Themed Entertainment Association
AbbreviationTEA[1]
Founded1991[1]
Founder
  • Monty Lunde
TypeMutual benefit non-profit corporation
PurposeRepresentative body
Location
Area served
Worldwide
Membership
1,600 companies [1]
President
Lindsey K. Nelson [2]
Websitewww.teaconnect.org
THEA Awards
Sponsored by
  • Themed Entertainment Association
DateApril
LocationLos Angeles, California
First awarded1995
WebsiteTHEA 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]

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]

29th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2023, Theas were awarded to the following:[11]

Award for Outstanding Achievement:

Award Name Company Location
Attraction Chasseurs de Tornades Compagnie des Alpes Futuroscope
Attraction Jurassic World Adventure Universal Destinations & Experiences Universal Studios Beijing
Attraction, Limited Budget Underlandet Liseberg AB Liseberg
Connected Immersion JUMP by Limitless Flight Limitless Flight Bluffdale, Utah
Immersive Dining Experience, Limited Budget Absurdities Vol. 1 Andsoforth Singapore
Immersive Live Experience Particle Ink: Speed of Dark KALEIDOCO Las Vegas
Live Event How to Train Your Dragon: Untrainable Universal Destinations & Experiences Universal Beijing Resort
Science Center Shanghai Astronomy Museum Shanghai Astronomy Museum Shanghai
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 Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Walt Disney World
Theme Park Universal Studios Beijing Universal Destinations & Experiences Beijing, China
Technology Beaudry Interactive Beaudry Interactive Los Angeles

28th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2022, Theas were awarded to the following:[12]

27th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2021, Theas were awarded to the following:[13]

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:[14]

25th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2019, Theas were awarded to the following:[15]

24th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2018, Theas were awarded to the following:[16]

23rd Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2017, Theas were awarded to the following:[17]

22nd Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2016, Theas were awarded to the following:[18]

21st Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2015, Theas were awarded to the following:[19]

20th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2014, Theas were awarded to the following:[20]

19th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2013, Theas were awarded to the following:[21]

18th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2012, Theas were awarded to the following:[22]

17th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2011, Theas were awarded to the following:[23]

16th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2010, Theas were awarded to the following:[24]

15th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2009, Theas were awarded to the following:[25]

14th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2008, Thea Awards for Outstanding Achievement were awarded to the following:[26]

13th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2007, Theas were awarded to the following:[27]

12th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2006, Theas were awarded to the following:[28]

11th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2005, Theas were awarded to the following:[28]

10th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2003 (awards moved from fall to spring, skipping 2004), Theas were awarded to the following:[28]

9th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2002, Theas were awarded to the following:[28]

8th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2001, Theas were awarded to the following:[28]

7th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 2000, Theas were awarded to the following:[28]

6th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 1999, Theas were awarded to the following:[28]

5th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 1998, Theas were awarded to the following:[28]

4th Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 1997, Theas were awarded to the following:[28]

3rd Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 1996, Theas were awarded to the following:[28]

2nd Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 1995, Theas were awarded to the following:[28]

1st Annual Thea Award Recipients

In 1995, Theas were awarded to the following:[28]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "About Us". Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  2. ^ "Our Team". Themed Entertainment Association. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  3. ^ a b Ken Story (27 November 2018). "The latest TEA Thea Awards point to Asia, Universal as the future of the tourism industry". Orlando Weekly. 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. ^ a b 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.
  10. ^ Thea Committee. Themed Entertainment Association. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  11. ^ "29th Annual TEA Thea Awards Program 2023". Themed Entertainment Association. 18 April 2023.
  12. ^ "28th Annual TEA Thea Awards Program 2022". Themed Entertainment Association. 3 May 2022.
  13. ^ "27th Annual TEA Thea Awards Program 2021". Themed Entertainment Association. 29 June 2021.
  14. ^ "26th Annual TEA Thea Awards Program 2020". Themed Entertainment Association. 25 June 2020.
  15. ^ "Past Awards: Thea Awards 2019". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2019-08-31.
  16. ^ "Past Awards: Thea Awards 2018". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2019-08-31.
  17. ^ "Past Awards: Thea Awards 2017". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2019-08-31.
  18. ^ "Past Awards: Thea Awards 2016". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2015-09-10.
  19. ^ "Past Awards: Thea Awards 2015". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2015-09-10.
  20. ^ "Past Awards: Thea Awards 2014". Themed Entertainment Association. Retrieved 2015-09-24.
  21. ^ "Past Awards: Thea Awards 2013". Themed Entertainment Association. Retrieved 2015-09-24.
  22. ^ "Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) Announces 18th Annual Thea Award Recipients" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-03.
  23. ^ "17th Annual Thea Award Recipients". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2014-05-25.
  24. ^ "16th Annual Thea Award Recipients". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2014-05-25.
  25. ^ "15th Annual Thea Award Recipients". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2014-02-17.
  26. ^ "14th Annual Thea Awards". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2014-05-25.
  27. ^ "13th Annual Thea Awards". Themed Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 2014-05-25.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Past Thea Award recipients: 1994-2018". Themed Entertainment Association.

External links

Categories