28 May, 2015

Who’s the best in the business of meetings and events?

Hundreds of attendees flocked to Hamilton Island to attend this year’s National Meetings & Events (MEA) Awards gala, which celebrated more than 80 finalists across 38 categories.

Among the big winners included the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) which took home two awards, ‘Banqueting and Catering’ and ‘In-house AV Services’, both for the second consecutive year at MEA’s annual conference.

“With MCEC’s expansion confirmed by the Victorian Government in the recent State Budget, it’s encouraging to know that we are ranked amongst the best in Australia,” MCEC chief executive, Peter King said.

The Star Event Centre was awarded best Speciality Event Venue, which it said was a “significant milestone” for the centre marking the first national MEA win since opening in January 2013.

Other winners included IHG managed Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, which took home Best Meeting Venue – Under 500 Delegates. The win adds to the resort’s big year of developments following its opening of the largest conferencing space in NSW in late January, the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley Conference and Events Centre.

“We have seen huge demand for business events, as many companies are drawn to the tailored service, state of the art audio visual and the integrated conference and resort facilities. In addition, the Resort’s location in the renowned wine country region is perfectly situated to inspire delegates and ensure a successful event,” General manager, Robert Coates said.

The gala event also inducted new delegates into the MEA Hall of Fame, including Arinex, which won Meetings and Events Management Organisation (8 or more employees) for the third year running.

The full list of MEA Award winners are below.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PERSON OF THE YEAR Christine KotsisExpoNet
EVENT MANAGER OF THE YEAR Liz Williamson Department of Education, Training and Employment, Programs and Events Unit, CEP
MEETINGS MANAGER OF THE YEAR Julie McGraw GEMS Event Management
OPERATIONS PERSON OF THE YEAR Michael Davey Microhire-VIC
Y MEA FUTURE LEADER Ashleigh Moore Lumi NSW
	Destination Marketing Awards
REGIONAL DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANISATION Business Events Geelong
	Meetings and Events Organisation Management Awards
MEETINGS & EVENTS ORGANISATION 8 OR MORE EMPLOYEES Arinex Pty Limited
MEETINGS & EVENTS ORGANISATION LESS THAN 8 EMPLOYEES Verve Creative Events
IN-HOUSE MEETINGS MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT ASHM Conference and Events Division
EVENT MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION Verve Creative Events
	Venue Awards
MEETING VENUE – UNDER 500 DELEGATES Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley
MEETING VENUE – 500 DELEGATES OR MORE Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
SPECIALTY MEETING VENUE Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority
SPECIALTY EVENT VENUE The Star Event Centre
	Products & Services Awards
BANQUET & CATERING Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
EXHIBITION SERVICES Adelaide Expo Hire Pty Ltd
SUPPORT SERVICES Arinex Technology
TECHNICAL & CREATIVE PRODUCTION: BRANCH TURNOVER < $5 MILLION Scene Change Adelaide Pty Ltd
TECHNICAL & CREATIVE PRODUCTION: BRANCH TURNOVER > $5 MILLION AV1
IN-HOUSE AV SERVICES (COMPANY OR DEPARTMENT) Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
	Meetings and Events of the Year Awards
ASSOCIATION OR GOVERNMENT MEETING OF THE YEAR Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre – The Group of Twenty (G20) Leaders Summit
EXHIBITION OF THE YEAR Tourism Australia – ATE
PUBLIC EVENT OF THE YEAR (INCLUDING FESTIVALS) Adelaide Convention Centre –The 2014 Cellar Door Wine Festival-Adelaide
SPECIAL EVENT OF THE YEAR Belle-Laide Events Pty Ltd –ATE 14 Farewell Event
CORPORATE MEETING OF THE YEAR TAFE Queensland Brisbane – TAFE Queensland Brisbane’s Graduation Ceremony
	Awards for Excellence
NATIONAL MEETINGS OR EVENTS PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR Christine Kotsis ExpoNet
PLATINUM AWARD Scene Change Adelaide Pty Ltd
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD Jim Delahunty ExpoNet
	Education Award
CATEGORY A (1-5 EMPLOYEES) Crunch Events and Catering
CATEGORY B (6-30 EMPLOYEES) Department of Education, Training and Employment, Programs and Events Unit, CEP
CATEGORY C (MORE THAN 30 EMPLOYEES) Tourism Australia
CATEGORY C (MULTI-SITES) Arinex Pty Ltd
IN-HOUSE MEETING MEMBER ASHM Conference and Events Division
	Corporate Social Responsibility Awards
CATEGORY A (1-5 EMPLOYEES) Crunch Events and Catering
CATEGORY B (6-30 EMPLOYEES) Business Events Sydney presents ‘105th Rotary International Convention, Sydney 2014’
CATEGORY C (MORE THAN 30 EMPLOYEES) Tourism Australia
CATEGORY C (MULTI-SITES) Intercontinental Adelaide
IN-HOUSE MEETING MEMBER ASHM Conference and Events Division

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Hamilton Island MEA National MEA Awards