Luna Park Sydney secures 2018 IAAPA Brass Ring Award

Luna Park has received a 2018 IAAPA Brass Ring Award 'Most Creative Property-wide Event: Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million' for their participation in Sydney's 2018 Vivid Festival. 

During this year’s Sydney Vivid Festival, the entire amusement park came alive with brilliant shapes, patterns and colours that lit the Midway promenade and enhanced high-octane rides such the aptly named Hair Raiser. 

2018 also marked the first time Luna Park’s iconic Ferris wheel was lit for the festival following a refit, which included a massive boost in the number of lights adorning the wheel. 

The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) presented the 2018 IAAPA Brass Ring Awards on November 14th during IAAPA Attractions Expo 2018 in Orlando, Florida. The annual awards recognise amusement parks, water parks, zoos, aquariums, museums, family entertainment centres (FECs), and suppliers from around the world for excellence in food and beverage, games and retail, human resources, live entertainment, marketing, new products, and exhibits.

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

IAAPA Brass Ring Awards honour this tradition of reaching up and earning a prize by celebrating achievements of excellence throughout the global attractions industry. The IAAPA Brass Ring Awards are the most prestigious professional honours awarded to companies.

The winners of the 2018 IAAPA Brass Ring Awards are:

Top Family Entertainment Centre (FEC) of the World
Jake's Unlimited; Mesa, Arizona, United States

Food and Beverage Excellence

Best New Menu Item – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
"Poopies and Poopcakes," Skånes Djurpark, Sweden

Best New Menu Item – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
"Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Bowl," Palace Entertainment, Newport Beach, California, United States;

Games and Retail Excellence
Best Plush: "Gillie Guinea Pig Plush," Zoomars Petting Zoo, San Juan Capistrano, California, United States

Best Apparel: "Killer Croc Flat Brim Cap," Warner Bros. Movie World Gold Coast Australia, Oxenford, Queensland

Best Hard Good Item:
"Light Up Slinky Dog," Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida, United States;

Best Store Visual Merchandising:
"Europa-Park Factory Shop powered by Majorette," Europa-Park, Germany

Human Resources Excellence

Best Employee Engagement Initiative – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
Great Wolf Lodge - Niagara Falls; Canada

Best Employee Engagement Initiative – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
"Dolphin Way at Work," Grupo Dolphin Discovery

Best Employee Reward and Recognition Program – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
"Skånes Djurpark," Skånes Djurpark Resort AB, Sweden

Best Employee Reward and Recognition Program – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
Denver Zoo, Denver, Colorado, United States

Best Innovation in a Training Program – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
"Skånes Djurpark," Skånes Djurpark Resort AB, Sweden

Best Innovation in a Training Program – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
Hersheypark, Hershey Entertainment and Resorts, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States,

Live Entertainment Excellence
Best Atmosphere/Street Show Performance/Act: "Sesame Street Party Parade," SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego, California, United States

Best Performer:
Sabrina Marlene, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia, United States;

Best Live "Edutainment" Show:
"Ocean Resistance," Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, China

Best Theatrical Production: Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
 "Favola," Leolandia, Italy

Best Theatrical Production: Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
 "Beauty and the Beast," Disney Parks Live Entertainment, United States;

Most Creative Christmas Show:
 "The Enchanted Journey," Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States

Most Creative Halloween Haunt, Show, or Experience:
"Hell's Grand Finale," Ocean Park Corporation, Hong Kong, China

Most Creative Multimedia Spectacular: "Celebrate! Tokyo Disneyland," Disney Parks Live Entertainment, Tokyo, Japan

Most Creative Property-wide Event: Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million:
 "Vivid Festival at Luna Park Sydney," Luna Park Sydney, Australia

Most Creative Property-wide Event: Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
"Summer Carnimal 2018," Ocean Park Corporation, Hong Kong, China

Most Creative Show Featuring Animals:
 "Pets Rule," SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego, California, United States

Most Creative Sports/Stunt Show:
 "Cirque Electrique," SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego, California, 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.
Ulrich Grawunder, Europa-Park, Germany

Excellence in Marketing
Best Digital Marketing Campaign: "The Poopie Movie," Skånes Djurpark, Sweden;

Best Integrated Marketing Campaign:
 "Ocean Park Hong Kong Drink'N Music Fest 2018," Ocean Park Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;

Best Outdoor Advertisement:
"Your Visit Protects Wildlife" Outdoor Campaign ("Tu Visita Protégé La Vida Silvestre"), Africam Safari, Mexico

Best Public Relations Campaign:
 "Launch of the Haunted Mine Drop," Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, Glenwood Springs, Colorado, United States

Best Radio or Streaming Audio Commercial:
"Silver Dollar City's Time Traveler Radio Commercial," Silver Dollar City, Branson, Missouri, United States

Best Social Media Campaign:
"The Poopie Movie," Skånes Djurpark, Sweden

Best Television or Digital Video Commercial – Annual Attendance Less than 250,000:
"Xenotes Live," Mexico

Best Television or Digital Video Commercial: Annual Attendance 250,000 – 1 Million:
 "Spökjakten," Furuvik Djurpark, Sweden

Best Television or Digital Video Commercial – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million:
"Lagoon: Summer Daze," Lagoon Amusement Park, Farmington, Utah, United States