The Festival of Innovation took place online from 15 to 16 January, exploring the most innovative projects, products and organisations shaping the future of the sector. During the virtual event, we also revealed the winners of this year’s blooloop Innovation Awards, our annual celebration of creativity and forward-thinking in the visitor attractions industry.
The Innovation Awards are presented in partnership with AREA15, the world’s first purpose-built experiential entertainment district in Las Vegas.
Innovative projects across 16 categories
This year, we received more than 140 entries across 16 categories. They were judged by a panel of over 50 high-profile thought leaders and industry experts from organisations such as Universal Destinations and Experiences, TEA, Merlin Entertainments, Netflix, Walt Disney Imagineering, Meow Wolf, SEVEN, British Museum, Efteling, and more.
We are pleased to share the first, second and third place winners in the 16 Innovation Awards categories for 2024.
Guest Journey, sponsored by Attractions.io
This category invited entrants to showcase digital technology and more that enhance the guest journey, such as ticketing, apps, purchases, photography, AR, AI, social, and beyond.
The winner is RoboGuide – Your Social Interactive Guide Robot from Dyno Robotics AB, which transforms visitor engagement through advanced AI and robotics.
In second place is the LOOP Website Platform for Attractions by Semantic, which is designed for attractions, leisure, and tourism brands. Third place is awarded to Giants of the Past by Magic Memories and Plantasia Tropical Zoo, an AR experience that allows guests to learn about the ancient relatives of the attraction’s modern-day animals.
Creative Technology, sponsored by Holovis
This award seeks to recognise the behind-the-scenes technologies that support visitor experiences and the creatives who design them, such as projectors, sound systems, and lighting.
In first place is FluidLED by Octopus Design Studio, the world’s first and only low-voltage LED display system created specifically for use in wet and harsh environments.
Second place is awarded to Entertainment on the GO from Forward Thinking Designs, a powerful and affordable alternative to expensive parade infrastructure. Third place goes to Advatek Lighting’s PixLite A4-S Mk3, a lighting control system that enables creators to push boundaries using pixel LED fixtures.
Brand Realisation, sponsored by Kingsmen Experience Inc.
The Brand Realisation category celebrates innovative approaches to bringing well-known IPs to life in order to engage and immerse visitors.
First place is awarded to The Messi Experience by Moment Factory and Primo Entertainment, an immersive multi-room journey which connects visitors with soccer star Lionel Messi like never before.
In second place is The Path Entertainment Group’s The Paddington Bear Experience, where guests can encounter iconic moments from the film with lovingly recreated details, such as sound effects and scents. The third-place winner is The WWE Experience KSA from WWE and TAIT, a permanent, interactive experience for fans of all ages that evokes the excitement and energy of the WWE.
Game On, sponsored by Arcade Arena, part of the Little Lion Entertainment Group
The Game On category invited entries showcasing the latest technology and inventive devices in immersive gaming for climbing walls, competitive socialising, VR games and more.
First place in Game On is awarded to Zero Latency VR’s Space Marine VR – Defenders of Avarax, the first-ever free-roam VR experience in the Warhammer 40,000 universe.
In second place is Nexus by Gel Blaster, a unique experience for family entertainment centres (FECs) that raises blaster gameplay to new heights by integrating state-of-the-art technology, immersive visuals, and flexible options. Third place goes to Beat The Bomb, an experience that combines immersive video gaming with authentic social bonding.
Exhibit, sponsored by Blue Telescope
In this category, our judges looked for innovative approaches to exhibitions in museums, zoos or aquariums that enhance engagement and immerse visitors.
First place goes to Museum of the Future – Journey of the Pioneers. This exhibition by Atelier Brückner brings together advanced technology, architectural storytelling, and sensory design to create a multi-layered experience that invites visitors to become active participants in a story set in the year 2071.
Atelier Brückner is also in second place with Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet, which combines architecture, scenography and storytelling to offer an entirely new way to experience the art of watchmaking. Third place was awarded to The People’s House: A White House Experience, a cutting-edge educational exhibition designed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA) that explores the history of America’s Executive Mansion, its inhabitants, and the people who have dedicated their careers to its functions.
