European Star Award Artikel Kirmes & Park Revue

SPECIAL

It’s not only the large parks such

as Disneyland, PortAventura

and Europa-Park, but also the

countless parks that are family

owned in regional areas, which

turn around large amounts of

money in order to draw more

than 145 million visitors annually.

The over 300 theme parks in Eur-

ope invested more than 400 mil-

lion Euro in 2012, and it appears

that 2013 will see a similar in-

vestment amount. The European

amusement branch alone spends

an annual estimated 8.6 billion

Euro, and employs around

50,000 people – a whole lot of im-

pressive numbers that speak for

a professional award dedicated

explicitly to the European theme

park industry, at long last.

Photos: Europa-Park,

Tim Beyer,

Wolfgang Payer,

Tim Herre,

Frank Lanfer

This year’s Euro Attractions Show in Berlin was,

with over 360 exhibitors from 80 countries, the

largest and most successful in its young history,

and took place only for the third time in Germany

following Düsseldorf (2002) and Munich (2008).

And for the first time, Europe’s leading trade

magazine Kirmes & Park Revue presented the

independent European Star Award – an award

honoring the successful European theme park

industry.

An international team of experts voted rankings in

10 different categories, which acknowledged the

efforts within the European theme park branch,

and brought attention to entrepreneurial courage

and exceptional innovations.

For the expert ballots this year, we were able to win

the attention of the following personalities: Dr. h.c.

Werner Stengel (founder Stengel GmbH, Ger-

many), Dr. Dieter Brinkmann (University Bremen,

Applied Leisure Science and IFKA e.V., Germany),

The handmade glass

sculptors for first place winn-

ing parks for the European

Star Awards; in the back-

ground the Radio Tower Ber-

lin and the exhibition halls

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European Star Award

E_076_089_Special_ESA 22.10.2012 13:59 Uhr Seite 2

Francis Stokkel (Project Development LeisureCert,

USA/Netherlands), Victor Cavaller (O-partners,

and earlier Thinkwell Europe, Spain), Stefan

Zwanzger (The Theme Park Guy, VAE), Dr. H. Jür-

gen Kagelmann (Profil Verlag, Germany), Jochen

Peschel (Patent Attorney, Germany), Dr. Sacha

Szabo (Cultural Scientist, Germany) as well as our

authors Matteo Crepaldi (Italy), Olaf Esser (Ger-

many), Marcus Gaines (Great Britain), Tim Herre

(Germany), Wolfgang Payer (Austria), Stefan

Rothaug (Taiwan), Marc Spies (Germany), Karl

Ruisinger (KPR), Ralf Schmitt (KPR) und Frank

Lanfer (KPR). More personal data can be found in

our EAS-Special.

The European Star Award is as independent as our

monthly trade magazine, and can therefore be

considered as opinion forming. For this reason it

was most important for us to have a clear and

honest voting method: each member of the trade

jury could vote in each category 3, 2, and 1 star(s)

for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places for eligible candidates.

The stars were then only counted by our company

– and the winner was the theme park or alternati-

vely the attraction with the most points.

Choices could be made from all theme parks

throughout the whole of Europe including Russia

and Turkey. The minimal criterion was that at least

one ride attraction had to be selected. Experience

worlds with a representative or museum character

such as Autostadt, Zoo Hannover, or Puy du Fou

were not up for selection.

In the three main categories “Europe’s Best Park”,

“Europe’s Best Family Park” and “Europe’s

Best Water Park” there had to be focus on the

following criteria: attractions, attractiveness,

landscaping, friendliness, cleanliness, meals/

refreshments, and value for money.

The festive presentation of prizes took place on

the first day of the exhibition in Berlin. Exclusive

handmade glass sculptors were made for the

first prize winners, and we would like to take

this opportunity to congratulate all five best

parks of Europe once again!

