The IAAPA Brass Ring Awards recognise excellence from operators, individuals and projects across every sector of the global attractions industry. Revealed at the annual IAAPA Expo in Orlando and considered the industry’s most prestigious honour, we take a closer look at 2019’s winners.
Top Family Entertainment Center (FEC) of the World
Cinergy Entertainment Amarillo, Amarillo, Texas, US
Opened in October 2018, Cinergy’s 90,000sq ft (8,300sq m) Amarillo Entertainment Center is an FEC offering movies, bowling, laser tag, arcade games, escape rooms and more. It also features multi-sensory interactive attractions such as Hologate and an XD 4D Dark Ride. Including its award-winning Amarillo FEC, the company operates a total of five such ventures across Texas and Oklahoma.
Food and Beverage Excellence
Best New Menu Item – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million
Unicorn Cotton Candy Tacos, Jake’s Unlimited, Mesa, Arizona, US
Best New Menu Item – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million
BLT Panzanella Bowl, San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California, US
Games and Retail Excellence
Best Plush
Porg, Disney Parks, US
Best Apparel
Children’s Shaun the Sheep Hooded Sweat,
Paradise Country – Gold Coast Australia
Best Hard Good Item
Savi’s Workshop – Handbuilt Lightsabers,
Disney Parks, US
Best Visual Merchandising
Droid Depot: Custom Astromech Units,
Disney Parks, US
Build and take home your own droid at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (for more see p62)
Best Midway Game Operation
Morey’s Piers Game Operation
Morey’s Piers and Beachfront Water Parks, Wildwood, New Jersey, US
Judges Award: Best Plush Item
Little Ndaba, Naples Zoo, Naples, Florida, US
Morey’s Piers won a brass ring for Best Midway Game Operation
Human Resources Excellence
Best Employee Engagement Initiative – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
UAE
Best Employee Engagement Initiative – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Santa Cruz, California, US
Best Employee Reward and Recognition Program – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million
Europa Park
Rust, Germany
Best Innovation in a Training Programme – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million
Pacific National Exhibition
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Best Innovation in a Training Programme – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million
Whiting’s Foods on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Santa Cruz, California, US
Live Entertainment Excellence
Best Atmosphere/Street Show Performance/Act
Green Army Drum Corps
Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Orlando, Florida, US
A live show at Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Green Army Drum Corps are a talented band of drummers who deliver high-energy drum performances. The troops march through Toy Story Land several times per day, playing their percussion instruments as they go.
Best Performer
Annie Huckaba
Dollywood Theme Park,
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, US
Best Live Edutainment Show
Hershey’s Unwrapped
Hershey’s Chocolate World, Hershey, Pennsylvania, US
Opened in May last year, Hershey’s Unwrapped offers visitors the chance to see, touch, hear, smell and taste chocolate in an immersive and fun-filled educational experience. Through the journey, a quirky professor takes guests into the chocolate lab, where they can taste some of the brand’s most popular chocolates.
Best Theatrical Production: Annual Attendance More than 1 Million
Legend of Camel Bells
Huaxia Cultural Resort – Xi’an, Shanxi Province, China
Set inside a purpose-built, 3,000-seat, revolving theatre at Huaxia Cultural Tourism resort, the Legend of Camel Bells features stunning stage effects, massive props, extreme scenery, a huge cast, animal actors, a 15m-tall volcano and snow mountain, an 18m-high Buddha and a 20m-high waterfall. All of the action takes place in front of a 4,000 sq m (43,000 sq ft) LED screen with the show telling the story of China’s Silk Road.
Most Creative Christmas Show
Up on the Rooftop
Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania, US
Most Creative Halloween Haunt, Show, or Experience
Below
Walibi Holland, Biddinghuizen, Netherlands
Most Creative Multimedia Spectacular
Dancing Islands
Fantawild International Limited, Shenzhen, China
Most Creative Property-wide Event: Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million
Winterfest
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Most Creative Property-wide Event: Annual Attendance More than 1 Million
SeaWorld Christmas Celebration,
SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Florida, US
Most Creative Show Featuring Animals
Sea Lions Tonite
SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Florida, US
Most Creative Sports/Stunt Show
Paddington on Ice – the Grand Voyage,Europa-Park, Rust, Germany
Featuring 18 international figure skaters, Paddington on Ice is a spectacular 30-minute performance based on the beloved children’s character, who is on the hunt for his missing secret marmalade recipe.
