The stars of the industry were on show at the weekend as more than 50 finalists were nominated for 28 different awards at Meetings and Events Australia’s (MEA) night of nights, the MEA 2013 National Awards Gala Dinner, held at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
The highly-anticipated annual event provides an opportunity to acknowledge the industry’s high-achievers with awards separated into five categories that recognise individuals, venues, products and services, and organisation management.
This year’s theme, Asia Now, showcased the creativity of some attendees in their choice of costume. Producer, Merri Took, used Malaysian Pop as the inspiration for the stage design. Toby Travanner came back for the seventh year in a row to MC and attendees were treated with a seven-course fusion dinner.
MEA’s Linda Gaunt (centre) with delegates
micenet AUSTRALIA congratulates all of this year’s winners:
Individual Awards
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PERSON OF THE YEAR – Tanya Brown, Business Development Manager at Haycom
EVENT MANAGER OF THE YEAR – Tania Goodacre, Event Manager at Australian Trucking Association
MEETINGS MANAGER OF THE YEAR – Lorraine Di Vito, General Manager at Arinex.
Y MEA FUTURE LEADER – Sam McNeill, Creative Director at Song Division
Destination Marketing Awards
METROPOLITAN DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANISATION – Business Events Sydney, New South Wales. Third consecutive win, inducted into the MEA Hall of Fame 2014-2017
Meetings and Events Organisation Awards
MEETINGS OR EVENTS MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION 8 OR MORE EMPLOYEES – Arinex, NSW.
MEETINGS OR EVENTS MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION LESS THAN 8 EMPLOYEES – Forum Group Events, NSW
IN HOUSE MEETINGS MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT – ASHM Conference and Events Division, NSW
EVENT MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION – Verve Creative Events, NSW
Venue Awards
MEETING VENUE UNDER 500 DELEGATES – MGSM Macquarie Park Executive Conference Centre, NSW
MEETING VENUE 500 DELEGATES OR MORE – Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre QLD
SPECIALTY MEETING VENUE – Doltone House, NSW
SPECIALTY EVENT VENUE – National Wine Centre of Australia, SA
Products and Services
BANQUET & CATERING – Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
TECHNICAL & CREATIVE PRODUCTION – BRANCH TURNOVER more than $5 MILLION – AV1, NSW (pictured)
TECHNICAL & CREATIVE PRODUCTION – BRANCH TURNOVER less than $5 MILLION – Scene Change Tasmania. Third consecutive win, inducted into the MEA Hall of Fame for 2014-2017 (pictured)
TECHNICAL & CREATIVE PRODUCTION – IN-HOUSE AV SERVICES (COMPANY OR DEPARTMENT) – Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.
SUPPORT SERVICES – Lumi, NSW.
EXHIBITION SERVICES – Exponet, NSW. Third consecutive win, inducted into MEA Hall of Fame for 2014-2017
Meetings and Events of the Year Awards
ASSOCIATION OR GOVERNMENT MEETING OF THE YEAR – Australian Trucking Association
CORPORATE MEETING OF THE YEAR – cievents – Woolworths Limited National Conference 2013
SPECIAL EVENT OF THE YEAR – Belle-Laide Events for Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE), NSW
INCENTIVE REWARD OF THE YEAR – cievents – for the Flight Centre Global Gathering Cancun, NSW. Third consecutive win, inducted into the MEA Hall of Fame 2014-2017
PUBLIC EVENT OF THE YEAR (INCLUDING FESTIVALS) – Adelaide Convention Centre, The Cellar Door Wine Festival, SA
CAUSE RELATED EVENT OF THE YEAR – Doltone House for the Biaggio Signorelli Foundation, NSW
Awards for Excellence
Meetings or Events Professional of the Year (highest individual award score excluding Y MEA) – Tanya Brown Business Development Manager – Haycom
Platinum Award (highest score for all submissions except individual) – Adelaide Convention Centre for Public Event of the year – The Cellar Door Wine Festival
Outstanding Contribution Award – This year it was a tie between: Ruth Lilian, Director at L&R Contract Business Services and; Meri Took, Director at Staging Rentals and Construction.
Image courtesy of EventPix – www.eventpix.com.au