In 2013 we will be conducting another balloting

for the second European Star Award at the end

of the main season. Are you impartial and

objective, do you know the European park

scene, and are you interested in being part of

our jury next year? If so, then please contact:

[email protected] ■

The Euro Attractions Show

was heralded by a brilliant fire-

works display

A first prize was allotted

ten times

This special edition was/is

only available at the EAS in

Berlin and the IAAPA in Orlando

77


The festive awards

presentation took place in a

renowned bar in the heart of

Berlin and was completely filled

78


Bart De Boer is happy that Efteling was chosen as

second best park in Europe

Disneyland Resort Paris won prizes in four categories – to the great satisfaction of Eric Cosset, who here is receiving the first prize for

“Europe’s Best Family Park” (right), and the third place for “Europe’s Best Theme Park” (left centre; right: entertainer Keith Tynes, left: edi-

torial manager and initiator Frank Lanfer)

Paul Oomen and Pieter Corneils from Toverland receiving

second place in the category “Europe’s Best Family Park”

Helmut, Roland, and Benjamin Fischer happy about the award

as third best European Family Park

Michael Kreft von Byern and Jürgen Mack from Europa-Park

receiving the prize “Europe’s Best Park”

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081_Vekoma 22.10.2012 11:37 Uhr Seite 1

Sirko Adler from Wiegand-Maelzer accepting the prizes for Galaxy and Area 47

Philip Amstutz from Tropical Island very happy about third place

Fernando Aldecoa and Giovanni Modena from PortAventura Resort were very pleased about winning two prizes for the new steel

coaster “Shambhala” from Bolliger & Mabillard: one award was for “Second Best Steel Coaster in Europe”, and the second was for the

“Best Novelty of 2012”

Mariano Alarcón and Christoph Kiessling (right) very pleased about receiving the ”Europe’s Best Water Park” award, and a third prize

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Visit us atBooth No. 2024IAAPA Orlando

xxx_Zamperla 21.10.2012 12:08 Uhr Seite 1

Bernd Beitz (Holiday Park, left) and Steven Van Den Kerkhof (Plopsa)

happy about the placing of the steel coaster “Expedition GeForce”

Wouter Dekkers (GM Movie Park Germany)

accepting the prize on behalf of his colleague

José Asanjo from Parque Warner Madrid

Congratulations to Paul Oomen and Pieter Cornelles for second place for the

wooden coaster “Troy” at Toverland

Hannes Mairinger (Heide-Park) pleased about first place for “Colossos”

Peter Osbeck (Gröna Lund) accepting third place for “Twister”

Marina Ernst-Weiderer from Zierer receiving the prize

on behalf of non-attending Legoland Billund

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085_abc_Gerstlauer 22.10.2012 11:38 Uhr Seite 1

Robert Owen from Pleasurebeach

Blackpool accepting a second prize

Theo van Zwieten, Froukje Knijpstra and Jisk Knijpstra from

Mondial accepting the prize on behalf of Terra Mitíca

The category “Europe’s Best Attraction” also went to the

Disneyland Resort Paris

Third place was handed over to Ralf Richard Kenter from Phantasialand

Helmut, Roland, and Benjamin Fischer from Tripsdrill together with Willy Walser

from abc rides happy about first place in the category “Europe’s Best Kiddie Rides”

Michael Kreft von Byern and Jürgen Mack from Europa-Park as well as Christian

von Elverfeldt from Mack Rides pleased about the prize Best Water Ride “Poseidon”

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Visit us at

Booth No. 4028

IAAPA Orlando

087_Dotto_Mack 22.10.2012 11:52 Uhr Seite 1

Massimiliano Freddi pleased about third place for his new

Splash Battle similar water attraction

Sohret Pakis from Polin accepts the first place award on behalf of the not present French Aqualand Fréjus

Entertainer and singer Keith Tynes was not only programme moderator but also sang some of his best classics

Siegfried Gerstlauer accepted second place for a kiddie

coaster from Gerstlauer on behalf of Hansa-Park

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Andrea and Peter Kolar from EAS Exhibit Sales Management,

watching the award presentation

The delegation from PortAventura Bob Tan (GM Dreamworld)Greg Hale (Disney Co.) and Agi Reddersen (KPR)

Bart De Boer (centre) extremely happy about 2nd place for Efteling,

and celebrates together with Eric Cosset and Michael Kreft von Byern

From left: Plet De Koninck (Plopsaland de Panne) Peter

Coppelmans (Efteling) and Sander De Bruijn (Efteling)

Albert Ritter and Frank Hakelberg from the German Showman

Association DSB also enjoyed the evening in the Art & Champagne Bar


European Star Award Artikel Kirmes & Park Revue

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