ORLANDO, Fla., US (Nov. 5, 2021) – IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry, today announced the winners of the 2021 IAAPA Brass Ring Awards. The IAAPA Brass Ring Awards are the most prestigious professional honors awarded, marking achievements of excellence throughout the global attractions industry. The awards recognize amusement parks, water parks, zoos, aquariums, museums, science centers, family entertainment centers (FECs), and attractions in excellence in categories including food and beverage, games and retail, human resources, live entertainment, marketing, and new products.
The IAAPA Brass Ring Awards are considered one of the global attractions industry’s most prestigious honors. The brass ring has been a tradition dating back to the 1800s, when excited guests were challenged to reach for a ring while riding a carousel. While most rings were made from iron, grabbing the single brass ring was a coveted and celebrated accomplishment, and often included a free second carousel ride. The IAAPA Brass Ring Awards honor that tradition, and each year facilities around the world submit their most creative and memorable work for consideration.
2021 IAAPA Brass Ring Award Winners
Top Family Entertainment Center (FEC) of the World
Scene75 Entertainment Center Columbus, Dublin, Ohio, United States.
Food and Beverage Excellence
Best New Menu Item: Reese's Stuff Your Cup, Hershey’s Chocolate World, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States.
Best New Food and Beverage Festival or Special Event:
Dollywood's Flower and Food Festival, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States.
Games and Retail Excellence
Best Plush: “Remy Feature Plus,” Disney Global Product Creation, Lake Buena Vista, Florida United States.
Best Apparel:
“Omega Mart Tattoo Chicken Ringer T-Shirt,” Meow Wolf, Inc., Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States.
Best Hard Good Item:
“Candy Land Hershey Edition,” Hershey’s Chocolate World, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United
States. Best Visual Merchandising:
“Omega Mart Plenty Valley Produce Department,” Meow Wolf, Inc., Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Best Midway Game Operation
Canobie Lake Park, Salem, New Hampshire, United States.
Human Resources Excellence
Best Employee Engagement Initiative – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
“We R.I.S.E. Together: Resilience, Innovation, Sustainability, Engagement,” Enchanted Kingdom, Laguna, Philippines.
Best Employee Engagement Initiative – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
“Hersheypark Leadership Development Internship,” Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States.
Best Employee Reward and Recognition Program – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
“Work Here. Play Here. Win Here,” Knoebels Park and Resort, Elysburg, Pennsylvania, United States.
Best Innovation in a Training Program – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
Meow Wolf 101: The Beginning,” Meow Wolf, Inc., Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States.
Best Innovation in a Training Program – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
“Guest Obsession: Four Pillars of GO!” LEGOLAND Florida Resort, Winter Haven, Florida.
Live Entertainment Excellence
Best Atmosphere/Street Show Performance/Act:
“Magic Happens Parade,” Disneyland Resort, Disney Parks Live Entertainment, Anaheim, California, United States.
Best Performer:
Caleb Brown, Dollywood Parks and Resorts, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States.
Best Live “Edutainment” Show:
“Orca Encounter,” SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Florida.
Best Theatrical Production: Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
“EL ÚLTIMO CANTAR” – The Last Song,” Puy du Fou España SA, Toledo, Spain.
Best Theatrical Production: Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
“Xcaret México Spectacular,” Grupo Xcaret, Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Most Creative Christmas Show:
The Crystal Promise” Universal Studios Japan, Osaka, Japan.
Most Creative Halloween Haunt, Show, or Experience:
“Oogie Boogie Bash- A Halloween Party,” Disneyland Resort, Disney Parks Live Entertainment, Anaheim, California, United States.
Most Creative Multimedia Spectacular:
“La Clé des Songes,” FUTUROSCOPE, Vienne, France.
Most Creative Property-wide Event:
Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million: “For The Love Event, Surfing & Lifestyle Series,” URBNSURF Group, New South Wales, Australia.
Most Creative Property-wide Event: Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
“Gala of Lights,” Ocean Park Corporation, Hong Kong, China.
Most Creative Sports/Stunt Show:
“Winter Wonderland on Ice,” SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Florida, United States.
Spirit Award:
“Global Launch of Looney Tunes as DC Superheroes,” Warner Brothers Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Excellence in Marketing
Best Digital Marketing Campaign:
“Monster – King of Roller Coasters,” Gröna Lund, Stockholm, Sweden.
Best Integrated Marketing Campaign:
“Spider,” Fantasilandia, Santiago, Chile.
Best Outdoor Advertisement - Dual winners:
“Explore Wonder!” Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, SC, United States, and
“Grandes Sonrisas” (Bigger Smiles), Grupo Xcaret, Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Best Public Relations Campaign - Dual winners:
“Dr. Diabolical's Cliffhanger Tease and Announcement,” Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio, Texas, United States, and
“360˚ Xafety,” Grupo Xcaret, Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Best Radio or Streaming Audio Commercial:
“Sharks Exhibit Advertising Campaign,” California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, United States.
Best Social Media Campaign:
“Sleep with the Sharks Influencer Campaign,” Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, United States.
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
To Travel is To Live,” Lakewood Camping Resort, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States.
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
“Vitamina X,” Grupo Xcaret, Quintana Roo, Mexico.
All award winners, and entries, will be honored in Orlando, Florida during IAAPA Expo at the IAAPA Award Winners Celebration.
About IAAPA IAAPA is a diverse and dynamic community of global attractions professionals. As the largest international trade association for permanently located attractions, IAAPA unifies the attractions community, connects people to learn and grow together, and strives to promote the highest professional standards for excellence and safety around the world.
Founded in 1918, IAAPA represents leading industry attractions and supplier companies, consultants, and individual members from more than 100 countries. Members include professionals from amusement parks, theme parks, attractions, water parks, resorts, family entertainment centers, zoos, aquariums, science centers, museums, cruise lines, manufacturers, and suppliers.
The association’s global headquarters and North America office are in Orlando, Florida, U.S. IAAPA also maintains offices in Brussels, Belgium; Hong Kong, China; Shanghai, China; and, Mexico City, Mexico. Visit IAAPA.org or connect through IAAPA’s social media channels: @IAAPAHQ #IAAPA
IAAPA Press Office Susan Storey: [email protected]
