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Australia's Sydney Royal Easter Show, Sea World, Luna Park Sydney and Warner Bros. Movie World have each been named as recipients of IAAPA Brass Ring Awards by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.

Along with Auckland's Rainbow's End, the Australian attractions were acknowledged this week at the 2017 IAAPA Brass Ring Awards during the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2017 in Orlando, Florida, USA.

The Australasian Brass Ring Award winners were:

• Rainbow’s End - awarded for Best Innovation in a Training Program - Annual attendance less than 1 million; 
• Sydney Royal Easter Show's 'The Stables' won for Best New Innovation in Food and Beverage - Annual attendance less than 1 million;
• Sea World - 'Frenzy', Black-tip Reef Shark - Best Plush - Annual attendance more than 1 million;
• Luna Park Sydney - Game Operation for 'Milsons Point';
• Warner Bros. Movie World, a double winner in the Games and Merchandise Excellence category for Best Apparel – Annual attendance more than 1 million for its Girls Tweety Bird Hooded Sweatshirt and Best Hard Good Item – Annual attendance more than 1 million for its DC Comics Super-Villains Heat Changing Mug.

The annual IAAPA Brass Ring recognise amusement parks, water parks, zoos, aquariums, museums, family entertainment centres (FECs), and suppliers from around the world for excellence categories including food and beverage, games and retail, human resources, live entertainment, marketing, new products, and exhibits.

The tradition of the brass ring dates back to the 1800s when rings were suspended above carousel riders - low enough for them to grasp, but high enough to pose a challenge. Most rings were made of iron, but a few were made of brass, so grabbing the brass ring was a valuable treat. Skilled riders who grabbed a brass ring often earned prizes, including a free ride on the carousel.

The IAAPA Brass Ring Awards are the most prestigious professional honours awarded, marking achievements of excellence throughout the international attractions industry. 

The winners of the 2017 IAAPA Brass Ring Awards are:

Top Family Entertainment Centre (FEC) of the World
International: Dinosaur and I, Eastern European Company, Minsk, Belarus
North America: Big Thrill Factory, Minnetonka, Minnesota, United States 

Food and Beverage Excellence
Best New Innovation in Food and Beverage - Annual attendance less than 1 million: 'The Stables', Sydney Royal Easter Show
Best New Innovation in Food and Beverage - Annual attendance more than 1 million: 'BBLz', Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
Best New Menu Item - Annual attendance less than 1 million: 'Yas Twister', Yas Waterworld, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Best New Menu Item - Annual attendance more than 1 million: 'BBLz', Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States

Games and Merchandise Excellence
Best Plush - Annual attendance less than 1 million: 'Uno the Cougar', Naples Zoo, Naples, Florida, United States
Best Plush - Annual attendance more than 1 million: 'Frenzy' - Black-tip Reef Shark, Sea World 
Best Apparel - Annual attendance less than 1 million: 'Night Hunter Eyes Glow in the Dark T-shirt', Africam Safari, Heroica Puebla de Zaragoza, PUE, Mexico
Best Apparel - Annual attendance more than 1 million: 'Girls Tweety Bird Hooded Sweatshirt', Warner Bros. Movie World 
Best Hard Good Item - Annual attendance less than 1 million: 'White Character Mugs', Vana Nava Company Limited, Nong Kae, Thailand
Best Hard Good Item - Annual attendance more than 1 million: 'DC Comics Super-Villains Heat Changing Mug', Movie World 
Best Single Display Merchandising: 'Basecamp Adventure Display', Skånes Djurpark, Jularp, Sweden
Best Store Visual Merchandising: 'Basecamp Adventure Store', Skånes Djurpark, Höör, Sweden
Best Game Operation: 'Milsons Point', Luna Park Sydney
Judges Choice: 'Disney Avatar Banshee Rookery', Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida, United States

Human Resources Excellence
Best Employee Engagement Initiative - Annual attendance less than 1 million: Yas Waterworld, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Best Employee Engagement Initiative - Annual attendance more than 1 million: Lagoon Amusement Park, Farmington, Utah, United States
Best Employee Reward & Recognition Program - Annual attendance less than 1 million: Typhoon Texas, Katy, Texas, United States
Best Employee Reward & Recognition Program - Annual attendance more than 1 million: Furuvik, Furuvik, Sweden
Best Innovation in a Training Program - Annual attendance less than 1 million: The Green Planet operated by zoOceanarium Group, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Best Innovation in a Training Program - Annual attendance less than 1 million: Rainbow’s End, Auckland
Best Innovation in a Training Program - Annual attendance more than 1 million: Ocean Park Hong Kong, Ocean Park, Aberdeen, Hong Kong

