The Brass Ring Award is a recognition of high achievement and a honor in the attraction industry. The award honors exemplary companies and individuals for excellence in marketing, live entertainment, family entertainment centers, retail, human resources, food and beverage, new product development and trade show exhibit at IAAPA Attractions Expo.
The winners of the Brass Ring Awards 2012 are:
MARKETING EXCELLENCE
- Some marketing awards are divided into the following class distinctions:
Class 2: Zoos and aquariums
Class 3: Amusement parks and attractions—including water parks—with annual attendance of 250,001-1 million
Class 4: Amusement parks and attractions—including water parks—with annual attendance of more than 1 million
Television Commercial
Class 1: Triple Play Family Fun Park, Hayden, Idaho, USA; www.3play.com
Class 2: St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis, Missouri, USA; www.stlzoo.org
Class 3: Calgary Stampede, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; www.calgarystampede.com
Class 4: Grona Lund, Stockholm, Sweden; www.gronalund.com/en
Radio Commercial
Class 1: Triple Play Family Fun Park, Hayden, Idaho, USA; www.3play.com
Class 2: The Florida Aquarium, Tampa, Florida, USA; http://www.flaquarium.org
Class 3: Elitch Gardens, Denver, Colorado, USA; elitchgardens.com
Class 4: Legoland California, Carlsbad, California, USA; Carlsbad, California, USA; california.legoland.com
Public Relations Programming
Class 1: Adventure Landing, Jacksonville Beach, Florida, USA; www.adventurelanding.com
Class 2: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; www.clemetzoo.com
Class 3: Six Flags America, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, USA; www.sixflags.com/america
Class 4: Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, USA; www.dollywood.com
Outdoor Advertising
Hopi Hari, Sao Paulo, Brazil; www.hopihari.com.br/home/Default.aspx
Integrated Marketing
Detroit Zoological Society, Detroit, Michigan, USA; www.detroitzoo.org
Digital Marketing
Ocean Park Hong Kong, Aberdeen, Hong Kong, SAR, China; www.oceanpark.com.hk
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT EXCELLENCE
The Heart Beat Award recognizes the show that demonstrates superior overall ability in reaching the hearts of its audience.
Winner: "Iceploration," Busch Gardens Tampa, Tampa, Florida, USA;www.seaworldparks.com/buschgardens-tampa
The Spirit Award recognizes IAAPA members committed to excellence in training and professional development in the area of entertainment.
Winner: "Meghan Hakey," Santa's Village, Jefferson, New Hampshire, USA; www.santasvillage.net
Best Atmosphere/Street Show Performance/Act
The Longshoremen in Bubble Trouble," SeaWorld Orlando, Florida, USA;
www.seaworldparks.com/seaworld-orlando
Best Live "Edutainment Show"
Dollywood's Imagination Playhouse Featuring the Penguin Players," Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, USA; www.dollywood.com
Best Sports Show
"Iceploration," Busch Gardens Tampa, Tampa, Florida, USA;
seaworldparks.com/buschgardens-tampa
Best Female Performer
Chandler Nicole Sherrill, Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA; www.hersheypark.com
Best Male Performer
Peter Vawter, Universal Studios Japan, Konohana-ku, Osaka, Japan; www.usj.co.jp/e
Best Overall Production: Budget of $25,000 or Less
"Skulls Eye - The Search for the Enchanted Crown," Legoland California, Carlsbad, California, USA; california.legoland.com
Best Overall Production: Budget of $25,001 - $50,000
"Carnevil," Six Flags Over Georgia, Austell, Georgia, USA; www.sixflags.com/overGeorgia/index.aspx
Best Overall Production: Budget of $50,001 - $100,000
"Scaremonies," Ocean Park Hong Kong, Aberdeen, Hong Kong, SAR; www.oceanpark.com.hk
Best Overall Production: Budget of $100,001 - $200,000
"Liseberg Isshow," Liseberg, Goteborg, Sweeden; www.liseberg.com
Best Overall Production: Budget of $200,001 - $400,000
"Imperio Show," Europa-Park, Rust, Germany; www.europapark.de
Best Overall Production: Budget of $400,001 - $700,000
"Pop City," Pacific National Exhibition, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; www.pne.ca
Best Overall Production of $700,001 - $1,000,000
"Mysteria," Europa-Park, Rust, Germany; www.europapark.de
Best Overall Production: Budget of $1,000,001 or More
"Disney Dreams!," Disneyland Paris, Marne la Vallee Cedex 4, France; us.disneylandparis.com
FOOD AND BEVERAGE EXCELLENCE
Best Innovation in Food and Beverage
Co-winner:Country specific food in European Section, Europa-Park, Rust, Germany; www.europapark.de
