The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), a non-profit representing compelling places and experiences worldwide, has announced recipients of one of the highest honours in the themed experience business.
The Thea Awards recognise individuals, projects, and technologies in the area of themed attractions and experiences each year, with 20 people being honoured for their creative efforts in the latest round.
Amongst the announcements are the Buzz Price Award, recognising a lifetime of distinguished achievements, the Catalyst Award, which recognises individual contributions to industry advancement, and the Classic Award, celebrating a guest experience that has stood the test of time.
TEA has also announced recipients of its most prestigious award for volunteers of the association, which will also be recognized with the Peter Chernack Distinguished Service Award.
“We are thrilled to announce this slate of amazing individuals, attractions, and experiences as this year’s Thea Award recipients”, says TEA International Board president Chuck Fawcett. “We look forward to celebrating them – and joining together as an international community – next April for the Annual Thea Awards Gala.”
29th Annual Thea Award Winners
Buzz Price Award
- Roland Mack, founder and managing partner of Europa Park, Germany
Catalyst Award
- Susanna Tubert, creative director for Disney Live Entertainment, Disneyland Parks & Resorts, The Walt Disney Company
- Chevy Humphrey, president & CEO of the Museum of Science & Industry, Chicago, and board chair of the American Alliance of Museums
Classic Award
- Disney’s Main Street Electrical Parade, Anaheim, California, US
Thea Awards for Outstanding Achievement:
- Attraction: Chasseurs de Tornades, Futuroscope, France
- Attraction: Jurassic World Adventure, Universal Studios Beijing, Beijing, China
- Attraction Limited Budget: Underlandet, Liseberg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Connected Immersion: ‘JUMP’ by Limitless Flight, Bluffdale, Utah, USA
- Immersive Dining Experience Limited Budget: Absurdities Vol. 1, Andsoforth, Singapore
- Immersive Live Experience: Particle Ink: Speed of Dark, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
- Live Event: How to Train Your Dragon: Untrainable, Universal Studios Beijing, Beijing, China
- Science Center: Shanghai Astronomy Museum, Shanghai, China
- Museum Limited Budget: The Irish Racehorse Experience, Irish National Stud & Gardens Co.; Kildare, Ireland
- Historical Experience Limited Budget: QUAKE, Lisbon Earthquake Center, Lisbon, Portugal
- Brand Experience: Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida, US
- Theme Park: Universal Studios Beijing, Beijing, China
- Technology: Beaudry Interactive, Los Angeles, California, US
Peter Chernack Distinguished Service Award:
- Kevin Murphy, for his years of service and support of the TEA, its EME Division and its global members.
- Peter Weishar, for his exceptional promotion of the themed entertainment industry through education, program development and supporting TEA NextGen members.
Boundless creators
“Our field is constantly changing. Honouring these recipients from around the world highlights their success in bringing forth highly engaging, out-of-the-home visitor attractions and experiences in the leisure and travel sectors, says Thea committee chair Fri Forjindam. “They are everything from problem solvers to specialists that create what our imaginations can only dream of and bring it all to fruition.”
“We invite the industry to join us for our big weekend next April at the Disneyland Resort to formally award these leaders in our field at the TEA Annual Thea Awards Gala, presented by Chimelong”
The TEA will be sharing behind-the-scenes insight on social media leading up to the Annual Thea Awards Gala which will take place on 15 April 2023 at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, US. Tickets to the Gala and the TEA Annual Summit will be made available in the coming weeks on the TEA website.
