Best New Product

The IAAPA Brass Ring Awards: Best New Product Exhibitor Awards competition recognizes the best new product or service in the amusement parks and attractions industry.

The deadline to submit an application has been extended to August 29, 2017!

Contents:
Eligibility
Entry Procedures
Judging
Judging Criteria
Categories
      1. Major Ride/Attraction
      2. Kiddie Ride/Attraction
      3. Water Park Ride/Attraction
      4. Patron Participation Ride/Attraction
      5. Technology Applied to Amusements
      6. Food Services
      7. Merchandising & Retail Products
      8. Games & Devices
      9. Shows/Productions, Theatrical Equipment & Supplies, Displays & Sets
    10. Services, Equipment & Supplies
    11. Best New Product Concept Award
Impact Award
Apply
Contacts

Eligibility

1. Must be a member of IAAPA and exhibiting at IAAPA Attractions Expo 2017.
2. The Impact Award is awarded to a winner of one of category 1-10 in the Best New Product Exhibitor Awards that, in the opinion of the judges, had or will have the most impact on the amusement parks and attractions industry.
3. All product entries (except Best New Product Concept award) must have been operating in a park or facility beginning after August 1, 2016 and before August 1, 2017. All entries will be verified.
4. The product or service must not have been eligible for consideration for a Best New Product Exhibitor Award during IAAPA Attractions Expo 2016.
5. An improved or updated version of an existing product is eligible for entry as a new product, if it meets the above criteria. If a product is an update of an existing product, all factors that distinguish new product from previous edition must be noted in the application.
6. Exhibitors who violate any IAAPA trade show rules and regulations will not be eligible for any Exhibitor Awards.

Entry Procedures

1. The online application is now open. Once logged in to your account, click "Exhibitor Required Documents" and complete the appropriate form(s).
2. Entries are limited to two (2) new products, per exhibitor, and each product may only be entered into one (1) new product category. Two (2) separate new products may be entered into one (1) category. Only one (1) product can be entered in the Best New Concept category.
3. Each entry must include a fully completed application no later than the deadline.
4. Each entry should include up to two (2) materials per entry, fully explaining all features and benefits of the product to the user. Materials such as brochures, flyers, photographs, or artwork are accepted and encouraged. Web link to a YouTube video is also acceptable. Low res files must be submitted with the online application or e-mailed to exhibitors@IAAPA.org no later than the deadline.
5. All entries and materials submitted may be reproduced by IAAPA and all entries become the property of IAAPA and will not be returned.
6. There is no cost to submit an entry.
7. The deadline has been extended to August 29, 2017.

Judging

1. A panel of 3-5 judges comprised of IAAPA facility members will evaluate all entries pre-show and will recommend the winner(s) to the rest of the committee.
2. The judges reserve the right to reassign entry categories if they consider another category more appropriate.
3. The entire Exhibitor Awards Committee members will vote on the first and second place winners (as applicable) during IAAPA Attractions Expo.
4. In most cases there is no on-site judging so please be sure your application is complete.
5. Each category will be awarded first and second place (at the discretion of the judges based on award criteria).
6. The Impact Award winner will be selected by the committee on-site.
7. The decisions of the judges are final.
8. All awards will be distributed to the winner’s booths by 6:00 p.m. on the first day of the trade show. Please have the appropriate representative(s) in your booth during this time for presentation/photo with the award.
9. All award winners will be displayed on the Awards display after the conclusion of the Brass Ring Ceremony on Wednesday. A list of winners will also be available in the IAAPA Sales Office by 6:00 p.m. on the first day of the trade show
10. The Impact Award will also be presented at the IAAPA Brass Ring Awards Ceremony on Wednesday.

Judging Criteria

• Benefit of the product or service to the prospective buyer.
• Originality or uniqueness of the product or service.
• Quality of the products or service’s design and construction.
• Innovation of the product or service.

Categories

Category 1: Major Ride/Attraction
This award is for new major rides or attractions in theme parks or amusement parks, mobile shows, and family entertainment centers.
Class A - Product cost of US$3 million or more
Class B - Product cost of less than US$3 million

Category 2: Kiddie Ride/Attraction
This award is for new rides or attractions designed primarily for children up to 12 years of age for use in theme parks, amusement parks, mobile shows, and family entertainment centers.
Class A – Standard Kiddie Ride/Attraction

This award is for new coin-operated rides or attractions where the product collects the fee automatically with no attendant required, designed primarily for children up to 12 years of age for use in theme parks, amusement parks, mobile shows, and family entertainment centers.
Class B – Coin-op Kiddie Ride/Attraction

Category 3: Water Park Ride/Attraction
This award is for new products that are designed primarily for rides or attractions in a water park or water activity areas in theme parks, amusement parks or family entertainment centers.
Class A - Product cost of US$2 million or more
Class B - Product cost of less than US$2 million

Category 4: Patron Participation Ride/Attraction
This award is for new products that are designed to require active patron participation for the ride/attraction to function for use in theme parks, amusement parks, mobile shows, and family entertainment centers. Examples include bumper cars, bumper boats, go-karts, climbing walls, laser tag, escape rooms, and zip lines.

Category 5: Technology Applied to Amusements
This award is for new products that demonstrate the application of a technology that has not previously been used for the same function that the technology accomplishes in the new product. This also includes products related to revenue and admission control products.
Class A - Product or Service used by Consumers
Class B - Product or Service used by Facilities

Category 6: Food Services
This award is for food products, services, food equipment and suppliers.

Category 7: Merchandising and Retail Products
This award is for new products that are designed to be sold in merchandising operations, given away, or used in promotions. This category includes the areas of merchandising, prizes for games, novelties, souvenirs, hats, shirts and balloons.

Category 8: Games and Devices
Class A - Arcade & Video Games and Equipment
This award is for the best new arcade or video game or equipment. Games in this category may be coin-op or other means of payment, and do not require an operator or attendant.

Class B - Midway Games and Equipment
This award is for the best new midway game, including any game that uses an operator/attendant.

Category 9: Shows/Production, Theatrical Equipment and Supplies, Displays and Sets
This award includes products and services related to show production and entertainment related services and suppliers of these services. Show producers, directors, choreographers, costumes, lighting and sound systems, staging, theatrical equipment and supplies, and displays and sets including Halloween and other holiday-related products and displays. Also included in this category are fireworks, flags and banners, signs, scenery/sets, buildings and facades, and theming or design for an exhibit or attraction.

Category 10: Services, Equipment and Supplies
This award is for the best new amusement related services, equipment and suppliers of equipment/services. Included in this category are consultants, amusement park builders/designers, insurance, publications, trade associations, advertising, promotion and public relations. This award encompasses supplies and accessory equipment such as: uniforms, canvas items, strollers, film, computer systems, cables, batteries, lights, and all other supplies and equipment not included in another award category.

Category 11: Best New Product Concept Award
​This 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. To be eligible for this award, the exhibitor must display a working prototype, a physical model, or a fully developed video rendering. The committee reserves the right to separate entries into sub-categories if feasible.

Impact Award

The Impact Award is awarded to a winner of one of the Best New Product categories 1-10 in the Best New Product or Service Awards that, in the opinion of the judges, had or will have the most impact on the amusement parks and attractions industry.

Apply

Apply for Best New Product Award by logging into your Digital Profile now:
​www.IAAPA.org/IAEProfile

1. Once logged in, click the "Exhibitor Required Documents" link.
2. Click "Optional Form: Exhibitor Awards - Best New Product Application #1" and complete the fields. If you are submitting for two different products, complete Application #2 as well.
3. Low resolution support material should be submitted with the application. If you have trouble submitting a file, please contact exhibitors@IAAPA.org
4. Submit one submission per product/service.
5. There is no cost to submit an entry.
6. The deadline has been extended to August 29, 2017.

Contacts

If you have any questions regarding the IAAPA Exhibitor Awards Program, please contact:

Gina Claassen
Chairman, Exhibitor Awards Committee
Phone: +1 (417) 336-7010
E-mail: gclaassen@hfecorp.com

Stacey Mills, CMP, CEM
Senior Director, Conference and Trade Show Operations, IAAPA
Phone or Fax: +1 (321) 319-7643
E-mail: smills@IAAPA.org