Thrills
This category honours excellence in thrill experiences, from roller coasters to escape rooms to haunts.
First place is awarded to Merlin Entertainments’ Thorpe Park – Hyperia, the UK’s tallest and fastest coaster. This feat of engineering also boasts a world’s-first track element, Europe’s tallest inversion, and more weightless moments than any other coaster in the country.
In second place is Primordial, a pioneering hybrid roller coaster and interactive dark ride from Triotech, which can be found at Lagoon Park in Salt Lake City. Third place goes to Crown’s Edge, Icon of the Seas, an industry-first, unique aerial attraction that takes guests on board Royal Caribbean International’s cruise ship to the limit of their comfort zone.
Experiential Technology, sponsored by TAIT
For this category, we invited submissions of guest-facing technologies that create new interactive and engaging experiences.
In first place, we have WDI Bipedal Robotic Character Design and Control. With this project, Walt Disney Imagineering has introduced a new bipedal robot, designed with a focus on character-driven mechanical features.
Second place was awarded to Alice® – the patented AI virtual docent system from Mad Systems that brings enhanced personalisation to museums, visitor centres, science centres, and more. In third place is Currents Immersive Experience, a series of captivating interactives created for Carnival Cruise Line with design and build by Beaudry Interactive.
Immersive Experiences
The first of our Immersive Experiences awards celebrates spaces that immerse visitors into another world.
The first place award goes to Phantom Peak, London’s only large-scale open-world escape room and immersive experience. Visitors explore a fully realised town, complete with eccentric characters, mysteries and stories.
In second place, we have Rumble in the Jungle Rematch, a live immersive event that reimagines the epic fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. The third-place winner is ‘The Legend of Luna’ at Great Wolf Lodge Perryville, which tells the story of a young adolescent wolf who longs to find her place in the world, brought to life by BRC Imagination Arts.
Immersive Experiences – Culture
The second of our Immersive Experiences awards recognises exceptional immersive museum or exhibition spaces.
First place is given to Marshmallow Laser Feast: Works of Nature. This exhibition at ACMI in Melbourne, Australia, drew from the research of world-renowned scientists and philosophers to present a calming and meditative space that helped visitors to better understand the climate crisis and their place in a larger ecosystem.
In second place is ARTE MUSEUM Las Vegas, an immersive experience with solutions iterated and implemented by AVI-SPL, that engages all five senses and showcases the intersection of technology, art, and nature. Third place is awarded to DEM Museum’s immersive Ephesus Experience Museum, which helps visitors understand the historic significance of the ancient city of Ephesus. The technologies employed include 123 Panasonic DLP projectors.
Storytelling
This award category explores the translation of a story into an engaging visitor experience, with entrants ranging from theme parks to exhibitions.
The first-place winner is Bullanginya Dreaming – Luna Light Journey, a cultural and entertainment experience produced by Laservision. This attraction combines history, art, and technology to provide an insight into the rich traditions of the Bangerang People and honour their deep-rooted connection to the land.
Second place in the Storytelling category goes to 360, An Extraordinary Experience, a sensory dining experience crafted by Princess Cruises, while third place was awarded to Merlin Entertainments’ Alton Towers Resort – Nemesis Reborn, for its storytelling, both on- and off-site, around the transformation of its iconic ride.
Storytelling – Culture
The Storytelling – Culture award honours excellence in the translation of a story into an engaging visitor experience within the cultural sector.
In first place is the International African American Museum, which is located on the waterfront site that served as the port of arrival for almost half of all enslaved Africans brought to North America in the 18th and 19th centuries. The museum is dedicated to sharing their significant stories and celebrating the rich cultural contributions of their descendants. Exhibit design is by Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA).
Second place goes to DEM Museum’s The Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum in Istanbul, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s most important architectural marvels. Third place is awarded to Guinness Storehouse Ingredients Experience, with concept and ideation by Dalziel & Pow Design Consultants.
