Winners Big and Small Abound at IAAPA's Brass Ring Awards

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Iceploration, Busch Gardens Tampa

Alexandria, VA -- The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Brass Ring Awards, recognizing the best of the best in the attractions industry, brought hundreds of finalists from amusement parks, water parks, zoos, aquariums, museums, and family entertainment centers around the world to hear the 2012 IAAPA Brass Ring Award winners announced. The ceremony took place in the IAAPA Theatre presented by the Wanda Group located on the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2012 trade show floor.

The tradition of the brass ring in the attractions industry dates back to the carousels of the late 1800s when rings were suspended above riders; low enough to reach, but high enough to pose a challenge. Most rings were made of iron, so grabbing the brass ring was the rare and cherished prize. Skilled riders who grabbed a brass ring earned a second ride on the carousel. Today, the term ‘brass ring’ is synonymous with high achievement in the attractions industry.The top honors are given to companies and individuals for excellence in: marketing, live entertainment, human resources, retail, family entertainment centers, new product development, trade show exhibits at IAAPA Attractions Expo, and new this year, food and beverage excellence. The 2012 IAAPA Brass Ring Awards Winners are:MARKETING EXCELLENCE
*Some marketing awards are divided into the following class distinctions:
Class 1: Family Entertainment Centers (FECs) and attractions with annual attendance less than 250,000
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 AdvertisingHopi 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 EXCELLENCEThe Heart Beat Award recognizes the show that demonstrates superior overall ability in reaching the hearts of its audience.
“Iceploration,” Busch Gardens Tampa, Tampa, Florida, USA;www.seaworldparks.com/buschgardens-tampaThe 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.netBest Atmosphere/Street Show Performance Act
Best Atmosphere/Street Show Performance/Act“The Longshoremen in Bubble Trouble,” SeaWorld Orlando, Florida, USA; www.seaworldparks.com/seaworld-orlandoBest Live “Edutainment Show”“Dollywood’s Imagination Playhouse Featuring the Penguin Players,” Best Live “Edutainment Show”“Dollywood's Imagination Playhouse Featuring the Penguin Players,” Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, USA; www.dollywood.comBest Sports Show“Iceploration,” Busch Gardens Tampa, Tampa, Florida, USA;seaworldparks.com/buschgardens-tampaBest Female PerformerChandler Nicole Sherrill, Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA; www.hersheypark.comBest Male PerformerPeter 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.comBest Overall Production: Budget of $25,001 – $50,000
“Carnevil,” Six Flags Over Georgia, Austell, Georgia, USA; www.sixflags.com/overGeorgia/index.aspxBest Overall Production: Budget of $50,001 – $100,000“Scaremonies,” Ocean Park Hong Kong, Aberdeen, Hong Kong, SAR; www.oceanpark.com.hkBest Overall Production: Budget of $100,001 – $200,000“Liseberg Isshow,” Liseberg, Goteborg, Sweeden; www.liseberg.comBest Overall Production: Budget of $200,001 – $400,000“Imperio Show,” Europa-Park, Rust, Germany; www.europapark.deBest Overall Production: Budget of $400,001 – $700,000“Pop City,” Pacific National Exhibition, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; www.pne.caBest Overall Production of $700,001- $1,000,000“Mysteria,” Europa-Park, Rust, Germany; www.europapark.deBest Overall Production: Budget of $1,000,001 or More“Disney Dreams!,” Disneyland Paris, Marne la Vallee Cedex 4, France; us.disneylandparis.comFOOD AND BEVERAGE EXCELLENCEBest 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.comBest New Menu ItemBoardwalk Blonde and Horsetale Ale, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, California, USA; www.beachboardwalk.comHUMAN RESOURCES EXCELLENCEBest Innovation in a Training Program – Over 1 million attendanceThe Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, California, USA; www.disneyland.disney.go.comBest Innovation in a Training Program – Under 1 million attendanceRainbow’s End Theme Park, Auckland, New Zealand; www.rainbowsend.co.nzBest Employee Reward and Recognition Program – Over 1 million attendanceDollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, USA; www.dollywood.comBest Employee Reward and Recognition Program – Under 1 million attendanceRainbow’s End Theme Park, Auckland, New Zealand; www.rainbowsend.co.nzRETAIL EXCELLENCESoft Good – Over 1 million attendanceMorey’s Piers, Wildwood, New Jersey, USA; www.moreyspiers.comSoft Good – Under 1 million attendanceXPlor, Cancun, Mexico; en.xcaretexperiencias.com/XplorHard Good – Over 1 million attendanceMovie Park Germany, Bottrop, Germany; moviepark.deHard Good – Under 1 million attendanceWalibi – Campagnie Des Alpes, Boulogne-Billan Court, France; www.compagniedesalpes.comVisual Display – Over 1 million attendanceOcean Park Hong Kong, Aberdeen, Hong Kong, SAR; www.oceanpark.com.hkVisual Display – Under 1 million attendanceDolphin Quest, Waikola, Hawaii, USA; www.dolphinquest.comJudges Choice Award Disneyland Hat, The Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, California, USA; www.disneyland.disney.go.comTOP FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT CENTER (FEC)

