The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) presented the 2016 IAAPA Brass Ring Awards on Nov. 16 during IAAPA Attractions Expo 2016 in Orlando, Florida. The annual honors were awarded to amusement parks, water parks, zoos, aquariums, museums, family entertainment centers (FECs), and suppliers from around the world to acknowledge excellence in food and beverage, games and retail, human resources, live entertainment, marketing, new products, and family entertainment centers.
The tradition of the brass ring, a term now synonymous with spectacular achievement, dates back to the 1800s. Rings were suspended above carousel riders; low enough for them to grasp, but high enough to pose a challenge. Most rings were made of iron, but a few were made of brass, so grabbing the brass ring was a valuable treat. Skilled riders who grabbed a brass ring often earned prizes, including a free ride on the carousel.
The IAAPA Brass Ring Awards are the most prestigious professional honors awarded, marking achievements of excellence throughout the international attractions industry.
The winners of the 2016 IAAPA Brass Ring Awards are:
Top Family Entertainment Centers (FECs) of the World
International: Dreamland FEC, La Libertad, El Salvador; www.dreamland.com.sv
North America: Scene75 Entertainment Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States; www.scene75.com/cincinnati
Food and Beverage Excellence
Best New Innovation in Food and Beverage: “Swig n’ Sweets,” Lagoon, Farmington, Utah, United States;www.lagoonpark.com
Best New Menu Item: “King Size Shakes,”Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States;www.hersheypark.com
Games and Merchandise Excellence
Best Plush Less than 1 Million Attendance: “Leo” soft toy, Leolandia, Bergamo, Italy; www.leolandia.it
Best Plush More than 1 Million Attendance: “Shuffles the Emperor Penguin Chick,” Sea World Australia, Queensland, Australia; seaworld.com.au
Best Hard Good Item Less than 1 Million Attendance: “Yas Waterworld Dawwama” mug, Yas Waterworld, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; yaswaterworld.com
Best Hard Good Item More than 1 Million Attendance: “Centennial Lion” ornament, San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California, United States; zoo.sandiegozoo.org
Best Apparel Less than 1 Million Attendance: “Love and Peace Rocks” eco-fashion t-shirt, Beach Park, Aquiraz, Brazil; www.beachpark.com.br
Best Apparel More than 1 Million Attendance: “Batman Flat Brim Cap with Removable Mask,” Warner Bros. Movie World, Queensland, Australia; movieworld.com.au
Best Single Display Merchandising: “Explorer Dressing Room Display,” Africam Safari, Puebla, Mexico;www.africamsafari.com
Best Store Visual Merchandising: “LeoShop,” Leolandia, Bergamo, Italy; www.leolandia.it
Best Game Operation: Lagoon Games Department, Lagoon, Farmington, Utah, United States;www.lagoonpark.com
Judges’ Choice: Vanadio Underwater Photography, Vana Nava Company Limited, Hua Hin, Thailand;www.vananavahuahin.com
Human Resources Excellence
Best Innovation in a Training Program, Class 1 Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, Grand Prairie, Texas, United States; www.sixflags.com/overtexas
Best Innovation in a Training Program, Class 2 Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
Somewhereland, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; www.bacaychoi.com
Best Employee Reward and Recognition Program, Class 1 Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
Parks and Resorts Scandinavia, Stockholm, Sweden; www.parksandresorts.com
Best Employee Reward and Recognition Program, Class 2 Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
Africam Safari, Puebla, Mexico; www.africamsafari.com
Best Employee Engagement Initiative, Class 1 Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
Silver Dollar City, Branson, Missouri, United States; www.silverdollarcity.com/theme
Best Employee Engagement Initiative, Class 2 Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
Africam Safari, Puebla, Mexico; www.africamsafari.com
Live Entertainment Excellence
Best Atmosphere/Street Show Performance/Act: “Sesame Street Funky Party,” Universal Studios Japan, Konohana Ward, Osaka, Japan; www.usj.co.jp/e/
Best Live Edutainment Show: “The Ed-ZOO-cation Team,” Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States;www.hersheypark.com
Most Creative Sports/Stunt Show: “Kaleidoscope Spectacular,” Ocean Park Hong Kong, Aberdeen, Hong Kong, SAR China; www.oceanpark.com.hk
