IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry, announced the winners of the 2021 IAAPA Brass Ring Awards. The IAAPA Brass Ring Awards are the most prestigious professional honors awarded, marking achievements of excellence throughout the global attractions industry. The awards recognize amusement parks, waterparks, zoos, aquariums, museums, science centers, family entertainment centers (FECs) and attractions in excellence in categories including food and beverage, games and retail, human resources, live entertainment, marketing and new products.
The IAAPA Brass Ring Awards are considered one of the global attractions industry’s most prestigious honors. The brass ring has been a tradition dating back to the 1800s, when excited guests were challenged to reach for a ring while riding a carousel. While most rings were made from iron, grabbing the single brass ring was a coveted and celebrated accomplishment, and often included a free second carousel ride. The IAAPA Brass Ring Awards honor that tradition, and each year facilities around the world submit their most creative and memorable work for consideration.
2021 IAAPA Brass Ring Award Winners
Top Family Entertainment Center (FEC) of the World
Scene75 Entertainment Center
Columbus, Dublin, Ohio, United States
Food and Beverage Excellence
Best New Menu Item:
Reese’s Stuff Your Cup
Hershey’s Chocolate World
Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
Best New Food and Beverage Festival or Special Event:
Dollywood’s Flower and Food Festival
Dollywood Parks and Resorts
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States
Related: Dollywood reveals new resort as part of 10-year plan
Games and Retail Excellence
Best Plush:
“Remy Feature Plus”
Disney Global Product Creation
Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States
Best Apparel:
“Omega Mart Tattoo Chicken Ringer T-Shirt”
Meow Wolf, Inc.
Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
Related: Let’s Go Shopping! Meow Wolf opens Omega Mart
Best Hard Good Item:
“Candy Land Hershey Edition”
Hershey’s Chocolate World
Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
Best Visual Merchandising:
“Omega Mart Plenty Valley Produce Department”
Meow Wolf, Inc.
Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
Best Midway Game Operation:
Canobie Lake Park
Salem, New Hampshire, United States.
Judges Award:
“Coca-Cola Sponsored Games”
Lagoon Amusement Park
Farmington, Utah, United States
Related: Geoff Thatcher: Gordo at the park
Human Resources Excellence
Best Employee Engagement Initiative – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
“We R.I.S.E. Together: Resilience, Innovation, Sustainability, Engagement”
Enchanted Kingdom
Laguna, Philippines
Best Employee Engagement Initiative – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
“Hersheypark Leadership Development Internship”
Hersheypark
Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
Related: Unwrapping the new Hersheypark
Best Employee Reward and Recognition Program – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
“Work Here. Play Here. Win Here.”
Knoebels Park and Resort
Elysburg, Pennsylvania, United States
Best Innovation in a Training Program – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
“Meow Wolf 101: The Beginning”
Meow Wolf, Inc.
Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
Related: Meow Wolf’s Corvas Brinkerhoff talks art + business
Best Innovation in a Training Program – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
“Guest Obsession: Four Pillars of GO!”
LEGOLAND Florida Resort
Winter Haven, Florida, United States
Related: LEGOLAND Florida rings in tenth anniversary with new attractions and enhancements
Live Entertainment Excellence
Best Atmosphere/Street Show Performance/Act:
“Magic Happens Parade”
Disneyland Resort, Disney Parks Live Entertainment
Anaheim, California, United States
Best Performer:
Caleb Brown
Dollywood Parks and Resorts
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States
Best Live “Edutainment” Show:
“Orca Encounter”
SeaWorld Orlando
Orlando, Florida, United States
Related: Three SeaWorld Entertainment waterparks add new slides for 2022
Best Theatrical Production: Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
“EL ÚLTIMO CANTAR” – The Last Song”
Puy du Fou España SA
Toledo, Spain
Related: Puy du Fou España CEO Erwan de la Villéon shares his views on the new park
Best Theatrical Production: Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
“Xcaret México Spectacular”
Grupo Xcaret
Quintana Roo, Mexico
Most Creative Christmas Show:
“The Crystal Promise”
Universal Studios Japan
Osaka, Japan
Most Creative Halloween Haunt, Show, or Experience:
“Oogie Boogie Bash – A Halloween Party”
Disneyland Resort, Disney Parks Live Entertainment
Anaheim, California, United States
Most Creative Multimedia Spectacular:
“La Clé des Songes”
FUTUROSCOPE
Vienne, France
Related: Europe: Continental success
Most Creative Property-wide Event – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
“For The Love Event, Surfing & Lifestyle Series”
URBNSURF Group
New South Wales, Australia
Most Creative Property-wide Event – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
“Gala of Lights”
Ocean Park Corporation
Hong Kong, China
Related: 2020 Theme Index: resilience in China, challenges in California
Most Creative Sports/Stunt Show:
“Winter Wonderland on Ice”
SeaWorld Orlando
Orlando, Florida, United States
Excellence in Marketing
Best Digital Marketing Campaign:
“Monster – King of Roller Coasters”
Gröna Lund
Stockholm, Sweden
Best Integrated Marketing Campaign:
“Spider”
Fantasilandia
Santiago, Chile
Best Outdoor Advertisement – Dual winners:
“Explore Wonder!”
Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach, SC, United States
and
“Grandes Sonrisas” (Bigger Smiles)
Grupo Xcaret
Quintana Roo, Mexico
Best Public Relations Campaign – Dual winners:
“Dr. Diabolical’s Cliffhanger Tease and Announcement”
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
San Antonio, Texas, United States
and
“360˚ Xafety”
Grupo Xcaret
Quintana Roo, Mexico
Best Radio or Streaming Audio Commercial:
“Sharks Exhibit Advertising Campaign”
California Academy of Sciences
San Francisco, California, United States
Best Social Media Campaign:
“Sleep with the Sharks Influencer Campaign”
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
Gatlinburg, Tennessee, United States
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
“To Travel is To Live”
Lakewood Camping Resort
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
“Vitamina X”
Grupo Xcaret
Quintana Roo, Mexico
Related: Grupo Xcaret: Xavage Gardens
All award winners, and entries, will be honored in Orlando, Florida, during IAAPA Expo 2021 at the IAAPA Award Winners Celebration.