Themed Entertainment Association

Last updated
Themed Entertainment Association
AbbreviationTEA [1]
Founded1991 [1]
Founder
TypeMutual benefit non-profit corporation
PurposeRepresentative body
Location
Area served
Worldwide
Membership
1,600 companies [1]
President
Lindsey K. Nelson [2]
Website www.teaconnect.org
THEA Awards
Sponsored by
  • Themed Entertainment Association
DateApril
Location Los Angeles, California
First awarded1994
Website THEA Awards

The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) is an international non-profit association that represents creators, developers, designers and producers of themed entertainment. It is also noted for its THEA Awards, which were founded in 1995 and are distributed annually in a range of themed entertainment categories. [3]

Contents

Founding

The TEA was founded in 1991 by Monty Lunde, a former special effects designer for Disney who had gone on to start the special effects company Technifex with his business partner Rock Hall. [4] The TEA mission, as stated in its bylaws, is to facilitate dialogue and communication among its members, to stimulate knowledge and professional growth, and to expand the size, diversity and awareness of the themed entertainment industry. [5] Every year since 2007, the TEA has hosted a two-day TEA Summit, 2 days prior to the Thea Awards banquet, showcasing the teams that worked on these award-winning projects. [6]

Awards

The TEA presents the annual Thea Awards to projects that exemplify the highest standards of excellence and achievement, including individuals, parks, attractions, exhibits, and experiences in the themed entertainment industry. The Thea Awards began in 1994 with a single honoree: Harrison "Buzz" Price, the first recipient of the Thea Lifetime Achievement Award. [7] That award is now called the Buzz Price Thea Award for a Lifetime of Outstanding Achievements in his honor. [8] The second recipient was Marty Sklar in 1995. Bob Gurr was the recipient in 1999. [9] In 1996, the Awards for Outstanding Achievement (AOA) were introduced, and ten were distributed. In the years since, additional special categories of AOA have been created, ensuring a multi-award event. [8] Anyone can nominate a project, but judging is conducted by a committee that includes all past lifetime achievement honorees, one board liaison, and nine members-at-large appointed to three-year terms. [10] Award recipients are announced in November and formally presented the following spring. [3]

30th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2024, Theas were awarded to the following: [11]

Award for Outstanding Achievement:

AwardNameCompanyLocation
AttractionBermuda StormChimelongChimelong Spaceship, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
Attraction Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Disney Parks, Experiences and Products EPCOT, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, U.S.
Attraction, Limited BudgetMusikkfabrikken HunderfossenHunderfossen Hunderfossen Familiepark, Lillehammer, Norway
Indoor Marine Park SeaWorld Yas Island SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Retail Experience, Limited BudgetDisney Encanto x CAMPCAMP New York, New York, U.S.
Immersive Mall ExperienceAURA: The Forest at the Edge of the SkyZhejiang Dafeng IndustryHaikou International Duty-Free Shopping Complex, Haikou, China
Live ShowLe Mime et L’Étoile Le Puy du Fou Le Puy du Fou, Les Epesses, France
Live SpectacularGeneva JourneyGroupe F Geneva, Switzerland
Live Interactive ExperiencePeaky Blinders: The RiseThe Everywhere GroupCamden Stables Market, London, England, United Kingdom
Museum Attraction, Limited Budget Deutschlandmuseum Deutschlandmuseum Berlin, Germany
Visitor Experience Re-envisioned, Limited Budget Titanic Belfast Titanic Belfast Limited Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Brand ExperienceJohnnie Walker Princes Street BRC Imagination Arts Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Etended Reality ExhibitColored (Noire) Centre Pompidou Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
Experiential Dining AttractionEatrenalin Europa-Park Europa-Park, Rust, Germany

29th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2023, Theas were awarded to the following: [12]

Award for Outstanding Achievement:

