The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) has announced the winners of the Thea Awards for 2008 at the IAAPA Expo event in Florida.

This year’s awards singled out 17 attractions, projects and personalities.

Jack Rouse, founder of Jack Rouse Associates (JRA), was given a lifetime achievement award for his work in the industry, while Sea World in San Diego, California, was handed the Thea Classic Award for its continued development during the 43 years of its operations.

This year’s Awards for Outstanding Achievement were given to 15 winners.

The Shuttle Launch Experience at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, designed by BRC Imagination Arts, was given the award for best themed attraction, while Awakening The Temple Lobby Show at Aztec on the River in San Antonio, Texas, received the award for best attraction with a limited budget.

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at Disneyland Anaheim in California was selected as the best revamped attraction and the best exhibit award went to the Noah’s Ark at Skirball Community Center in Los Angeles.

Only five of this year’s winners came outside of the US. The Generations Center at the Western Wall in Jerusalem was given the best exhibit with a limited budget award; Cosmos at the Castle in Cork, Ireland was handed the best science center award; the best live touring event went to Australia-based Immersion Edutainment and its Walking With Dinosaurs show; and the Peter Pan’s Neverland at Universal Studios Japan was given the best event spectacular award.

TEA is a nonprofit organisation which represents 6,500 creative specialists working in the visitor attractions industry.