The Legend of Camel Bells is a dramatisation of Chinese culture
Live Entertainment Excellence
Opened to the public in May 2019, Hershey’s Unwrapped takes families on a fun chocolate tasting adventure
Best Atmosphere/Street Show Performance/Act
Green Army Drum Corps
Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Orlando, Florida, US
A live show at Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Green Army Drum Corps are a talented band of drummers who deliver high-energy drum performances. The troops march through Toy Story Land several times per day, playing their percussion instruments as they go.
Best Performer
Annie Huckaba
Dollywood Theme Park,
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, US
Best Live Edutainment Show
Hershey’s Unwrapped
Hershey’s Chocolate World, Hershey, Pennsylvania, US
Opened in May last year, Hershey’s Unwrapped offers visitors the chance to see, touch, hear, smell and taste chocolate in an immersive and fun-filled educational experience. Through the journey, a quirky professor takes guests into the chocolate lab, where they can taste some of the brand’s most popular chocolates.
Best Theatrical Production: Annual Attendance More than 1 Million
Legend of Camel Bells
Huaxia Cultural Resort – Xi’an, Shanxi Province, China
Set inside a purpose-built, 3,000-seat, revolving theatre at Huaxia Cultural Tourism resort, the Legend of Camel Bells features stunning stage effects, massive props, extreme scenery, a huge cast, animal actors, a 15m-tall volcano and snow mountain, an 18m-high Buddha and a 20m-high waterfall. All of the action takes place in front of a 4,000 sq m (43,000 sq ft) LED screen with the show telling the story of China’s Silk Road.
Most Creative Christmas Show
Up on the Rooftop
Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania, US
Most Creative Halloween Haunt, Show, or Experience
Below
Walibi Holland, Biddinghuizen, Netherlands
Most Creative Multimedia Spectacular
Dancing Islands
Fantawild International Limited, Shenzhen, China
Most Creative Property-wide Event: Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million
Winterfest
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Most Creative Property-wide Event: Annual Attendance More than 1 Million
SeaWorld Christmas Celebration,
SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Florida, US
Most Creative Show Featuring Animals
Sea Lions Tonite
SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Florida, US
Most Creative Sports/Stunt Show
Paddington on Ice – the Grand Voyage,Europa-Park, Rust, Germany
Featuring 18 international figure skaters, Paddington on Ice is a spectacular 30-minute performance based on the beloved children’s character, who is on the hunt for his missing secret marmalade recipe.
Paddington on Ice features award-winning international figure skaters
Spirit Award
Katja Mack
Europa-Park, Rust, Germany
Excellence in Marketing
Best Digital Marketing Campaign
Snake
Gröna Lund, Stockholm, Sweden
Best Integrated Marketing Campaign
Skin Exhibit Integrate Campaign,
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, US
Best Outdoor Advertisement
2018 San Diego Zoo Jungle Bells Campaign
San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, California, US
Best Public Relations Campaign
Six Flags St. Louis – Coffin Challenge,
Six Flags St. Louis, Eureka, Missouri, US
Best Radio or Streaming Audio Commercial
Dino Roar Valley
Dino Roar Valley, Lake George, New York, US
Best Social Media Campaign
You Can’t Do This At Home Campaign,
Silver Dollar City, Branson, Missouri, US
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial – Annual Attendance Less than 250,000
Stupet – Where Heroes are Born, Rogaland Fritidspark AS – Kongeparken,
Ålgård, Norway
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial: Annual Attendance 250,000 – 1 Million
Be A Kid With Your Kid
Silverwood Theme Park, Athol, Idaho, US
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million
Skin Exhibit Advertising Campaign,
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, US
Booth Size 1,201 and Larger Square Feet
Bob’s Space Racers
Best New Product Exhibitor Awards
WhiteWater’s Spinning Rapids Ride is the longest of its kind in the world
Major Ride/Attraction (Product cost less than US$2 million)
Zamperla, Nebulaz
Major Ride/Attraction (Product cost of US$2 to US$5 million)
WhiteWater, Spinning Rapids Ride
Installed in Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park, China, Lava Drifting is not only the longest spinning rapids ride in the world at 1km (0.62mi), but also the world’s first spinning rapids ride with actual rapid rivers. The water ride depicts a volcano theme while combining the spins and twists of an exhilarating river rapids journey that culminates with the oscillating movements and steep drop from the wings of a Manta.
