Actor James Nesbitt hosted the Association of Event Organisers (AEO) Excellence Awards on 16 June at the Grosvenor House Hotel in front of 1,000 event industry professionals.
Chris Hughes, CEO of Brand Events, was awarded the Outstanding Contribution to the Industry award, which was delivered by broadcaster Chris Evans.
Chris Skeith, chief executive of AEO said after the event: “This year’s AEO Excellence Awards was never going to be anything other than fun. Everyone works so hard throughout the year that, when we get the opportunity to come together to celebrate the amazing achievements of the industry, we make sure we have a fantastic time. Chris Hughes winning the Outstanding Contribution award set the scene for an event full of energy, laughter and celebration. Well done to all of this year’s winners.”
Winners on the day included a mix of AEO members as well as debut winners. Brand Events, Clarion Events, Forest Exhibitions, Media 10, New Scientist and the NEC all took away two awards. Suppliers to the industry, GES, Tembo and Thorns Group, who won the Unsung Hero award sponsored by Circdata, all took home a trophy and five awards went to event venues, with ExCeL London winning Venue of the Year sponsored by Freeman. Clarion Events scooped this year’s Most Respected Company award.
Chris Preston, managing director Freeman EMEA, said: “Many congratulations to all the winners of prestigious awards, and of course to all those that were shortlisted, in a year of a record number of entries. Congratulations to ExCeL London who won the Freeman-sponsored Venue of the Year award.”
The winners of the Freeman Predict the Winners competition were Maya Mhatre from ITE and Charlotte Simpson from Ascential Events.
Martin Clarke, marketing director, NEC said: “There was a real breadth of Award Categories, with strong entrants, many of whom are our customers, so provides us an opportunity to support them.”
Winners
Outstanding Contribution to the Industry
Chris Hughes, CEO, Brand Events
Best Tradeshow Launch
Oliver Kinross – Auckland Build
Best Consumer Show Launch
New Scientist – New Scientist Live
Best Live Event
Alexandra Palace – Alexandra Palace Fireworks Festival
Marketing Campaign of the Year – Consumer
New Scientist – New Scientist Live
Marketing Campaign of the Year – Trade
Tarsus Group – Labelexpo Americas
Organiser Team of the Year
Forest Exhibitions – Automechanika Birmingham
Venue of the Year
ExCeL London
Venue Team of the Year
The NEC Operations Team
Service Supplier of the Year
Tembo
Stand Design and Build Supplier of the Year
Ges
Best Use of Technology
Media 10 – Design Shanghai 2017
Best Conference
Clarion Events – Trauma Innovation
Unsung Hero
Thorns Group – Roger Jennnings
Innovation Award
The NEC – With You Every Step of the Way
Sustainability Award
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre
Best Use of Social Media
Ascential Events – Social Media at Pure London
Best Tradeshow Under 2000
Quartz – Elevate
Best Overseas Tradeshow Over 2,000sqm
Media 10 – Design Shanghai 2017
Best Consumer Show
Brand Events – The London Classic Car Show
Best UK Tradeshow Over 2,000sqm
Forest Exhibitions Ltd – Automechanika Birmingham
Most Respected Company
Clarion Events
