Categories & Criteria
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 during the eligibility period, 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 achieved all of this.
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 that 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 a minimum of at least one testimonial for each event showcased, and accurate descriptions of how they achieved all of the above. Ideally the events will have been completed for different clients.
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 aftershow parties, film premiere 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 achieved all of this and it would be preferred if the events described were out for different clients.
Event industry supplier of the year
This category is open to any provider to the events industry. Typically products and services include lighting, AV, technical, staging, theming, crewing, rigging, props, staffing, security, trackway, draping, flowers, stand building services, insurance, furniture and health and safety. 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, impact of their service or product on the overall look and feel of the event, innovation and value for money. It should also include client endorsement.
Act of the year
This category is open to any act, speaker, artiste, or entertainer that has performed at more than five events and enhanced the guest or visitor experience at aforementioned events. It is open to independent acts and also to entertainment agencies that wish to put forward one of their own acts or artistes. Judges will be looking for client and guests endorsement, guest or visitor interaction and value for money. Entrants must provide accurate descriptions and evidence of how each act achieved this.
Entrants into this category should prepare a written submission as normal. Judges will then determine a shortlist in stage one of the judging as with the other categories (see judging page). Shortlisted entrants will then be asked to submit DVD footage (max 3 mins) of their showcase act to be displayed on the Awards website. Visitors to the website will be able to view the material and vote online for the Act they feel provides the best entertainment solutions for events.
The winner will be announced along with the other category winners on the night of the Event Awards.
Best international exhibition, brand experience or creative event
This category is open to UK based 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 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.
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.
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 benefited the client 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 or 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.
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.
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.
Event spaces of the year (non-exhibition)
- Small under 300 capacity
This category is open to any venue whose main event space boasts a capacity of 300 or less for any type of event. Venues can range from clubs and restaurants to temporary structures and blank canvas venues. Each venue must showcase how it has hosted three events 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. - Medium 301 – 700 capacity
This category is open to any venue whose main event space boasts a capacity of 301-700 for any type of event. Venues can range from clubs and restaurants to temporary structures and blank canvas venues. Each venue must showcase how it has hosted three events 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. - Large 700+ capacity
This category is open to any venue whose main event space boasts a capacity of more than 700 for any type of event. Venues can range from clubs and restaurants to temporary structures and blank canvas venues. Each venue must showcase how it has hosted three events 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.
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 steps 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 and policies implemented.
Best Conference or Internal Staff Event
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 study, 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.
Teambuilding event of the year
This category is open to all team-building specialists who have created a team-building programme that has exceeded the clients brief in terms of staff relationships, work practice, measured results and productivity amongst the clients’ staff since participation in the programmes. Ideally the organiser would provide a breakdown of the results achieved and at least one client endorsement.
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. Judges will initially create a shortlist of those caterers that they feel meet all of the above. Each of the shortlisted caterers will then be required to replicate these menus in a live tasting session for judges.
Entrants into this category should prepare a written submission as normal. Judges will then determine a shortlist of external/in-house catering teams in stage one of the judging as with the other categories (see judging page). Shortlisted caterers will then be required to replicate these menus in a live tasting session for judges in July where the entrant will provide samples of the food served at the three events showcased in their written entry. The judges will then vote, taking into consideration both the food tasting and the written entry.
The winner will be announced along with the other category winners on the night of the Event Awards.
Best pr event or stunt
This category is open to agencies, organisers or pr companies that have produced a pr stunt to enhance the profile of an event, or to launch an event. 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.
