Categories & Criteria
This year’s winners will join the esteemed companies already inducted
into the Park World Excellence Awards’ Roll of Honour.
MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER CATEGORIES
Entrants in manufacturer/supplier categories can come from companies from outside the EMEA region, but the ride/attraction/project entered must be located in the EMEA region.
Click on the relevant category below for full criteria
Best Roller Coaster
– A roller coaster that opened in the EMEA region between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021
– Pushed the boundaries in design and creativity, or overcame challenges in construction
– Is unique and different to any other roller coaster
– Can be wood, steel or hybrid
Best Roller Coaster – Limited Budget
– A roller coaster that opened in the EMEA region between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021
– Pushed the boundaries in design and creativity, or overcame challenges in construction
– Is unique and different to any other roller coaster
– Can be wood, steel or hybrid
Best Ride(s)
– A ride, or group of rides, that opened in the EMEA region between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021
– Can be an individual kiddie ride, family ride, thrill ride or water ride, or a mix of those rides
– If creating a new area, the project can be entered as one
– Isn’t a roller coaster, water slide or dark ride
– Is innovative and unique
Best Ride(s) – Limited Budget
– A ride, or group of rides, that opened in the EMEA region between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021
– Can be an individual kiddie ride, family ride, thrill ride or water ride, or a mix of those rides
– If creating a new area, the project can be entered as one
– Isn’t a roller coaster, water slide or dark ride
– Is innovative and unique
Best Dark Ride or Media-based Experience
– A ride or walk-through attraction that opened in the EMEA region between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021
– An indoor amusement ride or walk-through attraction in which guests ride in vehicles or travel by foot through scenes telling a story with animatronics, special effects or video
– Or an attraction mixing video and physical experiences, such as scent pods, moving seats or water sprays
– Is unique and pushes the boundaries in design and creativity
Best Water Park Experience
– A ride that opened in the EMEA region between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021
– An indoor or outdoor ride (e.g. water slide), attraction (e.g. wave pool, surf simulator, etc.) or experience opened by a water park
– Isn’t a water ride or a water slide opened by an amusement park
– Is innovative and unique
Best FEC Project
– A project opened by a Family Entertainment Centre (FEC) or Family Indoor Attraction in the EMEA region between 1st July 2019 and 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021
– Can be a roller coaster, a ride, an attraction, a show, an entertainment or any kind of experience
– Is innovative and unique or pushes the boundaries in design or creativity.
Best Use of Theming
– Theming or special effects introduced in the EMEA region between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021
– Can be seen in a theme/water park either in a ride, or restaurant, or shop, or show or in a resort hotel
– The theming could incorporate scenery, animatronics, video projections, lighting, audio or pyrotechnics
– Has significantly improved the guest experience of a ride or visit to a theme/water park, transforming the ordinary to the extraordinary
Best Use of Technologies
– A project introduced in the EMEA region between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021
– Can be seen in a theme/water park or in a FEC
– An outstanding use of one or several technologies together to design a project (either a ride, or restaurant, shop, show, resort hotel, etc.)
NEW! Best Use of Technologies (Guest experience/Park operations)
– A project introduced in the EMEA region between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021
– Designed to enhance the guest experience or improve park operations
– Guest experience – examples include customer information systems, mobile apps, cashless etc
– Park operations – examples include ticketing, access control, security
Best Supplier
– Can be any supplier to the amusement industry: ride, retail, theming, catering, ticketing, access, services, etc
– A supplier that stood out for doing something exceptional during the period 1 September 2020 – 31 August 2021 in the EMEA region.
Best Product Innovation
– A product delivered in the EMEA region between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021
– A product that’s new and innovative, that’s improved the guest experience of a theme park, a water park or a FEC
– Could be a new ride model, food, access, infrastructure, safety system or environmental improvement, etc.
– Concepts excluded. The candidate must submit at least one location in where the product has been implemented.
OPERATOR CATEGORIES
Entrants in operator categories
must be based in the EMEA region.
Click on the relevant category below for full criteria
Best Large Park
– In the EMEA region
– Over 1.5million guests annually
– Has stood out as doing something exceptional over the past 12 months
– Has been seen to go above and beyond their usual standards
Best Regional Park
– In the EMEA region
– Under 1.5million guests annually
– Has stood out as doing something exceptional over the past 12 months
– Has been seen to go above and beyond their usual standards
Best Water Park
– In the EMEA region
– Has stood out as doing something exceptional over the past 12 months
– Has been seen to go above and beyond their usual standards
Best FEC
– In the EMEA region
– Specific location, not a chain
– Has stood out as doing something exceptional over the past 12 months
– Has been seen to go above and beyond their usual standards
Best Live Entertainment
– A show or live experience that opened in the EMEA region between 1 September 2020 and 30 June 2021
– Can be a parade, street performers, stage show, scare maze with actors, Christmas event with actors and so on
– Must be different to anything seen before or enhancing previous examples in an innovative way
INDUSTRY CATEGORIES
The industry categories recognise exceptional individuals
working in the EMEA attractons industry.
Click on the relevant category below for full criteria
Unsung Hero
– A member of staff with at least 5 years’ service in a theme/water park, FEC, or with a manufacturer/supplier, that has gone above and beyond, making a difference to the people around them
– Isn’t an owner/operator
– Can be any position within the company, such as: receptionist, designer, installation engineer or ride operator
Industry Icon – Operator
Someone who has stood out for doing something exceptional in their career
Industry Icon – Supplier
Someone who has stood out for doing something exceptional in their career.
NEW! Best Green Initiative
– Project(s) or practice(s) introduced by a manufacturer/supplier serving the EMEA region, or by an operator in the EMEA region between 1 September 2020 and 30 June 2021
– Project(s) or practice(s) that reduce the impact of activities on the environment and that help partners and customers to do the same
- Examples include the introduction of sustainable business practices, improving waste management practices, reducing carbon emissions, creating a healthy environment, protection of ecological systems
- Must be innovative, creative and eco-friendly
PLUS!
Best of the Best
Judges choice – external nominations not permitted.
Winner revealed on the night – no shortlist published.
To celebrate the industry’s finest, the Park World Excellence Awards has introduced the Best of the Best accolade. The judging panel will each put forward a ride/attraction that they believe has risen above all of this year’s entries and represents the best that the industry has to offer.