Most Creative Christmas Show: “Dollywood’s A Christmas Carol,” Dollywood Theme Park, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States; www.dollywood.com/themepark
Most Creative Halloween Haunt, Show, or Experience: “Supr’ice in the Haunted Castle,” Europa-Park, Rust, Germany; www.europapark.de
Most Creative Show Featuring Animals: “Pets Ahoy,” SeaWorld San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States;seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-
Most Creative Property-wide Event Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
“Gilroy Gardens Lumination,” Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park Inc., Gilroy, California, United States;www.gilroygardens.org
Most Creative Property-wide Event Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
“Santa Allstar Christmas,” Resorts World Sentosa, Universal Studios Singapore, Singapore; www.rwsentosa.com
Best Theatrical Production Annual Attendance 250,001-1 Million:
“Phantasm-The Magic of Nick Norton,” Silverwood Theme Park, Athol, Idaho, United States;www.silverwoodthemepark.com
Best Theatrical Production Annual Attendance 1 Million-3 Million:
“LEGO Ninjago & the Realm of Shadows,” Legoland Malaysia Resort, Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia;www.legoland.com.my
Best Theatrical Production: Annual Attendance More than 3 Million:
“Mickey and the Magician,” Disneyland Resort Paris, Marne La Vallée, France; www.disneylandparis.com
Best Male Performer: Nick Norton, Silverwood Theme Park, Athol, Idaho, United States;www.silverwoodthemepark.com
Best Female Performer: Anastacia Manoilo, Europa-Park, Rust, Germany; www.europapark.de
Spirit Award
The Spirit Award is given to the most outstanding person who works behind-the-scenes to support high-quality entertainment value of the nominating attraction.
Gizmo Ng Tung Shuen, Ocean Park Hong Kong, Aberdeen, Hong Kong, China; www.oceanpark.com.hk
Most Creative Multimedia Spectacular
“Ignite the Dream: A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic & Light,” Shanghai Disney Resort, Shanghai, China;www.shanghaidisneyresort.com
Excellence in Marketing
Best Digital Marketing Campaign All Classes: Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, Georgia, United States;www.georgiaaquarium.org
Best Integrated Marketing Campaign All Classes: Liseberg, Gothenburg, Sweden; www.liseberg.com
Best Outdoor Advertisement All Classes: Africam Safari, Puebla, Mexico; www.africamsafari.com
Best Public Relations Campaign:
Class 1 Scene75 Entertainment Center, Dayton, Ohio, United States; www.scene75.com
Class 2 Africam Safari, Puebla, Mexico; www.africamsafari.com
Class 3 The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom, Lake George, New York, United States;www.sixflags.com/greatescape
Class 4 Ripley Entertainment, Orlando, Florida, United States; www.ripleyentertainment.com
Best Radio or Streaming Audio Commercial:
Class 1 Adventure City, Anaheim, California, United States; www.adventurecity.com
Class 2 Utah’s Hogle Zoo, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States; www.hoglezoo.org
Class 3 Knoebels Amusement Park, Elysburg, Pennsylvania, United States; www.knoebels.com
Class 4 Morey’s Piers and Beachfront Water Park, Wildwood, New Jersey, United States;www.moreyspiers.com
Best Social Media Campaign All Classes: Kolmården Wildlife Park, Kolmården, Sweden; www.kolmarden.com
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial:
Class 1 Silver Dollar City’s White Water, Branson, Missouri, United States; www.silverdollarcity.com/white
Class 2 Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Columbus, Ohio, United States; www.columbuszoo.org
Class 3 Kolmården Wildlife Park, Kolmården, Sweden; www.kolmarden.com
Class 4 Lagoon, Farmington, Utah, United States; www.lagoonpark.com
BEST NEW PRODUCT
The Best New Product Exhibitor Awards recognizes the best new products or services in the amusement parks and attractions industry.
Major Ride/Attraction – Class A (Product cost of US$3 million or more)
First Place: Mack Rides GmbH & Co. KG – Booth 2269, PowerSplash
Second Place: Intamin Ltd. – Booth 3824, Taron
Major Ride/Attraction – Class B (Product cost of less than US$3 million)
First Place: DOF Robotics – Booth 1390, Hurricane VR 360
Second Place: ABC Engineering AG – Booth 3049, Thrill Ride “Tourbillon”
Kiddie Ride/Attraction
First Place: Skyline Attractions, LLC – Booth 5429, Crazy Couch
Second Place: The Gravity Group, LLC – Booth 3813, Timber!
