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IAAPA Announces Attractions Industry’s Best of the Best
Brass Ring Awards Winners for Excellence Presented
at IAAPA Attractions Expo 2011

(Nov. 17, 2011, UPDATED Nov. 22, 2011) – In the amusement park and attractions industry, taking home the coveted Brass Ring Award presented by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), is as good as gold. This afternoon laughter, cheers, and applause, filled the Peabody Orlando Windermere ballroom for the prestigious international awards ceremony. Hundreds of finalists from amusement parks, waterparks, zoos, aquariums, museums, and family entertainment centers around the world packed the audience to hear the 2011 Brass Ring Award winners announced. The top honors are given to companies and individuals for excellence in: marketing, live entertainment, human resources, retail, family entertainment centers, new product development, and trade show exhibits at IAAPA Attractions Expo. More than 600 entries were submitted for this year’s competition.

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 2011 IAAPA Brass Ring Award 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 waterparks—with annual attendance of 250,001-1 million
Class 4: Amusement parks and attractions—including waterparks—with annual attendance of more than 1 million

Television Commercial
Class 1: Selvatica, Cancun, Mexico; www.selvatica.com.mx 
Class 2: Detroit Zoological Society, Royal Oak, Michigan, USA; www.detroitzoo.org
Class 3: Pacific National Exhibition, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; www.pne.ca
Class 4: Nickelodeon Universe, Bloomington, Minnesota, USA; www.nickelodeonuniverse.com  

Radio Commercial
Class 1: Quassy Amusement Park, Middlebury, Connecticut, USA; http://quassy.com
Class 2: Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley, Minnesota, USA; www.mnzoo.org
Class 3: Wet 'n Wild- Emerald Pointe, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA; www.emeraldpointe.com   
Class 4: Liseberg, Gothenburg, Sweden; www.liseberg.com

Print Advertising
Class 1: White Water, Branson, Missouri, USA; www.bransonwhitewater.com
Class 2: Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley, Minnesota, USA; www.mnzoo.org  
Class 3: Evergreen Wings and Waves, McMinnville, Oregon, USA; www.evergreenmuseum.org/waterpark  
Class 4: Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom; www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com  

Outdoor Advertising
The Florida Aquarium, Tampa, Florida, USA; www.flaquarium.org

Integrated Marketing
Kidzania de México SA de CV, México City, México; www.kidzania.com

Digital Marketing
Luna Park Sydney, Milsons Point, Australia; www.lunaparksydney.com


LIVE ENTERTAINMENT EXCELLENCE
Heartbeat Award recognizes the show that demonstrates superior overall ability in reaching the hearts of its audience.
Winner: Tala Takenya & The Legend of the Holy Forest, Fort Fun Abenteurland, Bestwig, Germany; www.fortfun.de

Spirit Award recognizes IAAPA members committed to excellence in training and professional development in the area of entertainment.
Winner: Kristine Morgan, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Tampa, Florida, USA; www.buschgardens.com/bgt    

Atmosphere/Street Show
“The Gem Tones,” Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, USA; www.dollywood.com   

Edutainment
“Mad Marty,” Legoland California, Carlsbad, California, USA; www.california.legoland.com 

Female Performer
Lindsay Karchawer, Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA; www.hersheypark.com  

Male Performer
Law Ho Tim, Ocean Park, Hong Kong, China; www.oceanpark.com.hk  

Sports Show
“African Acrobats of Kenya,” Fantawild, Shenzen, China; www.fantawild.com

Production Less Than $25,000
“The Enchanted Treasure,” Legoland California, Carlsbad, California, USA; www.california.legoland.com  

Production $25,000-$50,000
“Dr. Fright's CarnEvil,” Six Flags Over Georgia, Austell, Georgia, USA; www.sixflags.com/overGeorgia

Production $50,000-$100,000
“Vintervirvlar” Liseberg, Gothenburg, Sweden; www.liseberg.com 

Production $100,000-$200,000
“The Majesty of Christmas,” Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio, Texas, USA; www.sixflags.com/fiestaTexas  

Production $200,000-$400,000
“Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy,” Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Tampa, Florida, USA; www.buschgardens.com/bgt 

Production $400,000-$700,000
“Sha-Kon-O-Hey! Land of Blue Smoke,” Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, USA; www.dollywood.com

Production $700,000-$1 Million
“Rockstars- The Battle,” Walibi Rhone-Alpes, Les Avenieres, France; www.walibi.com  

Production $1 Million-plus
“The Magic, the Memories, and You!” Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; www.disney.com  


HUMAN RESOURCES EXCELLENCE
Innovative Training Program (More Than 1 Million in Attendance)
Europa-Park GmbH & Co., Rust, Germany; www.europapark.de/lang-en

Innovative Training Program (Less Than 1 Million in Attendance)
Farah Leisure Excellence Academy, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; www.farahleisure.com/eng  

Reward and Recognition Program (More Than 1 Million Annual Attendance)
Whiting’s Foods, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, California, USA; www.beachboardwalk.com  

Reward and Recognition Program (Less Than 1 Million Annual Attendance)
Happylon, Saint Petersburg, Russia; www.happylon.com  


