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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Blackpool Pleasure Beach, which opened in 1986, won The Classic Award

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

WDI’s Bob Weis – Buzz Price Thea recipient

Jewel Changi Airport won a Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement / Photo: Jewel Changi Airport

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