AwardNameCompanyLocation
AttractionChasseurs de Tornades Compagnie des Alpes Futuroscope
AttractionJurassic World Adventure Universal Destinations & Experiences Universal Studios Beijing
Attraction, Limited BudgetUnderlandetLiseberg AB Liseberg
Connected ImmersionJUMP by Limitless FlightLimitless Flight Bluffdale, Utah
Immersive Dining Experience, Limited BudgetAbsurdities Vol. 1Andsoforth Singapore
Immersive Live ExperienceParticle Ink: Speed of DarkKALEIDOCO Las Vegas
Live EventHow to Train Your Dragon: UntrainableUniversal Destinations & Experiences Universal Beijing Resort
Science Center Shanghai Astronomy Museum Shanghai Astronomy Museum Shanghai
Museum, Limited BudgetThe Irish Racehorse Experience Irish National Stud & Gardens Co Kildare, Ireland
Historical Experience, Limited BudgetQUAKELisbon Earthquake Center Lisbon, Portugal
Brand Experience Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Walt Disney World
Theme ParkUniversal Studios BeijingUniversal Destinations & Experiences Beijing, China
TechnologyBeaudry InteractiveBeaudry Interactive Los Angeles

28th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2022, Theas were awarded to the following: [13]

27th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2021, Theas were awarded to the following: [14]

26th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2020 the Thea Awards and conference were held digitally due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They were awarded to the following: [15]

25th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2019, Theas were awarded to the following: [16]

24th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2018, Theas were awarded to the following: [17]

23rd Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2017, Theas were awarded to the following: [18]

22nd Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2016, Theas were awarded to the following: [19]

21st Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2015, Theas were awarded to the following: [20]

20th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2014, Theas were awarded to the following: [21]

19th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2013, Theas were awarded to the following: [22]

18th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2012, Theas were awarded to the following: [23]

17th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2011, Theas were awarded to the following: [24]

16th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2010, Theas were awarded to the following: [25]

15th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2009, Theas were awarded to the following: [26]

14th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2008, Thea Awards for Outstanding Achievement were awarded to the following: [27]

13th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2007, Theas were awarded to the following: [28]

12th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2006, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]

11th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2005, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]

10th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2003 (awards moved from fall to spring, skipping 2004), Theas were awarded to the following: [29]

9th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2002, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]

8th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2001, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]

7th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2000, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]

6th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 1999, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]

5th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 1998, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]

4th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 1997, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]

3rd Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 1996, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]

2nd Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 1995, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]

1st Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 1994, Theas were awarded to the following: [29]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amusement park</span> Park with rides and attractions

An amusement park is a park that features various attractions, such as rides and games, as well as other events for entertainment purposes. A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central theme, often featuring multiple areas with different themes. Unlike temporary and mobile funfairs and carnivals, amusement parks are stationary and built for long-lasting operation. They are more elaborate than city parks and playgrounds, usually providing attractions that cater to a variety of age groups. While amusement parks often contain themed areas, theme parks place a heavier focus with more intricately-designed themes that revolve around a particular subject or group of subjects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hong Kong Disneyland</span> Theme park on Lantau Island, Hong Kong

Hong Kong Disneyland is a theme park located on reclaimed land in Penny's Bay, Lantau Island, Hong Kong. It was the second Disneyland in Asia to open, after Tokyo Disneyland, with Shanghai Disneyland opening in 2016. Hong Kong Disneyland is located inside the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and is owned jointly by Hong Kong International Theme Parks (52%) and the Walt Disney Company (48%). It is the most visited theme park in Hong Kong, followed by Ocean Park Hong Kong. Hong Kong Disneyland opened to visitors on Monday, September 12, 2005, at 13:00 HKT. Disney attempted to avoid problems of cultural backlash by incorporating Chinese culture, customs, and traditions when designing and building the resort, including adherence to the rules of feng shui. Notably, a bend was put in a walkway near the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort entrance so good qi energy would not flow into the South China Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tokyo Disneyland</span> Theme park in Chiba, Japan

Tokyo Disneyland is a 115-acre (47 ha) theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, near Tokyo. Its main gate is directly adjacent to both Maihama Station and Tokyo Disneyland Station. It was the first Disney park to be built outside the United States and it opened on April 15, 1983. The park was constructed by WED Enterprises in the same style as Disneyland in California and Magic Kingdom in Florida. It is owned by The Oriental Land Company, which licenses intellectual property from The Walt Disney Company. Tokyo Disneyland and its companion park, Tokyo DisneySea, are the only Disney parks in the world not owned or operated by The Walt Disney Company in any capacity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walt Disney Studios Park</span> Theme park at Disneyland Paris

Walt Disney Studios Park is the second of two theme parks built at Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée, France. which opened on 16 March 2002. It is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Experiences division. Upon opening, it was dedicated to show business, movie themes, production, and behind-the-scenes, but in the 2010s, in a similar manner to Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Florida, it began to distance itself from the original studio backlot theming and entered a new direction of attraction development inspired by iconic Disney stories. The park is represented by the Earffel Tower, a water tower with Mickey Mouse ears similar to the one formerly located at Disney's Hollywood Studios, which in turn was inspired by the water tower at the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disney Experiences</span> Theme park and travel division of The Walt Disney Company