Live Entertainment Excellence
Best Atmosphere/Street Show Performance/Act: 'Violin Trio', Universal Studios Japan, Osaka, Japan
Best Female Performer: Taryn Kim Deluca, Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa Island, Singapore
Best Male Performer: Tang Kwok Shiu Kenneth, Ocean Park Hong Kong, Ocean Park, Aberdeen, Hong Kong
Best Live 'Edutainment' Show: 'Dolphin Days', SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Florida, United States
Best Theatrical Production: Annual attendance 250,001 - 1 million: 'Magic Romance', SOKOL Entertainment, Wanda Harbin Theme Park, China
Best Theatrical Production: Annual attendance 1,000,001 - 2,999,999: 'Dance, Dance, Dance: Heartbeat', Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
Best Theatrical Production: Annual attendance more than 3 million: 'The Voice of an Angel', Universal Studios Japan, Osaka, Japan
Most Creative Christmas Show: 'Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration', Magic Kingdom Park, Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida, United States
Most Creative Halloween Haunt, Show, or Experience: 'March of the Dead', Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa Island, Singapore
Most Creative Multimedia Spectacular: 'Eastern Sunrise', Rizhao Olympic Park, China
Most Creative Property-wide Event: Annual attendance less than 1 million: 'HalLEOween', Leolandia, Capriate San Gervasio BG, Italy
Most Creative Property-wide Event: Annual attendance more than 1 million: 'Electric Ocean', SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego, California, United States
Most Creative Show Featuring Animals: 'Sea Lion High', SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Florida, United States
Most Creative Sports/Stunt Show: 'Turn it Up', Busch Gardens Tampa, Tampa, Florida, United States

Spirit Award
The Spirit Award is given to the most outstanding person who works behind-the-scenes to support high-quality entertainment value of the nominating attraction.
Karly Pope, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, California, United States

Excellence in Marketing
Best Digital Marketing Campaign: Europa-Park, Rust, Germany
Best Integrated Marketing Campaign: Utah’s Hogue Zoo, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Best Outdoor Advertisement: The Florida Aquarium, Tampa, Florida, United States
Best Public Relations Campaign - Annual attendance less than 250,000: Triple Play Family Fun Park, Hayden, Indiana, United States; www.3play.com
Best Public Relations Campaign - Zoos and Aquariums: Africam Safari, Puebla, Mexico
Best Public Relations Campaign: Annual attendance 250,000 - 1 million: Reunion Tower GeO-Deck, Arlington, Texas, United States
Best Public Relations Campaign - Annual attendance more than 1 million: Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States
Best Radio or Streaming Audio Commercial - Annual attendance less than 250,000: Triple Play Family Fun Park, Hayden, Indiana, United States 
Best Radio or Streaming Audio Commercial - Zoos and Aquariums: Utah’s Hogue Zoo, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Best Radio or Streaming Audio Commercial: Annual attendance 250,000 - 1 million: Leolandia, Capriate San Gervasio, Italy
Best Radio or Streaming Audio Commercial - Annual attendance more than 1 million: Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
Best Social Media Campaign: Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington, Texas, United States
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial - Annual attendance less than 250,000: Austin’s Park N Pizza, Pflugerville, Texas, United States
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial - Zoos and Aquariums: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell, Ohio, United States
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial: Annual attendance 250,000 - 1 million: Furuvik, Furuvik, Sweden
Best Television or Digital Video Commercial - Annual attendance more than 1 million: California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, United States

BEST NEW PRODUCT
The Best New Product Exhibitor Awards recognizes the best new products or services in the amusement parks and attractions industry.

Major Ride/Attraction - Class A (Product cost of US$3 million or more)
First Place: MAURER Rides GmbH - Booth 4803, Spike Racing Coaster
Second Place: Intamin Ltd. - Booth 3424, LSM Triple Launch Coaster - Soaring with Dragon

Major Ride/Attraction - Class B (Product cost of less than US$3 million)
First Place: WhiteWater Attractions - Booth 2236, Water Transportation System
Second Place: Extreme Engineering - Booth 3065, The World’s Firswt Cart-less Roller Coaster

Kiddie Ride/Attraction - Class A (Standard Kiddie Ride/Attraction)
First Place: Eurogames SRL - Booth 3667, Beetle Car
Second Place: Tree-Mendous Aerial Adventures - Booth 1373, Nature Trek

Kiddie Ride/Attraction - Class B (Coin-op Kiddie Ride/Attraction)
First Place: Cogan S.R.L. - Booth 1300, Art. 810 Square Bus

