The attractions business has spent the past few years retooling around a simple idea: guests may come for the ride, but they often remember the add-ons, the prize counter, the birthday package, or the custom event that makes the visit feel worth returning to. For family entertainment centers and arcades especially, redemption merchandise is no longer a back-end operational detail; it is part of the guest experience, revenue strategy, and brand identity. IAAPA’s 2026 Expo in Orlando underscores that broader shift, bringing together operators and suppliers from across the attractions sector for four days of education, networking, and product discovery. (iaapa.org)
That context helps explain why leadership moves at specialty suppliers matter. Redemption Plus, which says it serves family entertainment centers, bowling entertainment centers, educational learning centers, and fundraising agencies, has appointed Derek Lovato as vice president of sales and business development. The company’s focus on redemption prizes, novelty plush, crane and merchandiser kits, and party goods puts it squarely in the middle of a market where operators are under pressure to increase per-cap spending while keeping the prize mix fresh and relevant. (redemptionplus.com)
Michael Nowak, CEO of Redemption Plus, said Lovato “brings a rare combination of industry knowledge, leadership, and relationships built over nearly three decades,” adding that he “understands this business from the ground up.” In practical terms, that kind of hire usually signals more than a title change. It suggests a company preparing to deepen account relationships, sharpen product positioning, and use sector contacts to identify where operators are spending, what guests are responding to, and which merchandise categories are gaining traction. (redemptionplus.com)
Lovato’s background makes that strategy easier to understand. His career spans more than 30 years in amusement, attractions, entertainment, and hospitality, with leadership roles at Six Flags, PARC Management, Herschend Family Entertainment, and Rhode Island Novelty. That mix matters because suppliers in this segment often succeed not just by selling products, but by understanding operational realities: floor layouts, inventory turns, seasonal demand, and the economics of prizes that drive repeat play. At PARC Management, for example, he led a strategic purchasing initiative across 13 CNL properties, a reminder that procurement discipline can be as influential as salesmanship in this business. (redemptionplus.com)
At the same time, Lovato’s recent results at ICON Experiences at National Harbor point to a leader who is comfortable with measurable growth. The source cites 32% growth in group sales, 200% growth in special event revenue, and a 65% increase in per-capita spending over four years. Those numbers matter because they map directly onto the priorities of many entertainment venues: increase dwell time, convert visits into higher-value occasions, and use events to smooth demand across the calendar. That perspective could prove useful at Redemption Plus, where prize merchandising and event-driven programming often intersect. (redemptionplus.com)
“Having spent time with Michael on the road and at industry trade shows, I’ve seen firsthand the passion and vision behind Redemption Plus,” Lovato said, according to the company’s announcement. He added, “Success isn’t just about where you’ve been. It’s about having the courage to see where you can go.” The comment reads less like a ceremonial quote than a clue to how he may approach the role: aligning supplier relationships with the long-term evolution of the attractions market, rather than only chasing immediate sales. That approach is especially relevant as operators continue to balance classic redemption staples with branded merchandise, licensed products, and experience-driven prize assortments. (redemptionplus.com)
Lovato will join Redemption Plus in November 2026 and be based in Massachusetts, while the company prepares to announce its Custom Plush Battle Royale champion later this month at IAAPA Expo 2026 in Orlando, where the show floor runs November 17–20 and education begins November 16. The timing is telling: major industry events often function as both a marketplace and a signal of where suppliers believe demand is headed next. (iaapa.org)
Originally reported by via blooloop.com on 2026-11-03 03:23:02.
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