European Star Award 2016 - Article

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European Star Award

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SPECIAL This year's European Star Awards 2016 were bestowed on winners at PortAventura World

One of the social highlights at the Euro Attractions Show this year was also the bestowing of the European Star Awards. Already for the 5th time, Europe's leading trade magazine has bestowed these awards, dedicated explicitly to the European theme park industry.

Text:

Frank Lanfer

Photos:

Wolfgang Payer

European Star Award

PortAventura World Jochen Peschel

PortAventura presented a captivating show with a Spanish tone

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T

he winners were voted by an international team

Mexican theme area was festively prepared with

of experts, bringing attention to entrepreneur-

an 80 metres long buffet as well as a sparkling

ial courage and exceptional innovations within the

wine and two cocktail bars for the wellbeing of the

European theme park industry. PortAventura

guests. An excellent show programme with

World, located south of Barcelona, and one of the

Spanish live music and acrobatics were enjoyed

most beautiful and best theme parks in Europe,

by all invited guests tremendously, and loosened

was our choice this year for the event location.

up the atmosphere before the bestowing of the

The largest restaurant in the park was reserved

awards began. As is usual, all five top voted

for the prize awarding – and with the friendly

theme parks and attractions in 13 categories were

support of Park Management – "La Cantina" in the

honoured.

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The winners received exclusive sculptures that

And we also wish to congratulate all other winners

had been previously been handmade from

once more, and wish you all a pleasant and

crystal glass, by one of the world's best glass

successful new 2017 season!

artist companies.

We wish to particularly thank our jury, friends,

Further information about our

For the second time in the history of the European

advertising clients and our main sponsor The

jury members this year as well as

Star Awards we have once again bestowed a

Coca-Cola Company, which without its support,

the prize winners can be found in

"Life-Time Award": On this occasion Sergio Feder

this independent and non-profit award would not

our special award issue, which

received this honour. He has served the field

be possible.

naturally can also be viewed

admirably as President of PortAventura World,

In particular we wish to thank Fernando Aldecoa

online at:

and earlier as long-term CEO of Italy's Gardaland.

(CEO PortAventura), Giovanni Modena (COO

www.kirmesparkrevue.com/esa16

Since almost three decades he has helped

PortAventura) and the whole PortAventura-team

shape two of the most outstanding theme parks

for the friendly support during preparation and

in Europe with his engagement, and led them to

implementation of this year's European Star

success. We take this opportunity to congratulate

Awards.

STAR AWARD ONLINE

â–

him once again.

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PortAventura’s musical star and main singer Patricia Fernåndez led the programme through with KPR Park Editor Frank Lanfer and gave out the prizes

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PortAventura’s Leadership (f.l.): Choni Fernández (Director Legal, Procurement & SCR), Joan Ramon Calanda (Director Finance & HR), Gianfranco Bollini (Director Shows), Sergio Feder (CEO), Giovanni Modena (Director Operations), Arturo Mas-Sardá (Chairman), Fernando Aldecoa (General Manager Operations & Finance), Humberto Moreno (Director Hotels), Alfonso Garcia (Director Safety & Maintenance)

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This year's prizes were awarded after the show programme and the gala buffet. It was the first time this year that all first places were awarded first, followed later in alphabetical order with the park names being called.

The list of all winners can be found in the October edition under: kirmesparkrevue.com/esa16

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Sergio Feder (CEO PortAventura) received the only the second ever "Life-Time Award" this year from Park Editor Frank Lanfer – the first was awarded to Dr. Werner Stengel in 2013

Silvio Kraljevic and Branko Kovacic (Aquapark Istralandia) were distinguised for their Water Parks Francois Fassier (CDA Parks) and Alberto Zamperla receiving the prize for "Discobelix" at Parc AstĂŠrix

Valentine Berger (Aquaparc Le Bouveret) with her prize for the "Houla Hoop" (WhiteWater)

Erwin Linnenbach received the prize for Belantis as being one of the best theme parks with under one million visitors per annum Jan Maarten de Raad (JoraVision) and Francois Fassier (CDA Parks) and the award for "The Time Machine" at Futuroscope

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Dr. Kubilay Alpdogan (Polin Water-

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Efteling won in the category "Best Family Park" and received 3. Place for "Baron 1898"

parks) receiving the prize for "King

from B&M in the category "Best Steel Coasters": Sophie Bolliger (B&M, left) and Frank Bersch