North AmericaFunspot America, Orlando, Florida, USA; www.funspotattractions.com/index/index.phpInternational
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.comMajor Theme/Amusement Park Ride/Attraction
Skyrush, Intamin, Glen Burnie, Maryland, USA; www.intaminworldwide.comKiddie Ride/AttractionSky Tykes, Ropes Courses, Inc., Allegan, Michigan, USA; www.ropescoursesinc.comWaterpark Ride/Attraction
Hydromagnetic Mammoth, ProSlide Technology Inc., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; www.proslide.comFamily Entertainment Center Ride/AttractionThunder Volt Speedway Gas Go-kart operating system, Amusement Products, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA; www.amusepro.comCoin-Operated Kiddie Ride
Skatebart, MPGroup Srl- Dedem Automatica, Reggio Emilia, Italy; www.mpgroup-italy.com/oldsite/esp/chi-siamo.htmlTechnology Applied to Amusement
SilkGel, WhiteWater West Industries Ltd., Richmond, British Columbia, Canada; www.whitewaterwest.comCoin-Operated Arcade and Redemption Equipment
Stinky Feet FEC, Bob`s Space Racers, Inc., Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; www.bobsspaceracers.comRevenue & Admission Control/Wristbands/RFID Technology
Q-Band, Lo-Q plc, Twyford, Berkshire, United Kingdom; www.lo-q.comServices/Equipment and Supplies
Avius Optimus, Avius, Bournemouth DORS, United Kingdom; www.AviusInsight.comArcade Video Game or Prize Dispensing AttractionDark Escape 4D, Namco America Inc., Elk Grove Village, Illinois, USA; www.namcoamerica.comGames and Merchandise
GSX, Picsolve International Ltd., Orlando, Florida, USA; www.picsolve.bizFood Services
Robofusion Frozen Yogurt/Ice Cream Single Arm Kiosk, RoboFusion Inc., Charleston, South Carolina, USA; www.robofusion.comShow Production & Entertainment/DisplaysRT-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.com300 – 599 square feetHopkins Rides, Booth #2031, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada; www.hopkinsrides.com600 – 1,099 square feet
Funtopia, Booth #457, Sofia, Bulgaria; www.funtopia.eu1,100 + square feet
Daniels Wood Land Inc., Booth #3062, Paso Robles, CA, USA; www.danielswoodland.comThe IAAPA Brass Ring Awards are presented annually during IAAPA Attractions Expo, the largest worldwide gathering of amusement park and attractions industry professionals. The conference and trade show is produced by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA). The Silver sponsor for this year’s event is SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc.Supporting sponsors include: Heartbeat Productions, Inc., Holy Land Experience, Matt Davenport Productions, Inc., RWS and Associates Entertainment, Inc.