Below we've listed how you could win an Event Award. Read carefully and click here for more information and contact details.

Grand Prix Award

Exhibition organiser of the year

This category is open to exhibition organisers that have been responsible for producing three or more exhibitions over the past 12 months, which have all exceeded expectations in terms of visitor footfall, revenue and the brief. It will also take into account the year-on-year growth of each of the nominated exhibitions, and visitor feedback in the form of three testimonials for each showcased event. Entrants must provide accurate descriptions and evidence of how they have achieved all of this. It is understood that 2008/9 results may reveal a downturn, but this presents an opportunity for successful organisers to show how they reduced the impact on their exhibitions.

Brand experience agency of the year

This is open to all agencies who have produced three or more brand experience campaigns during the qualification period have exceeded all brief expectations in terms of brand perception, brand sales after the campaign, customer interaction, and bringing the brand to life. Entrants must provide three testimonials for each event showcased, and accurate descriptions of how they have achieved all of the above, specifying success against objectives set and the defined budget.
 
Creative event agency of the year

This category is open to all agencies that have produced three or more creative events in the qualification period that have exceeded all of the brief's expectations in terms of guest feedback, innovation, client satisfaction, brand perception. Events can include after-show parties, film première parties, gala dinners, product launches, Christmas parties, bespoke parties, charity events, award ceremonies, corporate hospitality, private parties and receptions. Entrants must provide accurate descriptions and evidence of how they have achieved all of this, specifying success against objectives set and the defined budget.

Event industry supplier of the year

This category is open to any provider of lighting, audio, visual, technical, staging, theming, rigging, props, staffing, security, trackway, draping, flowers, and furniture and any other supplies to the events industry. Each entrant should provide three examples of how their product or service has enhanced the quality of an event. This should include challenges they overcame, the level of service they provided, the impact of their service or product on the overall look and feel of the event, innovation and value for money, and the value of their website as an online brochure or e-commerce facility. It should also include client endorsement.

Entertainment Agency of the year

This category is open to any agency offering entertainment solutions for events. Each entrant must showcase how three of their acts have enhanced three different events.  The judges will be looking for advance availability of informed content on websites or in printed material, guest/client endorsement, originality, guest interaction and value for money. Entrants must provide accurate descriptions and evidence of how each act achieved this. Client endorsement as to how the agency constructively guided or assisted with decision making will help the judges.

Best international exhibition, brand experience or creative event

This category is open to event management companies, brand experience agencies and exhibition organisers that have organised an exhibition, brand experience campaign or creative event outside of the UK. These events can either be new or international versions of ones already established in the UK. Entrants need to highlight how their event was a success through factors including visitor footfall, brand perception, increase in product sales, client satisfaction, financial success and originality. Judges will also be looking at how organisers overcame any economic or regional problems and how the event exceeded the brief.

Best consumer exhibition

This category is open to any exhibition organiser who exceeded the brief when delivering a consumer exhibition. Entrants will need to demonstrate how the event has exceeded expectations in terms of financial achievements, visitor footfall, originality, sales leads for exhibitors, visitor feedback, and visitor testimonials. Entrants must provide accurate descriptions and evidence of how they have achieved all of this. It is understood that 2008/9 results may reveal a downturn, but this presents an opportunity for successful organisers to show how they reduced the impact on their exhibitions.

Best trade exhibition

This category is open to any exhibition organiser who exceeded the brief when delivering a trade exhibition. Entrants will need to demonstrate how the event has exceeded expectations in terms of financial achievements, visitor footfall, originality, sales leads for exhibitors, visitor feedback, and visitor testimonials. Entrants must provide accurate descriptions and evidence of how they have achieved all of this. It is understood that 2008/9 results may reveal a downturn, but this presents an opportunity for successful organisers to show how they reduced the impact on their exhibitions.

Exhibition feature area

This category is open to agencies, organisers or production companies responsible for creating a specific area at an exhibition, which provided maximum exposure for the client brand, or served as a focal point for the exhibition. Entrants will need to demonstrate how the brief exceeded expectations, how original was the creative, and how the show benefited from this area, or how the area better benefited the client when compared with instead of a traditional type of stand.

Exhibition stand

This category is open to agencies, organisers, production companies or exhibition stand-builders responsible for creating a stand at a consumer of trade exhibition, which exceeded the brief. Entrants will need to demonstrate how this happened through visitor numbers, client endorsement, an increase in brand perception, product sales increase, sales leads generated, and overall financial gain.

Best Launch exhibition

This category is open to exhibition organisers who in the qualifying period have launched a show that has exceeded all expectations. Entrants must demonstrate this through factors including visitor footfall, innovation, exhibitor activity, visitor feedback, originality and positioning in the industry of the show's content. Judges will also be looking at how organisers overcame any economic or regional problems and how the event exceeded the brief.

Creative event of the year

This category is open to event management companies, production companies and creative agencies who have produced a creative event in the qualifying period, which has surpassed all expectations. Entrants must demonstrate how they achieved this through the following factors; creativity; theming; design; entertainment; catering; lighting; overall innovation; as well as client and guest feedback.

Creative event space of the year

This category is open to all types of venues whose event space is primarily used for creative events such as after-show parties, film première parties, gala dinners, product launches, Christmas parties, bespoke parties, charity events, award ceremonies, corporate hospitality, private parties and receptions. Each venue must showcase three different creative events that have taken place in its venue that have exceeded the brief in terms of client satisfaction, guest enjoyment, facilities, venue flexibility and service.

Exhibition venue of the year

This category is open to all types of venues whose event space is primarily used to host exhibitions. Each venue must showcase how it has hosted three different exhibitions during the qualifying period and exceeded the brief for each one with reference to the challenges it faced, the service it provided to the client, it's facilities, and flexibility.

Brand experience venue of the year

This category is open to all types of venues whose event space is primarily used to host brand experience campaigns. Each venue must showcase three different brand experience events that exceeded the briefs, and took place there during the qualifying period. Judges will be looking at the service the venue provided, client satisfaction, flexibility, facilities, and profile of the campaign.

The Green Award

This category is open to all planners and venues in the event industry who have produced or hosted two or more events that have taken large stepsmade great efforts to reduce their carbon activity. Judges will be looking at how the organiser or venues have taken significant steps to making the event industry greener through the use of suppliers selected and policies implemented.

Best Conference

This category is open to conference organisers responsible for producing forums, internal communication events, market place events and company kick-offs. Judges will look for complete conference or internal event solutions and case studies, not just descriptions of audio-visual techniques or meeting space layout. For the purposes of this category, market place events include any event where there is a mix of workshop sessions with one-to-one business meetings.

Best public or outdoor event

This category is open to organisers who produced a public or outdoor event in the qualifying period that surpassed the briefs expectations in terms of press coverage, visitor numbers, measured results, innovation, creativity and client satisfaction. It could be a day's team building using outdoor activities, or a huge public event. The judges will take great account of the context for such an event.

Best brand experience event

This category is open to brand experience/experiential agencies, who have produced a experiential or brand experience event during the qualifying period, which has surpassed all expectations. Entrants must demonstrate how they achieved this through the following factors; brand perception; increase in product sales; successfully bringing the brand to life; press coverage; and attendance levels.

Best brand activity at a festival or public event

This category is open to all brands or agencies acting on behalf of clients involved in creating brand advocacy through event activity at either festivals or public events. Judges will look for evidence of ROI measurement, creativity and success in meeting and surpassing objectives. Entrants must provide accurate descriptions of the campaign supported by visual evidence.

Caterer of the year

This category is open to all external and in-house catering teams. The entrant must show how creativity has resulted in enhanced business via menu selection, progressive ideas, client solutions and endorsements for three different events. Specific client endorsement or trade press recognition will add validity 

Best PR event or stunt

This category is open to agencies, organisers or pr companies that have produced a PR event , pr stunt or guerrilla activity to enhance the profile of an event, or to launch an event, or create clamour for a brand. Entrants should demonstrate how they surpassed the brief; the innovative techniques they employed; the level of press coverage, and the innovation of the event or stunt.
Grand Prix Award

For pictures of last year's awards click this link.