Eventia Awards
in association with C&IT and Event magazines
Category criteria
Event categories
Best event in a public space
This category seeks to recognise excellence in an event of any size created for a public audience and that took place in a public space, whether in the UK or overseas. Please give a detailed explanation of how the event was visualised, produced, staged and executed by the organising team or company. Background to the conception of the event and its promotion should be included. The judges will also like to see evaluation in terms of attendance numbers, media coverage, or other quantifiable measures.
Best celebratory event
This category is open to anniversary celebrations, awards ceremonies, family days, openings, charity fundraisers and other celebratory events run by an organisation for a specific audience. Entries into this category do not need an underlying business strategy. Judges will be looking for examples of impact, creative thinking, logistical expertise and maximum appeal to the target audience.
Best hospitality event
This category is open to any outstanding hospitality package at any type of event including sporting and entertainment offerings. Judges will be looking at value for money, impact and innovation.
Best team-building event
This category looks for the most outstanding team-building event. The judges will need to know about any benefit to people or company performance, so clear objectives and evaluation against objectives are essential. The judges will also focus on guest endorsement and the balance between enjoyment and the benefits of working as a team.
Best product launch (UK/International)
Entrants will need to explain the totality of the project – market background, aims, execution, and results. Due to the complex nature of product launches, several agencies may work together managing different elements of the project. If you have been responsible for the whole or a part of a project please be specific about the scope and extent of your involvement, and please also credit other participating agencies. This is particularly true of overseas product launches when the participation of a DMC may have been important, together with the vetting and appointment of local suppliers.
Best conference (UK/International)
Meetings of any size with a corporate purpose are eligible to enter, including conferences, exhibitions, conventions, incentive meetings, product launches as well as the meetings element of an incentive travel programme. Your description of event content should include format, production, and logistical elements. The judges will be interested to know the relevance of the location to the event’s theme or audience and to see any relevant evaluation and results. They will also expect to learn how austerity measures appropriate to the economic circumstances may have been overcome or turned to the event’s advantage.
Best UK incentive/motivation (UK)
Reasons for the choice of destination or activity should be given along with details of the incentive campaign and qualification process to inform the judges. Agencies entering this category should clarify the extent of their involvement in the campaign and the judges will need to be able to compare the programme’s results with its stated objectives. In cases where detailed numbers are confidential please provide the judges with indications in percentage terms – or highlight commercially sensitive information as ‘not for publication’.
Best incentive/motivation (International)
Reasons for the choice of destination should be given along with details of the incentive campaign and qualification process to inform the judges. Agencies entering this category should clarify the extent of their involvement in the campaign and the judges will need to be able to compare the programme’s results with its stated objectives. In cases where detailed numbers are confidential please provide the judges with indications in percentage terms – or highlight commercially sensitive information as ‘not for publication’.
Best consumer experiential event
This award recognises the creative use of the live medium in boosting awareness, building brand attributes and associations and ultimately creating desire to choose a consumer product or service.The judges will need a brief description of the overall project and specific explanation of the creative idea, its relevance to the communication task and its execution. Whilst the experiential campaign may represent only part of a broader integrated campaign, judges will be particularly keen to understand why the chosen event solution and brand experience were especially powerful in delivering a compelling message to the audience. Any form of consumer facing experiential activity is eligible for this category.
Supplier categories
Event hotel or venue of the year (<250 capacity)
This category is open to any venue that offers corporate event space or accommodation for fewer than 250 guests. The entrant must demonstrate through three case studies how it provides value for money, excellent facilities, a strong support and events team. The judges will be looking for guest and client endorsement, versatility, and package offerings. It is understood that in the case of overseas events more emphasis may be placed on accommodation aspects of a venue, but that this will vary from project to project, quite significantly.
Aircraft, ships and trains can also be entered in this category if they acted as a venue for an event such as an integrated product education cruise, or a presentation onboard an aircraft or train.
Event hotel or venue of the year (250-750 capacity)
This category is open to any venue that offers corporate event space or accommodation for 250-750 guests. The entrant must demonstrate through three case studies how it provides value for money, excellent facilities, a strong support and events team. The judges will be looking for guest and client endorsement, versatility, and package offerings. It is understood that in the case of overseas events more emphasis may be placed on accommodation aspects of a venue, but that this will vary from project to project, quite significantly. Aircraft, ships and trains can also be entered in this category if they acted as a venue for an event such as an integrated product education cruise, or a presentation onboard an aircraft or train.
Event hotel or venue of the year (>750 capacity)
This category is open to any venue that offers corporate event space or accommodation for more than 750 guests. The entrant must demonstrate through three case studies how it provides value for money, excellent facilities, a strong support and events team. The judges will be looking for guest and client endorsement, versatility, and package offerings. It is understood that in the case of overseas events more emphasis may be placed on accommodation aspects of a venue, but that this will vary from project to project, quite significantly.
Aircraft, ships and trains can also be entered in this category if they acted as a venue for an event such as an integrated product education cruise, or a presentation onboard an aircraft or train.
Event destination of the year
Destinations can define theme, moderate budgets, ensure participation or generate excitement. This category will look for the destination which, during the eligibility period, has proved itself to be not just popular, but contributory to the overall success and effectiveness of an event. Event destinations are asked to provide three contrasting examples of how different aspects of a destination’s resources, attractions or skills assist event managers and clients in meeting objectives.
Technical supplier of the year
This category is open to any provider of audio, visual, staging or technical contractor services involved in the production and execution of successful events. Each supplier must show three contrasting case study examples of how it came up with solutions to client briefs and how they were executed. The judges will look for innovation, success and client and guest endorsement.
Creative use of technology
It could be as extreme as allowing the sales director to exit an event in a desert using a personal jet pack; it could be the application of converging LED technology for lighting and vision; or it could be the development or adoption of new event management, passenger care, or technical control software. Whatever the case, the judges will look for evidence of the progressive use of existing and new technology to increase the impact or effectiveness of events or event management.
Creative services supplier of the year
This category is open to an individual or company contributing creative input to elements of the overall look and feel of an event’s environment or execution. For example this could be in the form of an entertainment act or agency, a floral designer, event-theming or prop hire firm, a set designer, video or screen graphics company, etc. Each service supplier must submit three examples of how they provided creative solutions that fitted in with the overall design concepts for three different events. The judges will be looking for innovation, originality and client and guest endorsement.
Planning and logistics supplier of the year
Meticulous attention to detail defines the success of events whether for a multi venue road show or a high profile conference. This category can be entered by any supplier of logistical services and can include overall project logistics as well as specifics such as rigging, provision of crew or any other service that has added to the smooth running of an event, in the UK or overseas. The judges will be particularly interested to learn of any logistical challenges that were encountered and overcome.
DMC of the year
Expert knowledge on the ground at a destination, whether for an Edinburgh-based company wanting to run an event in Plymouth, or for a motor manufacturer wanting to run a product launch over three weeks in the Middle East. There are some outstanding companies in this field and the judges will want to see evidence across three projects during the eligibility period of how a DMC met a client’s aims and objectives and delivered project effectiveness.
Caterer of the year
This category is open to all professional catering teams, whether external or in-house. The entrant must provide three case studies, showing how it increased business through its menu selections, progressive ideas, quality of food, quality of personnel and training and ability to provide catering solutions for an array of different sized events. The judges will be looking for outstanding consistency, creativity and client and guest endorsement.
Special categories
Best integrated event communication campaign
This category can be entered by anyone that has devised a communications strategy around an event that has resulted in a successful increase in participants, attendees or visitor numbers, or met other strategic aims. The judges will be looking for evidence of how the event-linked communications campaign led to the success of the event, as well as creative and innovative thinking in developing the campaign.
Most cost-effective use of a budget
Constrained, small, or ultra hard working budgets are always challenging. In this “credit crunch” era the ability of event management companies and clients to extract optimum value from a budget is paramount. It is appreciated that larger companies have larger audiences and therefore host larger events with seemingly larger budgets. This category looks for cost-effectiveness, so budget parameters are set at a maximum inclusive spend per head of £500.00, thus levelling the playing field for all entrants.
Most effective ROI
This category is open to event projects that can demonstrate achievement of a measurable objective. Entries must define the initial business objectives and give details of the methodology applied to collect data and measure the outcome of the event or programme. Conclusions should show how the event not only fulfilled its objectives, but rewarded its original investment with profits, savings or other quantifiable benefits.
Best corporate responsibility initiative of the year
Entrants must prove through one case study how an event was implemented in accordance with a defined CSR or CR policy. Projects can range from community investment, to ‘give back’ initiatives, or to support for local charities in their communities. Tangible benefits to the communities in which the organisation operates will be taken into account, although the level of resource allocated to the project will not be material in selecting the winner. Projects can also include any event with minimal environmental impact. In these instances, the judges will focus on any environmentally friendly procedures employed, and the materials used. For all CSR and CR projects, the outcome must bear a clear relationship to the strategic objectives set at the outset. Particular attention will be paid to projects that prove effective in reducing an event’s carbon footprint, or which serve as examples to the whole events industry on carbon reduction or neutrality and of sustainability for destinations.
Project management categories
Venue event team of the year
This category is open to all in-venue event teams. The entrant must demonstrate how it has increased business by highlighting the number of events it has organised and managed during the last 12 months, while showcasing its three most impressive. The judges will be looking for the number of guests, length of event, the overcoming of any problems, client endorsement and the success of the event expressed emotionally and empirically. Credit must be given to other participating companies that made the event a success.
In house event team of the year
This category is open to all professional in-house event teams. Entrants must demonstrate how has increased business by highlighting the number of events it has organised and managed during the last 12 months, while showcasing its three most impressive. The judges will be looking for the number of guests, length of event, the overcoming of any problems, client endorsement and the success of the event.
Agency of the year
This award is designed to see agencies of all sizes judged on a level playing field. As such it is open to all event agencies and will be judged on financial improvement, new business growth, innovation and achievement. Agencies should show accounts illustrating increases in event-based turnover in the last year, and submit details of all the new accounts won in the last year and the events these have produced. Also include any relevant supporting material to support the entry – such as staff increases, staff retention, moves to new offices, etc. Entries will be judged in the strictest confidence by an independent panel of judges including: an HR professional, a corporate buyer, and a marketing professional.
Eventia Platinum awards
Outstanding achievement
To nominate a deserved person for this award, please submit the reasons for the nomination, as well as a short biography of the person being nominated. The category is free to enter and multiple nominations are welcome. Nominations should include a summary detailing the nominee’s outstanding achievements and if applicable across their career, outlining the impact they have made in the event sector. Outstanding Achievement Awards are given at the discretion of the Eventia Board and are presented on a case-by-case basis to individuals that have proven their contribution to the industry.
Eventia Platinum Award
The event or programme deemed by our panel of judges to be the best overall business-to-business or business-to-consumer submission will receive the coveted Platinum Award from Eventia, Conference & Incentive Travel and Event magazine.