Co-winner: Polles Keuken pancake restaurant, Efteling, Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands; www.efteling.com
Best New Menu Item
Boardwalk Blonde and Horsetale Ale, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, California, USA; www.beachboardwalk.com
HUMAN RESOURCES EXCELLENCE
Best Innovation in a Training Program — Over 1 million attendance
The Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, California, USA; www.disneyland.disney.go.com
Best Innovation in a Training Program — Under 1 million attendance
Rainbow's End Theme Park, Auckland, New Zealand; www.rainbowsend.co.nz
Best Employee Reward and Recognition Program – Over 1 million attendance
Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, USA; www.dollywood.com
Best Employee Reward and Recognition Program — Under 1 million attendance
Rainbow's End Theme Park, Auckland, New Zealand; www.rainbowsend.co.nz
RETAIL EXCELLENCE
Soft Good – Over 1 million attendance
Morey's Piers, Wildwood, New Jersey, USA; www.moreyspiers.com
Soft Good – Under 1 million attendance
XPlor, Cancun, Mexico; en.xcaretexperiencias.com/Xplor
Hard Good – Over 1 million attendance
Movie Park Germany, Bottrop, Germany; moviepark.de
Hard Good – Under 1 million attendance
Walibi – Campagnie Des Alpes, Boulogne-Billan Court, France; www.compagniedesalpes.com
Visual Display – Over 1 million attendance
Ocean Park Hong Kong, Aberdeen, Hong Kong, SAR; www.oceanpark.com.hk
Visual Display – Under 1 million attendance
Dolphin Quest, Waikola, Hawaii, USA; www.dolphinquest.com
Judges Choice Award
Disneyland Hat, The Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, California, USA; www.disneyland.disney.go.com
TOP FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT CENTER (FEC)
North America
Funspot America, Orlando, Florida, USA; www.funspotattractions.com/index/index.php
International
Skemmtigardur Smaralind, Iceland; http://www.skemmtigardur.is
BEST NEW PRODUCT
Impact Award recognizes the best new product or service in the amusement parks and attractions industry.
Winner: Hydromagnetic Mammoth, ProSlide Technology Inc., Ottawa, Canada; www.proslide.com
Major Theme/Amusement Park Ride/Attraction
Skyrush, Intamin, Glen Burnie, Maryland, USA; www.intaminworldwide.com
Kiddie Ride/Attraction
Sky Tykes, Ropes Courses, Inc., Allegan, Michigan, USA; www.ropescoursesinc.com
Waterpark Ride/Attraction
Hydromagnetic Mammoth, ProSlide Technology Inc., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; www.proslide.com
Family Entertainment Center Ride/Attraction
Thunder Volt Speedway Gas Go-kart operating system, Amusement Products, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA; www.amusepro.com
Coin-Operated Kiddie Ride
Skatebart, MPGroup Srl- Dedem Automatica, Reggio Emilia, Italy; www.mpgroup-italy.com/oldsite/esp/chi-siamo.html
Technology Applied to Amusement
SilkGel, WhiteWater West Industries Ltd., Richmond, British Columbia, Canada; www.whitewaterwest.com
Coin-Operated Arcade and Redemption Equipment
Stinky Feet FEC, Bob's Space Racers, Inc., Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; www.bobsspaceracers.com
Revenue & Admission Control/Wristbands/RFID Technology
Q-Band, Lo-Q plc, Twyford, Berkshire, United Kingdom; www.lo-q.com
Services/Equipment and Supplies
Avius Optimus, Avius, Bournemouth DORS, United Kingdom; www.AviusInsight.com
Arcade Video Game or Prize Dispensing Attraction
Dark Escape 4D, Namco America Inc., Elk Grove Village, Illinois, USA; www.namcoamerica.com
Games and Merchandise
GSX, Picsolve International Ltd., Orlando, Florida, USA; www.picsolve.biz
Food Services
Robofusion Frozen Yogurt/Ice Cream Single Arm Kiosk, RoboFusion Inc., Charleston, South Carolina, USA; www.robofusion.com
Show Production & Entertainment/Displays
RT-ES4 Retrofit 90-watt Luminaire, Crossroads LED LLC, Owasso, Oklahoma, USA; www.crossroadsled.com
BEST EXHIBIT AT IAAPA ATTRACTIONS EXPO 2012
Image Award given to the best exhibit based on booth design, branding, staffing and overall appeal at IAAPA Attractions Expo.
Winner: Daniels Wood Land Inc., Paso Robles, California, USA; www.danielswoodland.com
100 - 299 square feet
Themendous, Booth #1067, Union City, New Jersey, USA; www.themendous.com
300 - 599 square feet
Hopkins Rides, Booth #2031, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada; www.hopkinsrides.com
600 - 1,099 square feet
Funtopia, Booth #457, Sofia, Bulgaria; www.funtopia.eu
1,100 + square feet
Daniels Wood Land Inc., Booth #3062, Paso Robles, CA, USA; www.danielswoodland.com
Congratulations to all the winners of the IAAPA 2012 Brass Ring Awards!
