The new business events categories are Best Association Event, Best Incentive Event, Event Hotel of the Year, Exhibition Services or Event Build Company of the Year and In-House Event Team of the Year.
There is also a sixth new category for destination marketing organisations that could be entered by both bureaux and local or state destination marketing bodies.
The new categories fill the gap left by the likely end of Meetings and Events Australia’s awards program, with the association going into administration last week.
The additional awards also mean the Australian Event Awards now strike more of a balance between categories for public events – for which there is no other awards program in Australia – and those for business and corporate events. The Australian Event Awards remains the only open entry awards program for the events industry in Australia.
Existing business events categories include those for large and small conferences, brand events, corporate events and exhibitions, alongside company awards for corporate event organisers and PCOs.
Business events are also eligible to enter Best Small Event, Best New Event, Best Regional Event and Best Small Regional Event.
Alongside this, there are several supplier categories in which those who service public or business events can put their best work forward, including for production, hire, styling and catering company awards and achievement awards for technical achievements, marketing and communication, design and the best international event work.
The public event categories remain largely unchanged for 2025, with the likes of Best Sporting Event, Best Tourism Event, Best Charity or Cause Related Event, Best Cultural, Arts or Music Event and Best Community Event all back for another year.
“We couldn’t be more excited to see the incredible work our industry has produced,” said co-chair of the Event Awards judging panel, Peter Rix AM.
In total, there are 34 categories open for entry, with winners of these categories then vying for a trio of headline awards, including Australian Event of the Year, Event Management Company of the Year and Event Supplier of the Year.
The winners of all categories, including the headline awards, are determined through two rounds of judging by a judging panel of industry leaders.
“Our judging panel of over 30 independent experts also gives entrants the chance to receive meaningful feedback and benchmarking to support continued excellence,” said Event Awards managing director Ian Steigrad.
Entries for the awards opened today and close on July 28.
Shortlisted nominees will be announced on August 18 with national winners announced in October in Coffs Harbour where the Australian Event Awards ceremony and the Australian Event Symposium will be held between October 13 and 15.