Major Ride/Attraction (Product cost of US$5 million or more)
Intamin, Dueling LSM Triple Launch Coaster - Dueling Dragons
A new rollercoaster from Intamin recently made its debut at Guangzhou Sunac Land in China, with the new dragon-themed addition seeing a suspended and sit-down train duel with each other through the course of the ride.
Utilising Intamin’s LSM drive system, both trains are simultaneously launched, with five ‘near-miss’ situations and a visually impressive simultaneous loop, with the sit down train on the inside and the suspended train passes on the outside.
Kiddie Ride/Attraction
Treetop Trekking, TreeWalk Village
Water Park Ride/Attraction (Product cost of less than US$1 million)
WhiteWater, Tailspin
Water Park Ride/Attraction (Product cost of US$1 million or more)
ProSlide Technology, Dueling PIPElineBLAST / FlyingSAUCER
Technology Applied to Amusements
Dynamic Attractions, Loading / Unloading system
Merchandising and Retail Products
NXT Capture, NXT Spinning Video
Games & Devices (Arcade and Video Games and Equipment)
Bay Tek Entertainment, Connect 4 Hoops
Games and Devices (Midway Games and Equipment)
Bob’s Space Racers, Hang Time
Services, Equipment and Supplies
Redemption Plus, Redemption Plus Service Packages
Best New Product Concept Award: Major Ride Attraction
Wiegand Josef, SlideCoaster
Best New Product Concept Award: Major Ride/Attraction
Holovis, Li-Fly
Li-Fly by Holovis uses 5-DOF motion systems that securely hold and tilt 100 guests into a prone position before elevating them over a highly immersive ultra-high-resolution dome. This solution advances and transforms traditional Flying Theatres from passive lean-back seated experiences into active ones that deliver more realistic sensations of flying.
Best New Product Concept Award: Other Product/Service
Gatemaster Technology Corporation, ParkTrainer
Intamin’s Dueling Dragons features both a suspended and sit-down train
IMPACT AWARD WINNER
ProSlide Technology
The Impact Award is presented to a Best New Products winner at the Brass Ring Awards, for a product or achievement that is likely to have the most significant impact on the attractions industry in the foreseeable future.
The IAAPA Brass Ring Awards recognise excellence from operators, individuals and projects across every sector of the global attractions industry. Revealed at the annual IAAPA Expo in Orlando and considered the industry’s most prestigious honour, we take a closer look at 2019’s winners.
Top Family Entertainment Center (FEC) of the World
Cinergy Entertainment Amarillo, Amarillo, Texas, US
Opened in October 2018, Cinergy’s 90,000sq ft (8,300sq m) Amarillo Entertainment Center is an FEC offering movies, bowling, laser tag, arcade games, escape rooms and more. It also features multi-sensory interactive attractions such as Hologate and an XD 4D Dark Ride. Including its award-winning Amarillo FEC, the company operates a total of five such ventures across Texas and Oklahoma.
Food and Beverage Excellence
Best New Menu Item – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million
Unicorn Cotton Candy Tacos, Jake’s Unlimited, Mesa, Arizona, US
Best New Menu Item – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million
BLT Panzanella Bowl, San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California, US
Games and Retail Excellence
Best Plush
Porg, Disney Parks, US
Best Apparel
Children’s Shaun the Sheep Hooded Sweat,
Paradise Country – Gold Coast Australia
Best Hard Good Item
Savi’s Workshop – Handbuilt Lightsabers,
Disney Parks, US
Best Visual Merchandising
Droid Depot: Custom Astromech Units,
Disney Parks, US
Build and take home your own droid at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (for more see p62)
Best Midway Game Operation
Morey’s Piers Game Operation
Morey’s Piers and Beachfront Water Parks, Wildwood, New Jersey, US
Judges Award: Best Plush Item
Little Ndaba, Naples Zoo, Naples, Florida, US
Morey’s Piers won a brass ring for Best Midway Game Operation
Human Resources Excellence
Best Employee Engagement Initiative – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
UAE
Best Employee Engagement Initiative – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Santa Cruz, California, US
Best Employee Reward and Recognition Program – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million
Europa Park
Rust, Germany
Best Innovation in a Training Programme – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million
Pacific National Exhibition
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Best Innovation in a Training Programme – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million
Whiting’s Foods on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Santa Cruz, California, US
Live Entertainment Excellence
Best Atmosphere/Street Show Performance/Act
Green Army Drum Corps
Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Orlando, Florida, US
A live show at Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Green Army Drum Corps are a talented band of drummers who deliver high-energy drum performances. The troops march through Toy Story Land several times per day, playing their percussion instruments as they go.