Water Park Ride/Attraction - Class A (Product cost of US$2 million or more)
First Place: ProSlide Technology, Inc. - Booth 2259, Double TornadoWAVE™
Second Place: WhiteWater West Industries Ltd. - Booth 2240, Manta 71

Water Park Ride/Attraction - Class B (Product cost of less than US$2 million)
First Place: Aquatic Development Group, Inc. - Booth 2646, Adventure Lagoon
Second Place: Polin Waterparks - Booth 1378, Splash Cabin

Patron Participation Ride/Attraction
First Place: JHB Group, Inc. - Booth 7060, Hero Adventure Trailer
Second Place: UNIS Technology (HK) Ltd. - Booth 631, Omni Arena

Technology Applied to Amusements - Class A (Product or service used by consumers)
First Place: Polin Waterparks - Booth 1378, Splash VR
Second Place: AMEGA Teknoloji Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. - Booth 1850, Cinecoaster 360 VR

Technology Applied to Amusements - Class B (Product or service used by facilities)
First Place: accesso - Booth 4840, accesso Prism
Second Place: FetchRev - Booth 150, FetchRev

Merchandising and Retail Products
First Place: geckobrands - Booth 2883, Waterproof Phone Tote
Second Place: Two Monkeyz LLC - Booth 4681, Stroller Costumes

Games and Devices - Class A (Arcade and video games and equipment)
First Place: Coastal Amusements, Inc. - Booth 1024, Ice Man
Second Place: Sega Amusements International Ltd. - Booth 1606, Daytona® Championship USA

Games and Devices - Class B (Midway games and equipment)
First Place: Zero Latency PTY LTD - Booth 1675, Engineerium 
Second Place: Zero Latency PTY LTD - Booth 1675, Singularity 

Shows/Productions, Theatrical Equipment, and Supplies, Displays and Sets
First Place: Falcon’s Treehouse, LLC - Booth 2291, Heroes and Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame
Second Place: Creative Visions - Booth 2062, Haunted Mine Drop

Services, Equipment, and Supplies
First Place: Smarte Carte, Inc. - Booth 4400, Locker Link 2
Second Place: TrainerTainment L.L.C. - Booth 3227, Business Coaching

The Best New Product Concept 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.
Best New Product Concept Award: Major Ride/Attractions
First Place: Dynamic Attractions Ltd. - Booth 1073, The Dynamic All-Terrain Dark Ride
Second Place: Cloward H20 - Booth 467, The Aquaticar™ Experience

Best New Product Concept Award: Other Products/Services
First Place: First Option Software - Booth 3180, YourMapp
Second Place: Vlocker North America LLC - Booth 465, The VLocker Dual Access Ride Locker

Impact Award
The Impact Award recognizes the best new product or service in the amusement parks and attractions industry.
accesso - Booth 4840, accesso Prism

Image: Luna Park Sydney's Sideshow Alley.

14th November 2017 - IAAPA ATTRACTIONS EXPO SHOWCASES THE FUTURE OF THE GLOBAL ATTRACTIONS INDUSTRY 

17th October 2017 - SYDNEY ROYAL EASTER SHOW ATTRACTION NAMED A FINALIST IN IAAPA BRASS RING AWARDS

3rd June 2017 - GLOBAL THEME INDEX SHOWS MIXED ATTENDANCE TRENDS FOR THEME PARKS

3rd May 2017 - AALARA 2017 TO FEATURE KEY SESSIONS ON CRITICAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT

18th March 2017 - IAAPA IDENTIFIES UAE AS WORLD’S FASTEST GROWING THEME PARKS MARKET

14th March 2017 - IAAPA TO PRESENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS AT ASIAN ATTRACTIONS EXPO 2017

23rd February 2017 - IAAPA PUBLISHES ATTRACTIONS PERFORMANCE REPORTS

3rd February 2017 - IAAPA LOOKS AT GLOBAL EXPANSION WITH APPOINTMENT OF SEAWORLD’S DOUG STAGNER

19th November 2016 - MOVIE WORLD AND SEA WORLD WIN IAAPA ‘BRASS RING’ MERCHANDISE AWARDS 

26th November 2014 - AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND ATTRACTIONS HONOURED AS INDUSTRY’S BEST AND BRIGHTEST 

25th November 2014 - LUNA PARK SYDNEY WINS AGAIN AT IAAPA BRASS RING AWARDS

23rd November 2012 - RAINBOW’S END WINS TOP HONOURS AT IAAPA BRASS RING AWARDS  

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Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.