Themed Entertainment Association


The Themed Entertainment Association is an international nonprofit 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.
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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. 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. Every year since 2007, the TEA has hosted a two-day conference, TEA INSPIRE, two days prior to the Thea Awards Gala, showcasing the teams that worked on these award-winning projects.

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. That award is now called the Buzz Price Thea Award for a Lifetime of Outstanding Achievements in his honor. The second recipient was Marty Sklar in 1995. Bob Gurr was the recipient in 1999. In 1996, the Awards for Outstanding Achievement were introduced, and ten were distributed.
In the years since, additional special categories of AOA have been created, ensuring a multi-award event. 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. Award recipients are announced in November and formally presented the following spring.

30th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2024, Theas were awarded to the following:
  • The Buzz Price Thea Award: Su Zhigang, Founder of the Chimelong Group and Chairman
  • Thea Classic Award: Liseberg, Gothenburg, Sweden
  • Catalyst Award: Paul C. Hutton, Director of Regenerative Design, Retired at Cuningham
  • TEA Peter Chernack Distinguished Service Award: David Green and Lisa Passamonte Green, Visual Terrain
Award for Outstanding Achievement:
AwardNameCompanyLocation
AttractionBermuda StormChimelongChimelong Spaceship, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
AttractionGuardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic RewindDisney Parks, Experiences and ProductsEPCOT, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, U.S.
Attraction, Limited BudgetMusikkfabrikken HunderfossenHunderfossenHunderfossen Familiepark, Lillehammer, Norway
Indoor Marine ParkSeaWorld Yas IslandSeaWorld Parks & EntertainmentYas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Retail Experience, Limited BudgetDisney Encanto x CAMPCAMPNew 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’ÉtoileLe Puy du FouLe Puy du Fou, Les Epesses, France
Live SpectacularGeneva JourneyGroupe FGeneva, Switzerland
Live Interactive ExperiencePeaky Blinders: The RiseThe Everywhere GroupCamden Stables Market, London, England, United Kingdom
Museum Attraction, Limited BudgetDeutschlandmuseumDeutschlandmuseumBerlin, Germany
Visitor Experience Re-envisioned, Limited BudgetTitanic BelfastTitanic Belfast LimitedBelfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Brand ExperienceJohnnie Walker Princes StreetBRC Imagination ArtsEdinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Etended Reality ExhibitColored Centre PompidouCentre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
Experiential Dining AttractionEatrenalinEuropa-ParkEuropa-Park, Rust, Germany

29th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2023, Theas were awarded to the following:
Award for Outstanding Achievement:
AwardNameCompanyLocation
AttractionChasseurs de TornadesCompagnie des AlpesFuturoscope
AttractionJurassic World AdventureUniversal Destinations & ExperiencesUniversal Studios Beijing
Attraction, Limited BudgetUnderlandetLiseberg ABLiseberg
Connected ImmersionJUMP by Limitless FlightLimitless FlightBluffdale, Utah
Immersive Dining Experience, Limited BudgetAbsurdities Vol. 1AndsoforthSingapore
Immersive Live ExperienceParticle Ink: Speed of DarkKALEIDOCOLas Vegas
Live EventHow to Train Your Dragon: UntrainableUniversal Destinations & ExperiencesUniversal Beijing Resort
Science CenterShanghai Astronomy MuseumShanghai Astronomy MuseumShanghai
Museum, Limited BudgetThe Irish Racehorse ExperienceIrish National Stud & Gardens CoKildare, Ireland
Historical Experience, Limited BudgetQUAKELisbon Earthquake CenterLisbon, Portugal
Brand ExperienceStar Wars: Galactic StarcruiserDisney Parks, Experiences and ProductsWalt Disney World
Theme ParkUniversal Studios BeijingUniversal Destinations & ExperiencesBeijing, China
TechnologyBeaudry InteractiveBeaudry InteractiveLos Angeles

28th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2022, Theas were awarded to the following:
  • The Buzz Price Thea Award : Doris Hardoon, executive creative director and producer consultant for Walt Disney Imagineering
  • Thea Classic Award: Night Safari, Singapore
  • TEA Peter Chernack Distinguished Service Award: Lynn Allmandinger
  • Heritage Center, Limited Budget: Indigenous Peoples Experience, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  • Live Show, Limited Budget: Bastogne: The Roads to Freedom, Belgium
  • Technical Innovation: Mario Kart AR Themed Ride Technology, Osaka, Japan
  • Zoo: Elephant Springs, Fort Worth Zoo, Texas, U.S.
  • Immersive Experience, Limited Budget: Symphony: A Virtual Journey into the Heart of Music, Barcelona, Spain
  • Themed Retail, Limited Budget: Gideon's Bakehouse, Disney Springs, Orlando, U.S.
  • Inspiration Learning Experience, Limited Budget:Animakerspace, U.S.
  • Museum, Limited Budget: BOOM! Britannia Mine Museum, Britannia Beach, Canada
  • Technical Innovation: Stuntronics Aerial Robotics Technology, Anaheim, California, U.S.
  • Brand Experience: Weta Workshop Unleashed, Auckland, New Zealand
  • Attraction: Level 99, Natick, Massachusetts, U.S.
  • Theme Park Land: Super Nintendo World, Universal Studios Japan, Osaka, Japan
  • Attraction: The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash, Universal Studios Hollywood, U.S.
  • Attraction, Limited Budget: Reodor Felgen's Hyperakselerator, Hunderfossen Familie Park, Fåberg, Norway

27th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2021, Theas were awarded to the following:

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:

25th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2019, Theas were awarded to the following:

24th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2018, Theas were awarded to the following:

23rd Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2017, Theas were awarded to the following:

22nd Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2016, Theas were awarded to the following:

21st Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2015, Theas were awarded to the following:

20th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2014, Theas were awarded to the following:

19th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2013, Theas were awarded to the following:

18th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2012, Theas were awarded to the following:

17th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2011, Theas were awarded to the following:

16th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2010, Theas were awarded to the following:

15th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2009, Theas were awarded to the following:

14th Annual Thea Award Recipients

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

13th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2007, Theas were awarded to the following:

12th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2006, Theas were awarded to the following:

11th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2005, Theas were awarded to the following:

10th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2003, Theas were awarded to the following:

9th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2002, Theas were awarded to the following:

8th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2001, Theas were awarded to the following:

7th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2000, Theas were awarded to the following:

6th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 1999, Theas were awarded to the following:

5th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 1998, Theas were awarded to the following:

4th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 1997, Theas were awarded to the following:

3rd Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 1996, Theas were awarded to the following:

2nd Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 1995, Theas were awarded to the following:

1st Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 1994, Theas were awarded to the following: