The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) has announced the new slate of TEA Thea Awards recipients. The announcement was made during the annual IAAPA Expo in Orlando. The prestigious Recipiency of a TEA Thea Award is considered one of the greatest honours in the themed experience industry.

During the press statement, TEA international board president, Chuck Fawcett, said: “The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) congratulates the new TEA Thea Awards recipients, representing excellence, innovation and leadership in the creation of compelling places and experiences.

“We invite our community to join us in Anaheim at Disneyland Resort for TEA’s big weekend of events April 21 – 23, 2022, to celebrate these achievements at the annual TEA Summit and Thea Case Studies, crowned by the TEA Thea Awards Gala presented by Chimelong.”

Doris Hardoon, themed entertainment leader and executive creative director and producer, was awarded with the Buzz Price Thea Award. The industry veteran will receive the TEA Buzz Price Thea Award for a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements.

Hardoon began her career in the industry in 1975 as a graphic designer at Marine World Africa USA. She was subsequently hired by a series of prestigious themed entertainment venues, including Disney Legends Marty Sklar, Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney Cruise Line, and Disney urban entertainment centres and more.

She went on to become a senior executive creative director, producer, and creative portfolio lead for a number of theme parks and resorts, including Long Beach DisneySea projects.

As executive creative director and producer for Shanghai Disney Resort, Hardoon provided overall creative direction and team guidance which included designers, artists, writers, architects, operators, and consulting partners in developing concepts for specific areas within the theme park.

After 31 years at Walt Disney Imagineering, Hardoon retired and launched her global connections and design consultancy company, DDesign.