With the IAAPA Attractions Expo going on in Orlando, Florida this week, here is an article about one of the top awards given in the industry – the Liseberg Applause Award.
Since 1980, an amusement park in Gothenburg, Sweden, Liseberg, has given a prestigious award known as the Applause Award. This award is given to the park which “honors a park whose management, operations and creative accomplishments have inspired the industry with foresight, originality and sound business development.”
This award has typically been announced on the first day of the annual IAAPA Attractions Expo, held in Orlando, Florida. It has been awarded every two years. Magic Kingdom naturally won the initial award in 1980. Epcot followed that up in 1986. Hersheypark won the Applause Award in 2000. It was most recently rewarded to Busch Gardens Tampa on November 15, 2016.
List of Applause Award winners
| Year | Park |
|---|---|
| 1980 | Magic Kingdom |
| 1982 | Opryland USA |
| 1986 | Epcot |
| 1988 | Knott’s Berry Farm |
| 1990 | Europa Park |
| 1992 | Efteling |
| 1994 | Universal Studios Florida |
| 1996 | Cedar Point |
| 1998 | Silver Dollar City |
| 2000 | Hersheypark |
| 2002 | Busch Gardens Williamsburg |
| 2004 | Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari |
| 2006 | Islands of Adventure |
| 2008 | Xetulul Theme Park |
| 2010 | Dollywood |
| 2012 | Ocean Park Hong Kong |
| 2014 | Puy du Fou |
| 2016 | Busch Gardens Tampa |
