The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) has announced the new slate of TEA Thea Awards recipients, honouring people, projects and technologies representing excellence in the visitor attractions industry. The prestigious TEA Thea Award is considered one of the attractions industry’s greatest honours. TEA International Board President Chuck Fawcett made the announcement during the annual TEA Member Meeting (held online).
The 27th annual award recipients will be celebrated with a series of Thea Awards Digital Case Studies rolling out from July – December 2021. The recipients will also be documented in TEA’s official Thea Awards Program with project descriptions, photos and comprehensive project credits.
The Buzz Price Thea Award – Recognising a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements
Bob Weis
As president of Walt Disney Imagineering, Bob Weis leads talented Imagineers around the world to advance the quality of immersive experiences to achieve extraordinary results across theme park resorts and cruise ships – with a focus on quality, storytelling, and collaboration. His portfolio of work is unparalleled and recognized by the industry, his peers and the tens of millions of visitors as among the best. The admiration he has earned from our community over the decades is rooted in his authentic leadership style – that of a world-class visionary who is sincerely modest, selfless and kind.
Thea Classic Award
Blackpool Pleasure Beach, United Kingdom
As Blackpool Pleasure Beach turns 125 years old next year, it stands among few comparables in the world of themed entertainment, connecting the industry’s past and future by thriving through more than a century of cultural, social and technological change.
As one of the world’s first and most iconic amusement parks, it has survived two world wars and the harsh environment of its seaside location while continually providing family fun and thrills for generations while remarkably also being a family-owned and -operated business since its inception, currently under the care of the fourth generation of Blackpool lineage.
Thea Awards for Outstanding Achievement (AOA)
Entrance Experience, St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station, St. Louis Missouri, USA (Entrance Experience Limited Budget)
Sesame Street: Street Mission, PortAventura World, Tarragona, Spain (Attraction)
Qu Yuan, Jingzhou Oriental Heritage Park, Hubei China (Live Show Spectacular)
The Twilight Saga: Midnight Ride, Lionsgate Entertainment World, Zhuhai, China (Attraction)
Snorri Touren, Europa-Park, Rust, Germany (Attraction Limited Budget)
ARGUS LED Dome System (Technical Innovation)
Amazing Pollinators (Touring Exhibition, Limited Budget)
The Bourne Stuntacular, Universal Studios Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA (Live Attraction Spectacular)
The Nest, Los Angeles, CA, USA (Connected/Immersive Storytelling)
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Orlando, Florida, USA (Attraction)
D.R.E.A.M. Centre, Chailey Heritage Foundation, Lewes, UK (Immersive Design for Special Needs Guests)
“Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall,” National Geographic Museum, Washington DC, USA (Museum Exhibit Design, Limited Budget)
Les Quais de Lutèce Hotel, Parc Astérix, France (Themed Hotel)
Tait Navigator Automation and Show Control Platform (Technological Innovation of Industry Significance)
Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore (Airport Destination Experience)
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, FL and Disneyland Park, CA, USA (Attraction)
Tea Peter Chernack Distinguished Service Award
Dale Sprague – Canyon Creative