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PGAV Destinations Project Chimelong Ocean Kingdom Awarded Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement by TEA

St. Louis, MO, USA (December 2, 2014) – Chimelong Ocean Kingdom was honored with the Themed Entertainment Association’s (TEA) Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement in theme parks at this year’s IAAPA Expo in Orlando, FL.

“Chimelong Ocean Kingdom raises the bar for other Chinese park developers and demonstrates how much can be achieved with a combination of Western design and Chinese execution,” said Steve Birket, TEA president. “[The park] is distinguished by its uplifting message of unity and diversity, and its pioneering East-West collaboration.”

The Thea Award is the latest jewel in Chimelong’s crown, as the park received five Guinness World Records earlier this year:
1. World’s Largest Aquarium
2. World’s Largest Aquarium Tank
3. World’s Largest Underwater Viewing Dome
4. World’s Largest Aquarium Window
5. World’s Largest Acrylic Panel

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St. Louis-based consulting and design firm PGAV Destinations served as the product strategist, master planner, lead design consultant, and lead designer of the 125-acre (50 ha.) attraction on Henquin Island near Macao. Ocean Kingdom took three years to construct and features seven unique areas, each themed around a different part of the world’s waterways.

“Being associated with this Thea Award is special, as it represents success in the new context of China,” says Al Cross, PGAV Destinations VP and project lead. “Our other Thea Awards similarly recognized innovation and boldness – Wild Arctic, Discovery Cove, Georgia Aquarium – and now we have Ocean Kingdom. We are incredibly happy for Chimelong, and we are proud to be part of it.”

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Ocean Kingdom is home to thousands of animals and boasts numerous rides, attractions, retail, and dining. Numerous other incredible attractions include the massive and immersive digital manta ray entry tunnel; the towering whale shark sculpture at the center of Ocean Park; and a wholly unique attraction which combines a roller coaster and a live polar bear exhibit.

Chimelong Ocean Kingdom serves as PGAV Destination’s first full theme park design in Asia, having previously master-planned and designed the Grand Aquarium at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park and an attraction at the Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses in Xi’an, China.

www.PGAVDestinations.com

Joe Kleiman
Joe Kleimanhttp://wwww.themedreality.com
Raised in San Diego on theme parks, zoos, and IMAX films, InPark's Senior Correspondent Joe Kleiman would expand his childhood loves into two decades as a projectionist and theater director within the giant screen industry. In addition to his work in commercial and museum operations, Joe has volunteered his time to animal husbandry at leading facilities in California and Texas and has played a leading management role for a number of performing arts companies. Joe previously served as News Editor and has remained a contributing author to InPark Magazine since 2011. HIs writing has also appeared in Sound & Communications, LF Examiner, Jim Hill Media, The Planetarian, Behind the Thrills, and MiceChat His blog, ThemedReality.com takes an unconventional look at the attractions industry. Follow on twitter @ThemesRenewed Joe lives in Sacramento, California with his wife, dog, and a ghost.

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