Eventia Awards Reviews
Eventia directors Rob Allen and Izania Downie present award to ExCel's Vanessa Cotton
Eventia's vision of being the voice of the event industry was bolstered at its recent Eventia UK Awards which took place amid the grandeur of London’s Hurlingham Club. The ceremony, for over 500 event industry professionals, honoured the UK's most creative, inspirational and innovative events staged during 2007.
The Eventia UK Awards encompassed the best in business-to-business and business-to-consumer events with 11 categories comprehensively covering all event formats. A further nine categories for organisers and service providers including venues, caterers, logistics providers and event management teams while "Best use of CSR in an event" led a list of new categories this year.
Lodestar Events won the coveted Platinum Award for its four-day live Philips Simplicity Event which featured a series of ‘islands’ housing a collection of lifestyle themes set within a 360° theatre. A 110% increase in the number of brand ambassadors was achieved, with 1,600 guests attending the event.
The debut "Outstanding Achievement Award" was awarded to Vanessa Cotton, MD, Conferences and Events at ExCel London exhibition and conference centre.
What they said...
These awards recognise the best and most innovative UK based events in our industry.The quality of the work entered year upon year is testament to the energy and enthusiasm that is driving face-to-face communication to the forefront of marketing strategy.
Eventia champions standards of excellence in the events industry – and I’m particularly proud of our winners tonight as they do represent the best in their class.
Izania Downie - Eventia Executive Director
Jack Morton Worldwide
Jack Morton Worldwide - Gold Award
Category - Public event of the year
Project - The Mayor of London's New Year's Eve
Client - Greater London Authority
The main objective of this celebration was not only to welcome in the New Year, but to promote London as a world-class city raising its profile in the global and domestic marketplace as a tourist destination. We are thrilled that the industry has recognised this iconic event and we're honoured to be part of the team. We look forward to delighting London and the watching world once again with a truly inspiring display this New Year's Eve. Julian Pullan , MD, Jack Morton Worldwide.
DNA Productions
(Pic by Dimitris Theocharis) 
DNA Productions - Gold Award
Category - Best Celebratory Event
Project - The Secret Garden
Client - The British Red Cross
The British Red Cross invited DNA to build on last year’s success at re-inventing the image of its London Ball from a traditional charity ball to an exciting and innovative must-attend party.
DNA's 2005 water theme, H20: The Element of Life, highlighted the client's involvement in disasters including the Tsunami.
This was superseded in 2006 with the theme of The Secret Garden, a magical, lush and organic contrast to the previous year. This theme linked the event and the Red Cross's work by highlighting the effects of climate change and its impact on the response of humanitarian aid agencies. 
We’re delighted to win an Eventia Award for The Secret Garden. The British Red Cross are a fantastic client who give us complete creative freedom when designing events for them. They are incredibly trusting and often let us take them out of their comfort zone to try new things. So it's great to be able to reward that trust with this award.
Matt James - DNA Productions
The Secret Garden (Vanessa Berberian)
ExCel London
ExCel London - Gold Awards for ;
Best Event Venue (over 500)
Event Team of the Year
Outstanding Achievement Award - Vanessa Cotton,
ExCeL London beat off strong competition to win from finalists including Earls Court and Olympia and the Science Museum while Vanessa Cotton's took the new Outstanding Achievement Award.
“This is a fantastic achievement for all the team at ExCeL London and we really are delighted to have done so well. These wins reflect the high service levels, innovation and quality facilities that we constantly strive to deliver.”
Vanessa Cotton, MD - Conference & Events, ExCel London
Smyle
Gold - Supplier of the year: Technical
Silver - Best Product Launch
Silver - Best Hospitality Event
Silver - Supplier of the year: Creative
Silver - Production Agency of the year
Silver - Event team of the year '
We were delighted to hear that Smyle had been short-listed as finalists in six categories. To win six awards exceeded all expectations. What is probably most gratifying of all is the industry recognition of Smyle's versatility. Each category reflected the best of the best in the events industry and it is reassuring that Smyle is making such stunning progress. We are proud that we can offer clients a variety of services - all in-house and to an exceptional standard.
Rick Stainton - Events Director, Smyle
Other Golds awarded ;
•The Conservatory at Chelsea Best Event (under 500)
• The Recipe Catering Firm of the Year
• Maximillion Teambuilding Firm of the Year
• Gallowglass Supplier of the Year: Logistics
• Rise up and join the party
(Blonstein & Associates) Best New Event
• British Red Cross London Ball
(DNA Productions) Best Celebratory Event
• Gaggenau Vario Cooling
and Series 200 product launch
(Penny Jekyll) Best Product Launch
• Kaupthing Corporate Hospitality
(Lunch Communications) Best Hospitality Event
• (Lodestar Events) Best Conference
• Lloyds TSB Stars in Their Eyes
(Conference Connections) Best Incentive/Motivational Event
• BI at Southwood School
(BI) Best Event Demonstrating CSR
• KPMG Live
(TRO) Most Effective Delivery of ROI
• Heritage and Innovation
(Sheffield Hallam University
Corporate Events Team) Most Creative Use of a Small Budget
RK