Disney Experiences, commonly known as Disney Parks, is one of the three major divisions of The Walt Disney Company. It was founded on April 1, 1971, exactly six months before the opening of Walt Disney World.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Islands of Adventure</span> Theme park in the United States

Universal Islands of Adventure, originally called Universal Studios Islands of Adventure and later Universal's Islands of Adventure, is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. It opened on May 28, 1999, along with CityWalk, as part of an expansion that converted Universal Studios Florida into the Universal Orlando Resort. The resort's slogan Vacation Like You Mean It was introduced in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Studios Florida</span> Theme park in the United States

Universal Studios Florida is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida, that opened on June 7, 1990. Owned and operated by NBCUniversal, it features numerous rides, attractions, and live shows that are primarily themed to movies, television, and other aspects of the entertainment industry. Universal Studios Florida was the first of three theme parks to open at Universal Orlando Resort, joined later by Universal Islands of Adventure in 1999, and Universal Volcano Bay in 2017. In 2019, it ranked eleventh in the world – sixth in North America – for overall attendance among amusement parks with approximately 10.9 million visitors. A fourth park, Universal Epic Universe, is expected in 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Studios Japan</span> Universal Studios theme park in Osaka, Japan

Universal Studios Japan (ユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパン) is a theme park located in Osaka, Japan. Opened on March 31, 2001, it is one of six Universal Studios theme parks worldwide and was the first to open outside the United States. The park is owned and operated by USJ LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of NBCUniversal. The park is similar in layout to Universal Studios Florida and contains selected attractions from both Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood, in addition to a small number of unique attractions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Rogers (designer)</span> American designer and film director

Bob Rogers is an American designer, producer, and director, most known for his work in themed entertainment. Rogers is founder and chairman of BRC Imagination Arts, a strategic design and production agency. Rogers oversees the creative elements of all BRC projects, serving clients like Coca-Cola, NASA, Disney, Johnnie Walker, Universal Studios, Ford, General Motors, China Mobile, China Telecom, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. He is a former member of the board of directors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Gurr</span> American amusement ride designer and imagineer (born 1931)

Robert Henry Gurr is an American amusement ride designer and Imagineer. His most famous work was for Walt Disney's Disneyland Park, and its subsequent sister parks. Gurr is said to have designed most, if not all, of the ride vehicles of Disneyland's oldest attractions, including Autopia, Main Street Vehicles, the Disneyland Monorail, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Submarine Voyage, and the Haunted Mansion. He was named a Disney Legend in 2004. He also worked on the King Kong Encounter animatronic for Universal Studios Hollywood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Creative</span> Engineering, architecture and design division of Universal Parks & Resorts

Universal Creative is the division of Universal Destinations & Experiences responsible for designing, developing, engineering, and producing themed attractions, rides, and, resorts. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, the company operates at Universal Parks & Resorts locations around the world in the United States, Singapore, Japan, and China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muppet Mobile Lab</span> Attraction at Disney parks

Muppet Mobile Lab is a free-roving, audio-animatronic entertainment attraction designed by Walt Disney Imagineering, that has been tested at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California, at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida and at Hong Kong Disneyland in Hong Kong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disneyland</span> Amusement park in Anaheim, California

Disneyland is a theme park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. It was the first theme park opened by the Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney, and opened on July 17, 1955.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shanghai Disneyland</span> Theme park

Shanghai Disneyland is a theme park located in Chuansha New Town, Pudong, Shanghai, China, that is part of the Shanghai Disney Resort. The park is operated by Disney Experiences and Shanghai Shendi Group, through a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and Shendi. Construction began on April 8, 2011. The park opened on June 16, 2016. The park operated in its first half-year with a visitor attendance of 5.60 million guests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tokyo DisneySea</span> Theme park in Chiba, Japan

Tokyo DisneySea is a theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort located in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, just next to Tokyo. It opened on 4 September 2001, at a cost of 335 billion yen. The Oriental Land Company owns the park, and licenses intellectual property from The Walt Disney Company. In 2023, Tokyo DisneySea hosted 12.4 million visitors, making it the seventh-most visited theme park in the world and the third-most visited in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harrison Price</span>

Harrison Alan "Buzz" Price was a research economist specializing in how people spend their leisure time and resources. Price guided Walt Disney in the siting and development of Disneyland in Southern California and of Walt Disney World in Central Florida.

