cannot answer the first question. Every person on our crew rides or plays each demo before the doors open.
Once a guest has played, they walk off. Scan the badge while they wait, not after the ride ends.
The 2026 floor spans two buildings. Send the building and booth number early or your crew starts the day on the wrong side of the bridge.
The floor closes at 4 p.m. on Friday and traffic is lighter. Book a smaller, shorter Friday crew and keep your budget for Tuesday to Thursday.
Call (800) 994-8030 and ask for IAAPA Expo booth staffing.
Every role is $85 per person per hour, with a four-hour minimum per shift. Queue hosts, VR pod hosts, lead reps, hostesses and trade show models all bill the same. Our crews live in the Orlando area, so you pay no travel fees.
The show floor is open Tuesday to Friday, November 17–20, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Education sessions run November 16–19. IAAPA lists floor hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday.
Yes. IAAPA Expo is held every year in Orlando, usually in mid-November. IAAPA had not posted 2027 dates on its site when we last checked, so watch the official site before you plan next year.
Our hosts run the guest side: the line, loading, headset fitting, cleaning and the badge scan. Your own team operates and controls the equipment. We ask for a short talk per attraction and time to try each one before opening.
Count the attractions that guests try. Plan one host per ride car, one per two VR pods and one per ten games, then add a lead rep and a greeter. The crew builder on this page does the math by day.
They scan each badge and ask two or three questions you approve. Then they tag the lead as park, family entertainment center, waterpark, resort or cruise, or distributor, so your sales team knows who to call first.
Four to six weeks before November 17 gives you the widest choice of people. IAAPA week is one of the busiest weeks of the year for Orlando event staff, so early booking pays off. Rush requests still work with 72 hours’ notice.
For 2026 the floor covers the North/South Building and the new West Building of the Orange County Convention Center. Your booth number tells you which. Send it to us and we plan call times and the right entrance.
Book through us. Our IAAPA crews live in the Orlando area and drive or ride in to the OCCC, so no flights or hotels go on your bill. Each person bills $85 an hour with a four-hour minimum.
Yes. You can book one shift on your busiest day, a launch moment or only the Friday close. Each person has a four-hour minimum, and you can add days later if there is time to brief them.
Often, yes. IAAPA draws buyers from about 100 countries, and Central Florida has many Spanish and Portuguese speakers. Tell us the languages you need when you book. Bilingual staff bill the same $85 an hour.
We keep standby staff in Orlando during IAAPA week. A briefed replacement reaches the convention center within two hours. If we miss that, you do not pay for that shift.
Yes. We send hostesses, check-in hosts and suite hosts to hotel suites, customer dinners, receptions and park tours around Orlando.
No. We are an independent company that exhibitors hire directly. We are not affiliated with IAAPA, the association that produces IAAPA Expo.
Yes. We design, build and install exhibits at the Orange County Convention Center, including queue areas and demo zones for ride cars and VR, and we staff them under one plan.
Attraction brands host their best customers away from the floor during show week. Our Orlando crew covers those events too.
Arrival, seating and gift handoff for park and FEC owners.
We send: Hostesses, greetersPrivate product previews and partner meetings from a guest list.
We send: Suite hosts, check-in staffBus check-in, name badges and timekeeping for groups.
We send: Tour hosts, registration staffGuest lists, seating and product handling before the reveal.
We send: Door hosts, product presentersCoat and bag check, photo walls and VIP lists.
We send: Brand ambassadors, hostsStaffing by show
Orlando and this show
Staffing by role
Purple Exhibits is an independent exhibit and staffing company. We staff exhibitors at IAAPA Expo; we are not affiliated with IAAPA (the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions). Show names belong to their owners.
Send your attractions and booth number. An IAAPA Expo price within one business day.
Let’s get right on that answer for you:
