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AEO Excellence Awards categories

AEO Awards

The deadline to enter has now passed

The qualifying period is for events that took place between 1st April 2023 and 31st March 2024. 

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE INDUSTRY AWARD

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE INDUSTRY AWARD

The winner of this Award is selected by the AEO Board.

Sponsored by: 

rx

MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR - UK TRADE SHOW

MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR - UK TRADE SHOW

Have you run a trade marketing campaign in the last 12 months in the UK that you are proud of? And more importantly, a campaign that was creative, innovative, compelling and effective? Entry is open to organisers, suppliers and venues within the events industry and the focus should be on creativity vs budget and cover all mediums / routes to market.  

Open to: Organisers, suppliers & venues

Sponsored by:

ExCeL London

MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR - INTERNATIONAL TRADE SHOW

MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR - INTERNATIONAL TRADE SHOW

Have you run an international trade marketing campaign in the last 12 months that you are proud of? And more importantly, a campaign that was creative, innovative, compelling and effective? Entry is open to organisers, suppliers and venues within the events industry and the focus should be on creativity vs budget and cover all mediums / routes to market.  

Open to: Organisers, suppliers & venues

Sponsored by:

asp

MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR - CONSUMER SHOW

MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR - CONSUMER SHOW

Have you run a consumer marketing campaign in the last 12 months that you are proud of? And more importantly, a campaign that was creative, innovative, compelling and effective? Entry is open to organisers, suppliers and venues within the events industry and the focus should be on creativity vs budget and cover all mediums / routes to market.

Open to: Organisers, suppliers & venues

Sponsored by:

SEC logo

BEST EVENT LAUNCH

BEST EVENT LAUNCH

This award is open to all event organisers and events of any size in the UK and internationally; organisers of trade and consumer show, conferences, live events, awards, including hybrid, digital, virtual, omni channel.

We are looking for innovation and originality as well as great customer outcomes and commercial success.

Open to: Organisers

Sponsored by:

nec

 

BEST CONFERENCE

BEST CONFERENCE

The winning entry must be able to demonstrate the overall; integration, innovation, financial success, marketing, communication and attendee feedback.

This award is open to any organiser, venue or supplier of a standalone and/or integrated conference in the UK and internationally.

Open to: Organisers, suppliers & venues

Sponsored by:

cvent

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHOW- EUROPE

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHOW- EUROPE

This award is for event organisers to enter their TRADE or CONSUMER events that take place in Europe.

Open to: Organisers

Sponsored by:

rai

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHOW- AMERICAS

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHOW- AMERICAS

This award is for event organisers to enter their TRADE or CONSUMER events that take place in the Americas.

Open to: Organisers

Sponsored by:

Map your show logo

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHOW- MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHOW- MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA

This award is for event organisers to enter their TRADE or CONSUMER events that take place in the Middle East & Africa.

Open to: Organisers

Sponsored by:

adnec

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHOW - ASIA PACIFIC

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHOW - ASIA PACIFIC

This award is for event organisers to enter their TRADE or CONSUMER events that take place in Asia Pacific.

Open to: Organisers

Sponsored by:

Aztec

BEST SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE

BEST SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE

This award will reward the organisation deemed to be making the greatest advances in operating in a sustainable manner.

Have you made big changes to ensure sustainability is or becomes part of your DNA?

Open to: Organisers, suppliers & venues

BEST DEI INITIATIVE

BEST DEI INITIATIVE

This award celebrates a business that has launched a DEI initiative that has brought about positive change. If you have made DEI changes or commitments you should enter!

Your initiative will have a lasting impact and fundamentally change the way your business operates.

Open to: Organisers, suppliers & venues

Sponsored by:

Manchester Central logo

ORGANISER TEAM OF THE YEAR

ORGANISER TEAM OF THE YEAR

This Award highlights the collaborative nature of event organisation, showcasing objectives and achievements, improved productivity, efficiency and performance.  

Open to: Organisers

Sponsored by:

messe

VENUE TEAM OF THE YEAR

VENUE TEAM OF THE YEAR

National and international venues are welcome to enter this category, which will reward the best venue team, valuing your team achievements against improving service, productivity, efficiency, performance and customer experience. 

Open to: Venues

SUPPLIER TEAM OF THE YEAR

SUPPLIER TEAM OF THE YEAR

This award is for any event team supplier.

We have all had to change and adapt during lockdown and that has resulted in significant change in the way that we have operated as individuals, teams and businesses. 

The award will be judged against objectives and results of your team in terms of service, productivity, efficiency, performance, problem solving.

Open to: Suppliers 

Sponsored by:

dmg

SERVICE SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR

SERVICE SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR

This award is for event suppliers who provide a service to organisers or exhibitors, this can be either a technology or non-tech based service.

This case study led award will be judged against objectives and results in terms of quality, reliability, productivity, efficiency, performance, problem solving

Open to: Suppliers

Sponsored by:

Informa markets

BEST CONSUMER SHOW

BEST CONSUMER SHOW

This Award is aimed at consumer exhibitions that delivered an excellent visitor experience with equally excellent and creative marketing campaigns, proven year-on-year success, coupled with a strong, competitive profile. 

Open to: Organisers

Sponsored by:

Olympia Events

BEST UK TRADESHOW less than 2,000SQM

BEST UK TRADESHOW less than 2,000SQM

Open to any international/UK trade exhibition under 2,000sqm) held in the past 12 months. This Award is judged on stand out content and marketing elements, notable improvements in performance, rebookings, increases in visitor attendance and competitive success. 

Open to: Organisers

Sponsored by:

ges

BEST UK TRADESHOW BETWEEN 2,001SQM - 8,000SQM

BEST UK TRADESHOW BETWEEN 2,001SQM - 8,000SQM

Open to any UK trade exhibition between 2001-8000 sqm) held in the past 12 months. This Award is judged on stand out content and marketing elements, notable improvements in performance, rebookings, increases in visitor attendance and competitive success.

Open to: Organisers

Sponsored by:

Fusion by ClearCourse

BEST UK TRADESHOW MORE THAN 8,000SQM

BEST UK TRADESHOW MORE THAN 8,000SQM

Open to any UK trade exhibition over 8,000sqm held in the past 12 months. This Award is judged on stand out content and marketing elements, notable improvements in performance, rebookings, increases in visitor attendance and competitive success.

Open to: Organisers

Sponsored by:

db schenker

VENUE OF THE YEAR - LESS THAN 20,000sqm

VENUE OF THE YEAR - LESS THAN 20,000sqm

This Award is open to both national and international venues and will focus on the elements that are unique about your facilities, your customer service and support; the visitor experience offered as well as what innovation makes your venue stand out from the rest. 

Open to: Venues

Sponsored by:

pertons

VENUE OF THE YEAR - MORE THAN 20,000sqm

VENUE OF THE YEAR - MORE THAN 20,000sqm

This award is open to both national and international venues and will focus on the elements that are unique about your facilities, your customer service and support; the visitor experience offered as well as what innovation makes your venue stand out from the rest. 

Open to: Venues

UNSUNG HERO

UNSUNG HERO

This Award recognises an individual who has made a significant contribution to a product / team / company etc.  But the nominee should be an individual that would NOT normally receive the deserved recognition for their efforts. 

Open to: Organisers, suppliers & venues

Sponsored by:

Deutsche Messe

INDEPENDENT ORGANISER OF THE YEAR <£2m TURNOVER

INDEPENDENT ORGANISER OF THE YEAR <£2m TURNOVER

We are looking for innovation, originality, great customer outcomes and commercial success. This award celebrates how independent organisers create and develop shows which are at the forefront of their communities.

Open to: Organisers

Sponsored by:

full circle logo

TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AWARD

TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AWARD

This award is for organisers, venues or suppliers who have used technology/multiple technologies to deliver an event between 1st April 2023 and 31st March 2024.

Open to: Organisers, suppliers & venues

Sponsored by:

zing logo

Testimonials

  • A huge thank you for the awards on Friday! It's one of the best awards I've been to in a while! The choice of entertainment was excellent, Dara O Briain was hilarious and it was just generally a brilliantly organised, fun day. Thank you to the whole team for your hard work. You're all fabulous.
    Julia Danmeri
    CEO & Founder, TranslateAble
  • The recognition from AEO means a great deal to us. It reinforces our commitment to providing a premier venue experience that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of our clients and guests. Being acknowledged among our peers in the industry motivates us to continue pushing boundaries.
    Miles Eady
    Head of Events, Roundhouse
  • The day was truly remarkable, and we are sincerely delighted to have received such esteemed recognition for our efforts with the New Futures Network. Winning the Best DEI Initiative Award at such a renowned event, amidst inspiring competition, is an honour beyond words.
    Charlotte Stone
    CEVA Showfreight
  • The AEO Awards is great at bringing the community and the industry all together
    Carolyn Mason
    Director, Experience Staff
  • It is so much fun to have a day out with the industry and to just talk to everyone that loves it and is so passionate about it
    Nico Stanford
    Senior Sales Manager, Olympia London
  • I wanted to congratulate you both, and the wider AEO team, on such a fantastic awards ceremony last week. I have not attended the AEO Awards for several years, and perhaps I forgot just how much of a special day it is… it was incredibly well organised, and it was such a wonderful occasion.
    Ashley Roberts
    Managing Director, CONNECT
  • What a fantastic AEO Awards last Friday; such a buzz and a brilliant afternoon all round. Thank you all for putting on such a fabulous event. What Else Events will be back next year with an even stronger case. For now, being a Finalist is a major achievement in such a competitive category.
    Tim Else
    Founder & Managing Director, What Else Events
  • It was lovely to see you and the team and we had a fantastic night thank you! Everything looked incredible and it was a great event to be part of. Thank you
    Becky Oldham
    Marketing Manager, NEC Group

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