Immersive Attraction
This category invites entries from a wide variety of interactive experiences, from dark rides to stand-alone attractions that made innovative use of technology.
First place is awarded to Zootopia: Hot Pursuit at Shanghai Disneyland, a new dark experience that recreates a high-speed police chase through Zootopia. In this project, Walt Disney Imagineering has brought together next-generation media integration, ride technology, and animated figures.
Walt Disney Imagineering also takes second place for Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure at Tokyo DisneySea, while third place goes to PUBG Battlegrounds World Agent, Triotech’s adrenaline-inducing walkthrough attraction.
Sustainability
This category celebrates products and projects designed to reduce an attraction’s environmental impact.
First place is awarded to Turning Super Power into Superpowers at Terra, part of Expo City Dubai, which earned an LEED Platinum certification through optimising energy use and enhancing the surrounding environment.
In second place is Traceless Materials, a circular bioeconomy startup that provides a natural alternative to conventional and bioplastics, and in third place is Climate Resilience Resources for Cultural Heritage, a free online toolkit developed by The Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) in partnership with Environment & Culture Partners (ECP).
Inclusion
For the Inclusion category, applicants were invited to submit projects and designs that ensure everyone can enjoy the visitor experience.
In first place is The World’s First Standing Wave Lift System from EpicSurf at Aquatic Development Group (ADG).
Second place goes to Access For All, a user-friendly app from A4A Designs LLC that provides accessible content for visitors with varying needs. Third place is awarded to 501 Fun’s inclusive darts initiative, The Accessible Interactive Oche.
Blue Sky
In this category, our judges were looking for truly out-of-the-box concepts that have yet to be fully developed or a one-of-a-kind experience. First place goes to Niantic Scaniverse 4, a free and user-friendly technology for the creation of 3D scans.
Second place is awarded to The Mill’s Michelob ULTRA – Lap of Legends, the first-ever real versus virtual F1 race, and third place goes to Imvizar, a unified platform that brings together immersive experiences from across the world.
Splash
Entrants in the Splash category range from water rides to fountains to aquariums. The first-place winner is ProSlide Technology Inc.’s Saifa: The Ultimate Dueling RocketBLAST Water Coaster at Siam Park.
In second place is the Category 6 Waterpark, on Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas. Third place is awarded to Montgomery Whitewater, a model for sustainable, profitable, community-changing development, featuring channel design and engineering by S2O Design – Calibre Engineering.
Themed Environment
The Themed Environment category celebrates excellence in the design and theming of spaces and places to immerse visitors in another world.
The first place award goes to Village Parallèle by Moment Factory, a surreal evening experience at Village Québécois d’Antan.
The second-place winner is dan pearlman Group’s Rhino Pagoda at Berlin Zoo, and third place goes to Merlin Entertainments’ Chessington World of Adventures Resort – World of Jumanji.
Spectacular
Epic shows and spectacular productions are showcased in this category, and include drones, fountain shows, pavilions, acrobatics – and anything with the wow factor.
In first place is Kiss of the Sea from Sun World and ECA2, which brings together architecture, multimedia, technology, and extraordinary live performance.
Second place goes to Viva Vivaldi – The Four Seasons Immersive Concert from Balich Wonder Studio, while third place goes to Disney Electrical Sky Parade at Disneyland Paris.
The public vote and best in show
Attendees at the Festival of Innovation could view all of the award entries and vote for their favourite.
The winner of the Public Choice Award is 360, An Extraordinary Experience from Princess Cruises, and the Best in Show award goes to WDI Bipedal Robotic Character Design and Control.
Blooloop would like to thank all of the sponsors, AREA15, Attractions.io, Christie, Blue Telescope, Holovis, TAIT, Kingsmen Xperience Inc., and Arcade Arena for their support, and congratulate this year’s winners and runners-up.
Attendees of the Festival of Innovation can watch all of the sessions on demand for 30 days. Our Innovation Award website is now live to view all of the entries.
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