Cobra" at Crystal Waterworld

(Efteling) happy about these successes

Charlotte van Etten (Vekoma)

Europa-Park won in the categorie “Best Theme Parks”, and received further top places for

receiving the prize for Energyland’s

“Arthur” and “Poseidon” – about which manufacturer and operator were equally happy:

“Formula 1”-Coaster

Thomas Köbele (Mack Rides) and Michael Kreft von Byern (Europa-Park)

Sören Kragelund happily received

Among the winners once again in the category "Best Dark Rides" was "Knights Ride

the prize for second best park his for

Tower” at Fantasiana Erlebnispark Strasswalchen: Sascha Borbelj (abc rides) Erich Wagner,

Faarup Sommerland

Sebastian Zopf and Karl-Heinz Grabler (all Fantasiana)

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"Wildfire” (RMC/Vekoma) was honoured

Distinction for "Twister": Peter Osbeck (Gröna Lund),

1. Place for "Colossos” at

as best new coaster: Niclas Palmqvist

Korey Kiepert (The Gravity Group) and Peter Andersson

Heide-Park; Jenna Reverchon

(Kolmarden) and Stefan Holtman (Vekoma)

(Parks & Resorts Scandinavia) receiving the prize

(Intamin) receiving the honour

The world novelty "Ninjago The Ride" at Legoland Billund was also

"Vonkaputous” at Linnanmäki was honoured as one

honoured; the companies concerned from Oliver Pierling and Georg

of the best water rides – Anssi Tamminen (Linnanmäki)

Behriner (ART Engineering) as well as Gabi Salabi (TrioTech)

and Joana Guy (Premier Rides)

Andreas Simonis (Gerstlauer) re-

Liseberg received prizes for "Balder”, "Helix”,

"DiVertical" at Mirabilandia also won

ceiving the prize for "Ninjago" as repre-

and as being one of the best parks: Daniel Lindbergh,

this year; Javier Santiago (Parques

sentative of Legoland Deutschland

Kenneth Berntsson and Sascha Rigling (Mack Rides)

Reunidos) receiving the prize

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Nigloland is one of the top theme parks (in the category of fewer than one

Holiday Park and Plopsaland de Panne also were

million visitors per annum) in Europa, a recognition that Philippe Dinant and

among the winners: Steve Van Camp and Kristof Van

Philippe Gelis very gladly acknowledged

Hove (both Plopsa Group) were thrilled

Never has happened before: two first place attractions in the one category "Best

PortAventura's "Shambala" was honoured once

Family Rides": Thorsten Köbele (Mack) and Michael Kreft von Byern (Europa-Park) for

again as Best Steel Coaster, and rightly so: Sergio

"Arthur” as well as Sergio Feder and Giovanni Modena (PortAventura) for "Ankgor”

Feder (PortAventura) and Sophie Bolliger (B&M)

Acknowledged as one of the best theme

Marina Ernst-Weiderer (Zierer)

1. Place for "Singha” and 1. place for Siam

parks in Europe: PortAventura – here with

with the prize for "Da Voglwuide

Park as Best Water Park in Europe: Christoph

Luis Valencia and Giovanni Modena

Sepp” at Rodlparadies St. Englmar

Kiessling (Siam Park) and Rick Hunter (ProSlide)

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Chad Miller and Korey Kiepert (The Gravity

Thorpe Park occupied a top place with the novelty "Derren Brown’s Ghost

Group) receiving the awards on behalf of Tayto

Train” (Simworx) in the category "Best New Rides”: (f.l.) Gino De Gol, Terry Monkton

Park for "Cù Chulainn” and "Air Race”

and Adam Gray thrilled about the honour

"Vertigo” at Tivoli Gardens won first place in the category "Best

Brothers Roland and Helmut Fischer happy about 1. place

Attractions”: Will Gurley and Jonathan Gress Wright (Tivoli) and Fabio

in category "Best Theme Parks" < 1 million” for their Tripsdrill

Martini (Technical Park)

Erlebnispark

Andreas and Benjamin Fischer (Tripsdrill)

Undoubtedly honoured also due to the unusual setting was "Nefeskesen” at

receiving the prize gladly for the Wooden Coaster

Vialand: Daniel Schoppen (Intamin) and Özlem Mutluer and Cem Tuna

"Mammut”

(Vialand Tema Park)

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