■  Carrie Chan

 This year, IAAPA held its four-day show in Orlando, Florida on Nov. 14-17.   With its area of more than 560,000 net square feet, the show was expected to draw more than 32,000 industry professionals, including more than 21,000 decision-makers and buyers from more than 100 countries.  During its second day (15th), IAAPA held its annual Brass Ring Award ceremony.  In total, there were about 12 major awards including Top Family Entertainment Center (FEC) of the World, Food and Beverage Excellence, Games and Merchandise Excellence, Best New Product Concept Award, Best New Product, Best Exhibit at IAAPA Attractions Expo 2017, Impact Award... 27 winners such as UNIS Technology (HK) Ltd., Ice Man from Coastal Amusements, Inc. and Sega Amusements International Ltd. got the Best New Product Awards and 12 exhibitors won the Best Exhibit at IAAPA Attractions Expo 2017 Awards.

The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) presented the 2017 IAAPA Brass Ring Awards on Nov. 15 during IAAPA Attractions Expo 2017 in Orlando, Florida.  The annual awards recognize amusement parks, water parks, zoos, aquariums, museums, family entertainment centers (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, 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.  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 honors awarded, marking achievements of excellence throughout the international attractions industry

Top Family Entertainment Center (FEC) of the World
International: Dinosaur and I, Eastern European Company(Belarus) & North America: Big Thrill Factory (United States)
Games and Merchandise Excellence
Best Plush – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million: Uno the Cougar from Naples Zoo
Best Plush – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million: "Frenzy" – Black-tip Reef Shark from Sea World Australia
Best Single Display Merchandising: Basecamp Adventure Display from Skånes Djurpark, Jularp
Best Game Operation: Milsons Point from Luna Park
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)

Spike Racing Coaster from MAURER Rides GmbH & LSM Triple Launch Coaster – Soaring with Dragon from Intamin Ltd.

Spike Racing Coaster

LSM Triple Launch Coaster – Soaring with Dragon

Major Ride/Attraction – Class B (Product cost of less than US$3 million)
Water Transportation System from WhiteWater Attractions & The World's Firswt Cart-Less Roller Coaster from Extreme Engineering
Kiddie Ride/Attraction – Class A (Standard Kiddie Ride/Attraction)

Beetle Car from Eurogames SRL& Nature Trek from Tree-Mendous Aerial Adventures

Beetle Car

Nature Trek

Kiddie Ride/Attraction – Class B (Coin-op Kiddie Ride/Attraction)

Art. 810 Square Bus from Cogan S.R.L.

Art. 810 Square Bus

Water Park Ride/Attraction – Class A (Product cost of US$2 million or more)
Double TornadoWAVE™ from ProSlide Technology, Inc. & Manta 71 from WhiteWater West Industries Ltd.
Water Park Ride/Attraction – Class B (Product cost of less than US$2 million)
Adventure Lagoon from Aquatic Development Group, Inc. & Splash Cabin from Polin Waterparks
Patron Participation Ride/Attraction

Hero Adventure Trailer from JHB Group, Inc. & Omni Arena from UNIS Technology (HK) Ltd.

Omni Arena from UNIS Technology (HK) Ltd.

Technology Applied to Amusements – Class A (Product or service used by consumers)
Splash VR from Polin Waterparks & Cinecoaster 360 VR from AMEGA Teknoloji Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.
Technology Applied to Amusements – Class B (Product or service used by facilities)
Accesso Prism from Accesso & FetchRev from FetchRev
Merchandising and Retail Products
Waterproof Phone Tote from geckobrands & Stroller Costumes from Two Monkeyz LLC
Games and Devices – Class A (Arcade and video games and equipment)

Ice Man from Coastal Amusements, Inc. & Daytona® Championship USA from Sega Amusements International Ltd.

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Ice Man from Coastal Amusements, Inc.

Daytona® Championship USA

Games and Devices – Class B (Midway games and equipment)
Engineerium from Zero Latency PTY LTD & Singularity from Zero Latency PTY LTD
Shows/Productions, Theatrical Equipment, and Supplies, Displays and Sets
Heroes and Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame from Falcon's Treehouse, LLC & Haunted Mine Drop from Creative Visions
Services, Equipment, and Supplies
Locker Link 2 from Smarte Carte, Inc. & Business Coaching from TrainerTainment L.L.C.
Best New Product Concept Award
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
The Dynamic All-Terrain Dark Ride from Dynamic Attractions Ltd. & The Aquaticar™ Experience from Cloward H20
Best New Product Concept Award: Other Products/Services
YourMapp from First Option Software & The VLocker Dual Access Ride Locker from Vlocker North America LLC
Impact Award
The Impact Award recognizes the best new product or service in the amusement parks and attractions industry.
Winner: Accesso Prism from Accesso
Best Exhibit At IAAPA Attractions Expo 2017

Image Award
The Image Award is given to the best exhibit based on booth design, branding, staffing, and overall appeal at IAAPA Attractions Expo.
Winner: Polin Waterparks

※The article is published in the GTI Magazine Issue No. 159 in November, 2017