Amusement Park Buzz

ORLANDO, Fla. — IAAPA has named Bob Gurr, Chip Cleary, Jeffrey Ellis and Miguel Quintana Pali to its Hall of Fame Class of 2026, recognizing their contributions to ride design, aquatic safety, themed entertainment and sustainable tourism.

“The IAAPA Hall of Fame Award recognizes the visionaries whose ideas, leadership, and contributions have had a lasting impact on the attractions industry,” said Jakob Wahl, President and CEO of IAAPA. “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.”

Chip Cleary

Cleary has spent nearly 50 years in the attractions industry, with a career spanning themed water parks, water attraction design and executive leadership. He has led Palace Entertainment and Parque Reunidos and was involved in the development of Rulantica at Europa-Park.

Cleary also served as IAAPA Chairman and CEO and played a role in the association's continued expansion.

Jeffrey Ellis

Ellis, founder of Ellis & Associates, has spent more than four decades working to improve aquatic safety around the world.

His contributions include developments in lifeguard training and safety such as the rescue tube, 10/20 Protection Standard, operational audits and evidence-based performance standards. His work has influenced aquatic facilities in more than 40 countries and continues to impact the safety of millions of guests.

Bob Gurr

Gurr was one of Walt Disney's original Imagineers and played a major role in the development of several attractions and ride systems that became staples of Disney theme parks.

His engineering work includes the Autopia cars, Disneyland Monorail, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Submarine Voyage and the Omnimover ride system. Many of those innovations continue to influence themed entertainment and attraction designers.

Miguel Quintana Pali

Through Grupo Xcaret, Quintana Pali developed a destination entertainment model combining nature, culture, sustainability, hospitality and immersive experiences.

His approach has demonstrated how environmental stewardship and authentic cultural experiences can operate alongside commercial tourism, helping establish Grupo Xcaret as a benchmark for sustainable tourism and attractions innovation.

The 2026 class was selected by the IAAPA Hall of Fame Judging Task Force, which is composed of past IAAPA Global Board Chairmen and the five current IAAPA Regional Advisory Board Chairmen.

The four honorees will be formally inducted during IAAPA LEGENDS: A Hall of Fame Celebratory Affair on Monday, Nov. 16, during IAAPA Expo 2026 in Orlando.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the IAAPA Foundation, which supports scholarships for the next generation of attractions industry leaders.