Yves Pépin is a creator of multimedia shows and large-scale events including the multi-awarded Eiffel Tower Millennium Show. In the course of his career, Pépin's projects have been honored with many awards; an outstanding personal honor was received in 2006, when his peers in the Themed Entertainment Association, the international association for creators of compelling places and experiences, presented him with the prestigious TEA Thea Award for a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chimelong Ocean Kingdom</span> Theme park situated in Hengqin, Zhuhai, China

Chimelong Ocean Kingdom is a theme park situated in Hengqin, Zhuhai, People's Republic of China. It was designed by PGAV Destinations. The park broke ground on November 28, 2010 and soft-opened on January 28, 2014. The grand opening occurred on March 29 of that year. The first phase of the park cost RMB 10 billion to build. It is part of the Chimelong International Ocean Tourist Resort, which aims to become the "Orlando of China". In 2023 the park hosted 12.52 million visitors, making it the sixth-most visited theme park in the world and the most visited theme park in the world that is not a Disney or Universal park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avengers Campus</span> Themed area at three Disney theme parks

Avengers Campus is a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)–themed area located at Disney California Adventure and Walt Disney Studios Park in Disneyland Paris, and being developed for Hong Kong Disneyland under the name Stark Expo. The Marvel-themed areas or "lands" are being developed simultaneously at the three parks and inspired by the MCU. However, they instead take place in the "Marvel Theme Park Universe", an alternate universe parallel to it within the MCU multiverse, in which the Blip, introduced in Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and subsequent events did not occur. They are designed by Walt Disney Imagineering, in collaboration with Marvel Studios and Marvel Themed Entertainment.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "About Us" . Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  2. "Our Team". Themed Entertainment Association. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  3. 1 2 Ken Story (27 November 2018). "The latest TEA Thea Awards point to Asia, Universal as the future of the tourism industry". Orlando Weekly . Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. For the last quarter-century, the Themed Entertainment Association has hosted the annual TEA Thea Awards, a prestigious who's-who in the themed attraction industry.
  4. TEA and Fantasy: Technifex President and CEO Monty Lunde. Blooloop. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  5. "Themed Entertainment Association Bylaws" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-07.
  6. TEA SATE conference & SATE Academy Days. Themed Entertainment Association. Retrieved 2015-09-24.
  7. Thea Confidential. Live Design. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  8. 1 2 About the Thea Awards. Themed Entertainment Association. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  9. "Bob Gurr to speak at TEA Summit Day Two, April 4 in Anaheim". teaconnect.org. Archived from the original on 2019-01-09.
  10. Thea Committee. Themed Entertainment Association. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  11. "30th Annual TEA Thea Awards Program 2024". Themed Entertainment Association. 20 March 2024.
  12. "29th Annual TEA Thea Awards Program 2023". Themed Entertainment Association. 18 April 2023.
  13. "28th Annual TEA Thea Awards Program 2022". Themed Entertainment Association. 3 May 2022.
  14. "27th Annual TEA Thea Awards Program 2021". Themed Entertainment Association. 29 June 2021.
  15. "26th Annual TEA Thea Awards Program 2020". Themed Entertainment Association. 25 June 2020.
  16. "Past Awards: Thea Awards 2019". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2019-08-31.
  17. "Past Awards: Thea Awards 2018". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2019-08-31.
  18. "Past Awards: Thea Awards 2017". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2019-08-31.
  19. "Past Awards: Thea Awards 2016". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2015-09-10.
  20. "Past Awards: Thea Awards 2015". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2015-09-10.
  21. "Past Awards: Thea Awards 2014". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2015-09-24.
  22. "Past Awards: Thea Awards 2013". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2015-09-24.
  23. "Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) Announces 18th Annual Thea Award Recipients" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-03.
  24. "17th Annual Thea Award Recipients". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2014-05-25.
  25. "16th Annual Thea Award Recipients". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2014-05-25.
  26. "15th Annual Thea Award Recipients". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2014-02-17.
  27. "14th Annual Thea Awards". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2014-05-25.
  28. "13th Annual Thea Awards". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2014-05-25.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Past Thea Award recipients: 1994-2018". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2019-04-11.