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Theas

Award season

The TEA’s Thea Awards celebrated a year of innovation, creativity and achievement across the themed entertainment industry. We take a closer look at the winners

Published in Attractions Management 2021 issue 1

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The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) revealed the winners of its Thea Awards towards the end of 2020, with the list an especially significant one, given the challenges experienced by the industry throughout the year.

Award recipients included PortAventura World in Spain, which was honoured with the Best Attraction award for its Sesame Street: Street Mission area.

Other winners in the ‘attractions’ category included The Twilight Saga: Midnight Ride at the Lionsgate Entertainment World in Zhuhai, China.

Meanwhile, The Buzz Price Thea Award – given to an individual for a lifetime of distinguished achievements – was given to Bob Weis, president of Walt Disney Imagineering.

“The admiration Bob has earned over the decades is rooted in his authentic leadership style – that of a world-class visionary who is sincerely modest, selfless and kind,” said the TEA judging panel.

THEA WINNERS IN FULL

The Buzz Price Thea Award

Recognising a lifetime of distinguished achievements
• Bob Weis, president, Walt Disney Imagineering

Thea Classic

• Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, UK

Thea Awards for Outstanding Achievement (AOA)

Entrance Experience Limited Budget
• St Louis Aquarium at Union Station, St Louis Missouri, US

Attraction
• Sesame Street: Street Mission, PortAventura World, Tarragona, Spain

Attraction
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, FL and Disneyland Park, CA, US

Live Show Spectacular
• Qu Yuan, Jingzhou Oriental Heritage Park, Hubei China

Attraction
• The Twilight Saga: Midnight Ride, Lionsgate Entertainment World, Zhuhai, China

Attraction Limited Budget
• Snorri Touren, Europa-Park, Rust, Germany

Technical Innovation
• ARGUS LED Dome System

Touring Exhibition, Limited Budget
• Amazing Pollinators

Live Attraction Spectacular
• The Bourne Stuntacular, Universal Studios Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA

Connected/Immersive Storytelling
• The Nest, Los Angeles, CA, US

Attraction
• Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Orlando, Florida, US

Immersive Design for Special Needs Guests
• D.R.E.A.M. Centre, Chailey Heritage Foundation, Lewes, UK

Museum Exhibit Design, Limited Budget
• Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr Jane Goodall, National Geographic Museum, Washington DC, US

Themed Hotel
• Les Quais de Lutèce Hotel, Parc Astérix, France

Technological Innovation of Industry Significance
• Tait Navigator Automation and Show Control Platform

Airport Destination Experience
• Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore

PortAventura was awarded Best Attraction for its Sesame Street: Street Mission area / Photo: PortAventura World

Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine

View contents of Attractions Management 2021 issue 1

Editor's letter: Doing better
The Black Lives Matter movement has challenged museums professionals to ask testing questions about their role in reparative history and the way we display and interpret racist and colonial collections
People: Brent Bushnell
Two Bit Circus has pivoted to an innovative online model aimed at keeping its community in touch
People: Michel Linet-Frion
After decades creating for Disney, Grévin and Center Parcs, Linet-Frion has launched his own consultancy
People: Anthony Rawlins
The Digital Visitor CEO explains a new whitepaper on how attractions can survive 2021 and beyond
Interview: Sarah Roots
Warner Bros’ Sarah Roots shares exciting details of the second Harry Potter Studio Tour, set to open in Japan in 2023
Talking Point: Black Lives Matter and museums
Many museums expressed solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, but is it leading to actual change? We ask the experts
Inspired: Alone with Vermeer
The Mauritshuis in The Hague has allowed visitors one-to-one time with Vermeer’s <i>View of Delft</i>, ‘the most beautiful painting in the world’
Aquariums: Into the deep
Merlin and the Sea Life Trust share the highs and lows of the epic journey to get two whales to their new home in the world’s first beluga whale sanctuary in Iceland
Innovation: Sea change
Edge Innovations’ incredibly life-like robot dolphins could spell the end of marine mammals in aquariums, says CEO Walt Conti
Interview: Bob Rogers
As BRC Imagination Arts celebrates 40 years in business, its founder celebrates his team’s achievements
Sponsored: Technically Creative
With clients including the Xplore Family Entertainment Centre in Athens, Technically Creative provides a one stop, in-house solution to create memorable and magical experiences. We talk to CEO, Marc Broadbent
Technology: Bringing digital to life
Extended reality technology provides opportunities to connect with audiences in amazing new ways
Sponsored: Fun Spot: Providing turnkey solutions
Industry innovator, Fun Spot, is on a roll, with a new EMEA office and a range of innovative new products to help operators deliver excellence to the family fun market. We find out more
Interview: Phil Hettema
The Hettema Group president on weathering the pandemic and creating powerful experiences
Theas: Award season
A celebration of the winners from the TEA’s recent Thea Awards
Museums: Tough art
A Pittsburgh museum is challenging artists to create displays tough enough for an audience of children
Design: Dorte Mandrup
The Danish architect is designing the Exile Museum in Berlin and a climate change museum in Greenland
Family entertainment: Linda Dong
China Leisure’s president talks about partnering with Nickelodeon

Editor's letter

Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine

Doing better

Brent Bushnell

Michel Linet-Frion

Anthony Rawlins

Sarah Roots

Black Lives Matter and museums

Alone with Vermeer

Into the deep

Sea change

Bob Rogers

Technically Creative

Bringing digital to life

Fun Spot: Providing turnkey solutions

Phil Hettema

Award season

Tough art

Dorte Mandrup

Linda Dong

Polin

Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine

Doing better

Brent Bushnell

Michel Linet-Frion

Anthony Rawlins

Sarah Roots

Black Lives Matter and museums

Alone with Vermeer

Into the deep

Sea change

Bob Rogers

Technically Creative

Bringing digital to life

Fun Spot: Providing turnkey solutions

Phil Hettema

Award season

Tough art

Dorte Mandrup

Linda Dong