Presented by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) at its 2017 Attractions Expo in Orlando, Florida, the annual Brass Ring Awards recognize amusement parks, water parks, zoos, aquariums, museums, family entertainment centers (FECs), and suppliers from around the world.
Categories include food and beverage, games and retail, human resources, live entertainment, marketing, new products, and exhibits. The IAAPA Brass Ring Awards represent a prestigious professional honour, marking achievements of excellence throughout the international attractions industry.
The winners:
Top Family Entertainment Center (FEC) of the World:
International: Dinosaur and I, Eastern European Company, Minsk, Belarus
North America: Big Thrill Factory, Minnetonka, Minnesota, United States
Food and Beverage Excellence
Best New Innovation in Food and Beverage – annual attendance less than 1 million:
“The Stables,” Sydney Royal Easter Show, Sydney, Australia
Best New Innovation in Food and Beverage – annual attendance more than 1 million:
“BBLz,” Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
Best New Menu Item – annual attendance less than 1 million:
“Yas Twister,” Yas Waterworld, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Best New Menu Item – annual attendance more than 1 million:
“BBLz,” Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
Games and Merchandise Excellence
Best Plush – annual attendance less than 1 million:
“Uno the Cougar,” Naples Zoo, Naples, Florida, United States
Best Plush – annual attendance more than 1 million:
“Frenzy” – Black-tip Reef Shark, Sea World Australia, Queensland, Australia
Best Apparel – annual attendance less than 1 million:
“Night Hunter Eyes Glow in the Dark T-shirt,” Africam Safari, Heroica Puebla de Zaragoza, PUE, Mexico
Best Apparel – annual attendance more than 1 million:
“Girls Tweety Bird Hooded Sweatshirt,” Warner Bros. Movie World Australia, Oxenford, Queensland
Best Hard Good Item – annual attendance less than 1 million:
“White Character Mugs,” Vana Nava Company Limited, Nong Kae, Thailand
Best Hard Good Item – annual attendance more than 1 million:
“DC Comics Super-Villains Heat Changing Mug,” Movie World Australia, Queensland, Australia
Best Single Display Merchandising:
“Basecamp Adventure Display,” Skånes Djurpark, Jularp, Sweden
Best Store Visual Merchandising:
“Basecamp Adventure Store,” Skånes Djurpark, Höör, Sweden
Best Game Operation:
“Milsons Point,” Luna Park Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Judges Choice:
“Disney Avatar Banshee Rookery,” Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida, United States
Human Resources Excellence
Best Employee Engagement Initiative – annual attendance less than 1 million:
Yas Waterworld, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Best Employee Engagement Initiative – annual attendance more than 1 million:
Lagoon Amusement Park, Farmington, Utah, United States
Best Employee Reward & Recognition Program – annual attendance less than 1 million:
Typhoon Texas, Katy, Texas, United States
Best Employee Reward & Recognition Program – annual attendance more than 1 million:
Furuvik, Furuvik, Sweden
Best Innovation in a Training Program – annual attendance less than 1 million:
The Green Planet operated by zoOceanarium Group, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Best Innovation in a Training Program – annual attendance less than 1 million:
Rainbow’s End, Auckland, New Zealand
Best Innovation in a Training Program – annual attendance more than 1 million:
Ocean Park Hong Kong, Ocean Park, Aberdeen, Hong Kong
Live Entertainment Excellence
Best Atmosphere/Street Show Performance/Act:
“Violin Trio,” Universal Studios Japan, Osaka, Japan
Best Female Performer:
Taryn Kim Deluca, Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa Island, Singapore
Best Male Performer:
Tang Kwok Shiu Kenneth, Ocean Park Hong Kong, Ocean Park, Aberdeen, Hong Kong
Best Live “Edutainment” Show:
“Dolphin Days,” SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Florida, United States
Best Theatrical Production: annual attendance 250,001 – 1 million:
“Magic Romance,” SOKOL Entertainment, Wanda Harbin Theme Park, China
Best Theatrical Production: annual attendance 1,000,001 – 2,999,999:
“Dance, Dance, Dance: Heartbeat,” Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
Best Theatrical Production: annual attendance more than 3 million:
“The Voice of an Angel,” Universal Studios Japan, Osaka, Japan
Most Creative Christmas Show:
“Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration,” Magic Kingdom Park, Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida, United States
Most Creative Halloween Haunt, Show, or Experience:
“March of the Dead,” Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa Island, Singapore
Most Creative Multimedia Spectacular:
“Eastern Sunrise,” Rizhao Olympic Park, China
Most Creative Property-wide Event: annual attendance less than 1 million:
“HalLEOween,” Leolandia, Capriate San Gervasio BG, Italy
Most Creative Property-wide Event: annual attendance more than 1 million:
Electric Ocean,” SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego, California, United States
Most Creative Show Featuring Animals:
“Sea Lion High,” SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Florida, United States
Most Creative Sports/Stunt Show:
“Turn it Up,” Busch Gardens Tampa, Tampa, Florida, United States
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. This year it was awarded to Karly Pope, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, California, United States
Excellence in Marketing
Best Digital Marketing Campaign:
Europa-Park, Rust, Germany
Best Integrated Marketing Campaign:
Utah’s Hogle Zoo, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Best Outdoor Advertisement:
The Florida Aquarium, Tampa, Florida, United States
Best Public Relations Campaign – annual attendance less than 250,000:
Triple Play Family Fun Park, Hayden, Indiana, United States
Best Public Relations Campaign – Zoos and Aquariums:
