Redemption Plus Names Derek Lovato Sales Vice President
The prize supplier for North American family entertainment centers adds a veteran attractions executive to lead sales and business development.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Theme Parks
Redemption Plus has appointed Derek Lovato as vice president of sales and business development, effective November 2026. Lovato brings almost 30 years of experience across the amusement, attractions, entertainment, and hospitality sectors.
Why it matters
Redemption Plus supplies prizes to family entertainment centers, arcades, bowling alleys, and cinema entertainment centers across North America, so sales leadership shapes the products those venues offer. Lovato's background in group sales and special events reflects the operator-focused priorities that drive these customers' business.
Lovato's prior roles include leadership at Six Flags, PARC Management, Herschend Family Entertainment, and Rhode Island Novelty, plus recent executive work at ICON Experiences at National Harbor. Reported ICON results include 32% group sales growth, 200% special event revenue growth, and 65% per-capita spending growth over four years, though the source does not detail how these figures were measured.
The players
Redemption Plus
Redemption Plus is a prize supplier serving family entertainment centers, arcades, bowling alleys, and cinema entertainment centers across North America.
Derek Lovato
Derek Lovato is an amusement and hospitality executive with almost 30 years of industry experience, an IAAPA Brass Ring Award winner, and a frequent IAAPA presenter.
IAAPA Expo
IAAPA Expo is the annual trade show of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, held in Orlando in 2026.
The details
Lovato most recently held an executive role with ICON Experiences at National Harbor and previously worked with Six Flags, PARC Management, and Herschend Family Entertainment. He has also led sales and product development projects with Nickelodeon, SEGA, and MTV, and is a six-time IAAPA presenter and IAAPA Brass Ring Award winner. He serves on boards including NEAAPA, the Stuffed Toy Manufacturers Association, and the National Harbor Convention & Visitors Association.
Timeline
November 2026: Lovato joins Redemption Plus as vice president of sales and business development.
Later in November 2026: Redemption Plus announces its Custom Plush Battle Royale champion at IAAPA Expo in Orlando.
Industry Dynamics
Redemption Plus's personnel move comes as the redemption prize sector leans on operator-driven product selection rather than purely supplier-led catalogs. The Custom Plush Battle Royale contest, which draws on input from game room operators and amusement professionals across the US, is the clearest current example of that approach.
For operators of family entertainment centers and arcades, the sales leadership change may shape which redemption prizes are offered and how they are priced in the coming seasons. Operators interested in the Custom Plush Battle Royale can follow the contest results announced at IAAPA Expo.
The takeaway
Sales leadership at prize suppliers influences what family entertainment venues can offer guests, so operators tracking their prize mix may want to watch new product announcements from Redemption Plus. Lovato's record in group sales and special events suggests the company will emphasize operator-driven growth.
What happens next
Redemption Plus will announce its Custom Plush Battle Royale champion at IAAPA Expo in Orlando later in November 2026.
Further reading
Explore more Theme Parks coverage to see how the attractions industry is evolving.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Blooloop.