Best Performer
Annie Huckaba
Dollywood Theme Park,
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, US
Best Live Edutainment Show
Hershey’s Unwrapped
Hershey’s Chocolate World, Hershey, Pennsylvania, US
Opened in May last year, Hershey’s Unwrapped offers visitors the chance to see, touch, hear, smell and taste chocolate in an immersive and fun-filled educational experience. Through the journey, a quirky professor takes guests into the chocolate lab, where they can taste some of the brand’s most popular chocolates.
Best Theatrical Production: Annual Attendance More than 1 Million
Legend of Camel Bells
Huaxia Cultural Resort – Xi’an, Shanxi Province, China
Set inside a purpose-built, 3,000-seat, revolving theatre at Huaxia Cultural Tourism resort, the Legend of Camel Bells features stunning stage effects, massive props, extreme scenery, a huge cast, animal actors, a 15m-tall volcano and snow mountain, an 18m-high Buddha and a 20m-high waterfall. All of the action takes place in front of a 4,000 sq m (43,000 sq ft) LED screen with the show telling the story of China’s Silk Road.
Most Creative Christmas Show
Up on the Rooftop
Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania, US
Most Creative Halloween Haunt, Show, or Experience
Below
Walibi Holland, Biddinghuizen, Netherlands
Most Creative Multimedia Spectacular
Dancing Islands
Fantawild International Limited, Shenzhen, China
Most Creative Property-wide Event: Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million
Winterfest
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Most Creative Property-wide Event: Annual Attendance More than 1 Million
SeaWorld Christmas Celebration,
SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Florida, US
Most Creative Show Featuring Animals
Sea Lions Tonite
SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Florida, US
Most Creative Sports/Stunt Show
Paddington on Ice – the Grand Voyage,Europa-Park, Rust, Germany
Featuring 18 international figure skaters, Paddington on Ice is a spectacular 30-minute performance based on the beloved children’s character, who is on the hunt for his missing secret marmalade recipe.
The Legend of Camel Bells is a dramatisation of Chinese culture
Live Entertainment Excellence
Opened to the public in May 2019, Hershey’s Unwrapped takes families on a fun chocolate tasting adventure
Best Atmosphere/Street Show Performance/Act
Green Army Drum Corps
Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Orlando, Florida, US
A live show at Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Green Army Drum Corps are a talented band of drummers who deliver high-energy drum performances. The troops march through Toy Story Land several times per day, playing their percussion instruments as they go.
Best Performer
Annie Huckaba
Dollywood Theme Park,
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, US
Best Live Edutainment Show
Hershey’s Unwrapped
Hershey’s Chocolate World, Hershey, Pennsylvania, US
Opened in May last year, Hershey’s Unwrapped offers visitors the chance to see, touch, hear, smell and taste chocolate in an immersive and fun-filled educational experience. Through the journey, a quirky professor takes guests into the chocolate lab, where they can taste some of the brand’s most popular chocolates.
Best Theatrical Production: Annual Attendance More than 1 Million
Legend of Camel Bells
Huaxia Cultural Resort – Xi’an, Shanxi Province, China
Set inside a purpose-built, 3,000-seat, revolving theatre at Huaxia Cultural Tourism resort, the Legend of Camel Bells features stunning stage effects, massive props, extreme scenery, a huge cast, animal actors, a 15m-tall volcano and snow mountain, an 18m-high Buddha and a 20m-high waterfall. All of the action takes place in front of a 4,000 sq m (43,000 sq ft) LED screen with the show telling the story of China’s Silk Road.
Most Creative Christmas Show
Up on the Rooftop
Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania, US
Most Creative Halloween Haunt, Show, or Experience
Below
Walibi Holland, Biddinghuizen, Netherlands
Most Creative Multimedia Spectacular
Dancing Islands
Fantawild International Limited, Shenzhen, China
Most Creative Property-wide Event: Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million
Winterfest
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Most Creative Property-wide Event: Annual Attendance More than 1 Million
SeaWorld Christmas Celebration,
SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Florida, US
Most Creative Show Featuring Animals
Sea Lions Tonite
SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Florida, US
Most Creative Sports/Stunt Show
Paddington on Ice – the Grand Voyage,Europa-Park, Rust, Germany
Featuring 18 international figure skaters, Paddington on Ice is a spectacular 30-minute performance based on the beloved children’s character, who is on the hunt for his missing secret marmalade recipe.