RETAIL EXCELLENCE
Hard Good (Over 1 Million Annual Attendance)
Xcaret, Cancún, México; www.xcaret.com

Hard Good (Under 1 Million Annual Attendance)
Luna Park Sydney, Milsons Point, Australia; www.lunaparksydney.com

Soft Good (Over 1 Million Annual Attendance)
Millions of Memories, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, California, USA; www.beachboardwalk.com

Soft Good (Under 1 Million Annual Attendance)
The London Dungeon, London, United Kingdom; www.the-dungeons.co.uk

Visual Display
Sea Life, Poole Dorset, United Kingdom; www.visitsealife.com

Judge’s Choice
Morey's Piers & Beachfront Waterpark, Wildwood, New Jersey, USA; www.moreyspiers.com

TOP FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT CENTER (FEC)
North America
The Funplex Mount Laurel, Mount Laurel, New Jersey, USA; www.funplexmountlaurel.com  

International
Infunity, Freeze Club & Bowl Room, Hawalli, Kuwait; www.funat360.com


BEST NEW PRODUCT
Impact Award recognizes the company for its product’s lasting impact in the industry.
Winner: Empex Watertoys, Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada www.watertoys.com  

Major Theme/Amusement Park Ride/Attraction
Rocky Mountain Construction Group, Hayden, Idaho, USA; www.rockymtnconstruction.com

Kiddie Ride/Attraction
Spectrum Sports International, Hyde Park, Utah, USA; www.spectrumsports.com

Waterpark Ride/Attraction
Empex Watertoys, Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada www.watertoys.com  

Family Entertainment Center Ride/Attraction
Art Attack, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; www.artattackfx.com

Coin-Operated Kiddie Ride
Falgas Industries Castelló d'Empúries (Girona), Spain; www.falgas.com  

Technology Applied to Amusement
accesso LLC, Lake Mary, Florida, USA; www.accesso.com

Coin-Operated Arcade and Redemption Equipment
Laser Star Amusements Inc., Davie, Florida, USA; www.lasershootinggalleries.com

Revenue & Admission Control/Wristbands/RFID Technology
Core Cashless Inc., Lenexa, Kansas, USA; www.corecashless.com

Services/Equipment and Supplies
Darklight: Precision Lighting System, Santa Clarita, California, USA; www.darklightsystem.com

Games and Merchandise
Bob's Space Racers Inc., Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; www.bobsspaceracers.com  

Food Services
State Fair Mini Donuts Inc., Minnetonka, Minnesota, USA; www.statefairminidonuts.com  

Show Production & Entertainment/Displays
Jack Rouse Associates, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; www.jackrouse.com

BEST EXHIBIT AT IAAPA ATTRACTIONS EXPO 2011
Image Award is given for most attractive trade show booth at IAAPA Attractions Expo.
Winner: Whitewater West Industries Ltd., Richmond, British Columbia, Canada; www.whitewaterwest.com

100 – 200 square feet
Action Innovators, Heemstede, The Netherlands; www.actioninnovators.com

300 – 500 square feet
American Locker Security Systems Inc., Coppell, Texas, USA; www.americanlocker.com

600 – 1,000 square feet
Theming and Animatronics Industries S.A., Madrid, Spain; www.taaindustries.com

1,001+ square feet
Bob's Space Racers Inc., Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; www.bobsspaceracers.com

The 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 OmniTicket Network/ Best Union Company Spa, and supporting organizations are Matt Davenport Productions, Inc., RWS and Associates Entertainment, Inc., and Heartbeat Productions, Inc.

About IAAPA Attractions Expo 2011
IAAPA Attractions Expo 2011 is the largest conference and trade show in the world for the attractions industry. With its theme “The Force Behind the Attractions,” the show will take place in Orlando, Florida, and draw 25,000 industry professionals from 100 countries to the Orange County Convention Center from Monday, Nov. 14, through Friday, Nov. 18. The trade show floor will be open Tuesday, Nov. 15, through Friday, Nov. 18. IAAPA Attractions Expo 2011 offers a full week of business opportunities and educational experiences, and features new ideas, products, and events. Some new opportunities include: a Lunch and Learn with Pat Koch, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari director of values; the Mobile Application Education Symposium; and behind-the-scenes tours of Legoland Florida, “Star Tours” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and “Cheetah Hunt” and “Cheetah Run” at Busch Gardens Tampa. More information is available at www.IAAPA.org/IAAPAAttractionsExpo.

About IAAPA
IAAPA is the premier trade association for the attractions industry worldwide. Founded in 1918, IAAPA is the largest international trade association for permanently situated amusement facilities and attractions, and is dedicated to the preservation and prosperity of the attractions industry. The association’s global headquarters is in Alexandria, Virginia, United States and it maintains regional offices in Brussels, Mexico City, and Hong Kong. www.IAAPA.org

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Editor's Note: Winning entries can be viewed at www.IAAPA.org/expos/attractions/2011/awards/2011BrassRingWinnersPage.asp and images of the 2011 IAAPA Brass Ring Awards ceremony are available at www.IAAPA.org/2011AwardPhotos.

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