Water Park Ride/Attraction – Class A (Product cost of $2 million or more)
First Place: Aquatic Development Group, Inc. – Booth 2646, Breaker Beach™
Second Place: Polin Waterparks – Booth 1378, Space Race
Water Park Ride/Attraction – Class B (Product cost of less than $2 million)
First Place: WhiteWater – Booth 2037, 2240, Mat Blaster
Second Place: ProSlide Technology, Inc. – Booth 5140, FlyingSaucer 30
Patron Participation Ride/Attraction
First Place: Spectrum Sports Int’l– Booth 5110, Klime Wallz Mobile Edition
Second Place: Dodgeball2You– Booth 1657, Dodgeball2You Mobile Dodgeball Arena
Technology Applied to Amusements – Class A (Product or service used by consumers)
First Place: Holovis Attractions – Booth 778, Battle for Cedar Point: The Augmented Reality Experience
Second Place: Team Lab Kids – Booth 4256, Sketch Aquarium
Technology Applied to Amusements – Class B (Product or service used by facilities)
First Place: WhiteWater – Booth 2037, 2240, Smart Blast
Second Place: Gateway Ticketing Systems, Inc. – Booth 4847, Galaxy Connect
Food Services
First Place: Syrup Systems, Inc.– Booth 3275, SnowMax Ice Shaver
Second Place: Beverage Solutions Group, LLC – Booth 636, Beverage Solutions Group Creamer and Sugar Station
Merchandising and Retail Products
First Place: Big T Toys & Sports – Booth 2115, Plush Surfboards
Second Place: Waterloo Tent & Tarp Co., Inc. – Booth 2600, 2604, Air’ Lounge
Games and Devices – Class A (Arcade and video games and equipment)
First Place: Apple Industries, Inc. – Booth 1600, Face Place Photo Studio Deluxe
Second Place: Team Play, Inc. – Booth 2000, Launch Code
Games and Devices – Class B (Midway games and equipment)
First Place: Bob’s Space Racers, Inc. – Booth 2615, 2815, 7640, Pixel Water Gun Fun
Shows/Productions, Theatrical Equipment, and Supplies, Displays and Sets
First Place: JRA – Booth 1369, Independence Plaza
Second Place: LCI Productions LTD. – Booth 258, Cheddar Gorge: Headhunters
Services, Equipment, and Supplies
First Place: Water Safety Products, Inc. – Booth 4269, FlipEasy Rescue Tube Pack
Second Place: Redemption Plus – Booth 1300, Redemption Plus Merchinsights Program
Best New Product Concept Award
The Best New Product Concept Award is given to a new product that has yet to be sold or installed in a facility, and is debuting at IAAPA Attractions Expo.
First Place: Dynamic Attractions Ltd. – Booth 1078, Dynamic Motion Theater
Second Place: Mack Rides GmbH & Co. KG – Booth 2269, X-treme Spinning Coaster
Impact Award
The Impact Award recognizes the best new product or service in the amusement parks and attractions industry.
JRA – Booth 1369, Independence Plaza
BEST EXHIBIT AT IAAPA ATTRACTIONS EXPO 2016
The Best Exhibit Awards recognize the best booths on the IAAPA Attractions Expo trade show floor based on booth design, branding, staffing, and overall appeal.
Booth Size 100 – 199 Square Feet
First Place: Imagination Corporation – Booth 2159
Second Place: Italian Chocolate Twister LLC – Booth 331
Booth Size 200 – 399 Square Feet
First Place: Truss Aluminium Factory – Booth 6141
Second Place: Artistic Contractors, Inc. – Booth 180
Booth Size 400 – 499 Square Feet
First Place: Eleventh Hour – Booth 495
Second Place: BeaverTails USA Inc. – Booth 831
Booth Size 500 – 899 Square Feet
First Place: Empex Watertoys – Booth 3406
Second Place: Tree-Mendous Aerial Adventures – Booth 1778
Booth Size 900 – 1,200 Square Feet
First Place: Creative Works, Inc. – Booth 3671
Second Place: GGE Entertainment + Design – Booth 1373
Booth Size 1,201 and Larger Square Feet
First Place: Extreme Engineering – Booth 3265
Second Place: Daniels Wood Land, Inc. – Booth 1060, 1062
Image Award
The Image Award is given to the best exhibit based on booth design, branding, staffing, and overall appeal at IAAPA Attractions Expo.
Dynamic Attractions Ltd. – Booth 1078
The 2016 IAAPA Brass Ring Awards ceremony was sponsored by Silver Sponsor Holy Land Experience, and Supporting Sponsors Ocean Park Hong Kong and RWS & Associates.