Paddington on Ice features award-winning international figure skaters
Spirit Award
Katja Mack
Europa-Park, Rust, Germany
Excellence in Marketing
Best Digital Marketing Campaign
Snake
Gröna Lund, Stockholm, Sweden
Best Integrated Marketing Campaign
Skin Exhibit Integrate Campaign,
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, US
Best Outdoor Advertisement
2018 San Diego Zoo Jungle Bells Campaign
San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, California, US
Best Public Relations Campaign
Six Flags St. Louis – Coffin Challenge,
Six Flags St. Louis, Eureka, Missouri, US
Best Radio or Streaming Audio Commercial
Dino Roar Valley
Dino Roar Valley, Lake George, New York, US
Best Social Media Campaign
You Can’t Do This At Home Campaign,
Silver Dollar City, Branson, Missouri, US
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial – Annual Attendance Less than 250,000
Stupet – Where Heroes are Born, Rogaland Fritidspark AS – Kongeparken,
Ålgård, Norway
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial: Annual Attendance 250,000 – 1 Million
Be A Kid With Your Kid
Silverwood Theme Park, Athol, Idaho, US
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million
Skin Exhibit Advertising Campaign,
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, US
Booth Size 1,201 and Larger Square Feet
Bob’s Space Racers
Best New Product Exhibitor Awards
WhiteWater’s Spinning Rapids Ride is the longest of its kind in the world
Major Ride/Attraction (Product cost less than US$2 million)
Zamperla, Nebulaz
Major Ride/Attraction (Product cost of US$2 to US$5 million)
WhiteWater, Spinning Rapids Ride
Installed in Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park, China, Lava Drifting is not only the longest spinning rapids ride in the world at 1km (0.62mi), but also the world’s first spinning rapids ride with actual rapid rivers. The water ride depicts a volcano theme while combining the spins and twists of an exhilarating river rapids journey that culminates with the oscillating movements and steep drop from the wings of a Manta.
Major Ride/Attraction (Product cost of US$5 million or more)
Intamin, Dueling LSM Triple Launch Coaster - Dueling Dragons
A new rollercoaster from Intamin recently made its debut at Guangzhou Sunac Land in China, with the new dragon-themed addition seeing a suspended and sit-down train duel with each other through the course of the ride.
Utilising Intamin’s LSM drive system, both trains are simultaneously launched, with five ‘near-miss’ situations and a visually impressive simultaneous loop, with the sit down train on the inside and the suspended train passes on the outside.
Kiddie Ride/Attraction
Treetop Trekking, TreeWalk Village
Water Park Ride/Attraction (Product cost of less than US$1 million)
WhiteWater, Tailspin
Water Park Ride/Attraction (Product cost of US$1 million or more)
ProSlide Technology, Dueling PIPElineBLAST / FlyingSAUCER
Technology Applied to Amusements
Dynamic Attractions, Loading / Unloading system
Merchandising and Retail Products
NXT Capture, NXT Spinning Video
Games & Devices (Arcade and Video Games and Equipment)
Bay Tek Entertainment, Connect 4 Hoops
Games and Devices (Midway Games and Equipment)
Bob’s Space Racers, Hang Time
Services, Equipment and Supplies
Redemption Plus, Redemption Plus Service Packages
Best New Product Concept Award: Major Ride Attraction
Wiegand Josef, SlideCoaster
Best New Product Concept Award: Major Ride/Attraction
Holovis, Li-Fly
Li-Fly by Holovis uses 5-DOF motion systems that securely hold and tilt 100 guests into a prone position before elevating them over a highly immersive ultra-high-resolution dome. This solution advances and transforms traditional Flying Theatres from passive lean-back seated experiences into active ones that deliver more realistic sensations of flying.
Best New Product Concept Award: Other Product/Service
Gatemaster Technology Corporation, ParkTrainer
Intamin’s Dueling Dragons features both a suspended and sit-down train
IMPACT AWARD WINNER
ProSlide Technology
The Impact Award is presented to a Best New Products winner at the Brass Ring Awards, for a product or achievement that is likely to have the most significant impact on the attractions industry in the foreseeable future.
Originally published in Attractions Management 2020 issue 1