African Safari, Puebla, Mexico
Best Public Relations Campaign: annual attendance 250,000 – 1 Million:
Reunion Tower GeO-Deck, Arlington, Texas, United States
Best Public Relations Campaign – annual attendance more than 1 million:
Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States
Best Radio or Streaming Audio Commercial – annual attendance less than 250,000:
Triple Play Family Fun Park, Hayden, Indiana, United States
Best Radio or Streaming Audio Commercial – Zoos and Aquariums:
Utah’s Hogle Zoo, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Best Radio or Streaming Audio Commercial: annual attendance 250,000 – 1 million:
Leolandia, Capriate San Gervasio, Italy
Best Radio or Streaming Audio Commercial – annual attendance more than 1 million:
Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
Best Social Media Campaign:
Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington, Texas, United States
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial – annual attendance less than 250,000:
Austin’s Park N Pizza, Pflugerville, Texas, United States
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial – Zoos and Aquariums:
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell, Ohio, United States
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial: annual attendance 250,000 – 1 million:
Furuvik, Furuvik, Sweden
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial – annual attendance more than 1 million:
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, United States
Best New Product
The Best New Product Exhibitor Awards recognise 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: MAURER Rides GmbH – Booth 4803, Spike Racing Coaster
Second Place: Intamin Ltd. – Booth 3424, LSM Triple Launch Coaster – Soaring with Dragon
Major Ride/Attraction – Class B (product cost of less than US$3 million)
First Place: WhiteWater Attractions – Booth 2236, Water Transportation System
Second Place: Extreme Engineering – Booth 3065, The World’s First Cart-Less Roller Coaster
Kiddie Ride/Attraction – Class A (Standard Kiddie Ride/Attraction)
First Place: Eurogames SRL – Booth 3667, Beetle Car
Second Place: Tree-Mendous Aerial Adventures – Booth 1373, Nature Trek
Kiddie Ride/Attraction – Class B (Coin-op Kiddie Ride/Attraction)
First Place: Cogan S.R.L. – Booth 1300, Art. 810 Square Bus
Water Park Ride/Attraction – Class A (product cost of US$2 million or more)
First Place: ProSlide Technology, Inc. – Booth 2259, Double TornadoWAVE™
Second Place: WhiteWater West Industries Ltd. – Booth 2240, Manta 71
Water Park Ride/Attraction – Class B (Product cost of less than US$2 million)
First Place: Aquatic Development Group, Inc. – Booth 2646, Adventure Lagoon
Second Place: Polin Waterparks – Booth 1378, Splash Cabin
Patron Participation Ride/Attraction
First Place: JHB Group, Inc. – Booth 7060, Hero Adventure Trailer
Second Place: UNIS Technology (HK) Ltd. – Booth 631, Omni Arena
Technology Applied to Amusements – Class A (Product or service used by consumers)
First Place: Polin Waterparks – Booth 1378, Splash VR
Second Place: AMEGA Teknoloji Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. – Booth 1850, Cinecoaster 360 VR
Technology Applied to Amusements – Class B (Product or service used by facilities)
First Place: accesso – Booth 4840, accesso Prism
Second Place: FetchRev – Booth 150, FetchRev
Merchandising and Retail Products
First Place: geckobrands – Booth 2883, Waterproof Phone Tote
Second Place: Two Monkeyz LLC – Booth 4681, Stroller Costumes
Games and Devices – Class A (Arcade and video games and equipment)
First Place: Coastal Amusements, Inc. – Booth 1024, Ice Man
Second Place: Sega Amusements International Ltd. – Booth 1606, Daytona® Championship USA
Games and Devices – Class B (Midway games and equipment)
First Place: Zero Latency PTY LTD – Booth 1675, Engineerium
Second Place: Zero Latency PTY LTD – Booth 1675, Singularity
Shows/Productions, Theatrical Equipment, and Supplies, Displays and Sets
First Place: Falcon’s Treehouse, LLC – Booth 2291, Heroes and Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame
Second Place: Creative Visions – Booth 2062, Haunted Mine Drop
Services, Equipment, and Supplies
First Place: Smarte Carte, Inc. – Booth 4400, Locker Link 2
Second Place: TrainerTainment L.L.C. – Booth 3227, Business Coaching
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.
Best New Product Concept Award – Major Ride/Attractions
First Place: Dynamic Attractions Ltd. – Booth 1073, The Dynamic All-Terrain Dark Ride
Second Place: Cloward H20 – Booth 467, The Aquaticar™ Experience
Best New Product Concept Award: Other Products/Services
First Place: First Option Software – Booth 3180, YourMapp
Second Place: Vlocker North America LLC – Booth 465, The VLocker Dual Access Ride Locker
Impact Award
The Impact Award recognizes the best new product or service in the amusement parks and attractions industry.
accesso – Booth 4840, accesso Prism
Best Exhibit at IAAPA Attractions Expo 2017
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: Oneail FX Studios LLC – Booth 3581
Second Place: Ice Creative Entertainment – Booth 4664
Booth Size 200 – 399 Square Feet
First Place: Imagination Corporation – Booth 980
Second Place: Artistic Contractors, Inc. – Booth 169
Booth Size 400 – 499 Square Feet
First Place: Eleventh Hour – Booth 865
Second Place: L3DFX – Booth 2875
Booth Size 500 – 899 Square Feet
First Place: Weber Group, Inc. – Booth 665
Second Place: Sally Corporation – Booth 2267
Booth Size 900 – 1,200 Square Feet
First Place: Tree-Mendous Aerial Adventures – Booth 1373
Second Place: Sandy Creek Mining Company – Booth 3471
Booth Size 1,201 and Larger Square Feet
First Place: Polin Waterparks – Booth 1378
Second Place: ProSlide Technology – Booth 2259
Image Award
The Image Award is given to the best exhibit based on booth design, branding, staffing, and overall appeal at IAAPA Attractions Expo.
Polin Waterparks – Booth 1378
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.
