Fully restructured scheme “more accurately reflects the meetings and events industry”.
Meetings and Events Australia has just unveiled details of an overhaul of its national awards program, following a review by a working group comprising representatives from across the events industry.
More than 16 of the award categories have been consolidated, rewritten or renamed. New categories include an Innovation Award, a Social Legacy Award, an award for Unique Event Venue with Accommodation, Creative Design, Education and Training, while there are several awards to highlight Associations, Government and Regional Events.
The previous complex two-part application process has been streamlined into a single submission, with the application period extended into mid-February, so more entries are anticipated than ever before. The qualifying period for the first year of the revamped program is from 01 October 2016 to 31 December 2017 to transition from the previous scheme, while from 2018 the Awards will cover events held within each calendar year.
Alana Hay, chair of the Awards Review Working Group, said the new MEA National Awards Program “more accurately reflects the meetings and events industry, the breadth of the MEA membership and the depth of innovation and creativity that is required to deliver exceptional meetings, events and experiences”.
State finalists and winners will be announced in April at State Awards events to be held across the country, while the winners of the National Awards will be presented at the gala dinner on the last night of the 2018 MEA Conference in Adelaide.
The awards portal is now live at www.meetingsevents.com.au/awards2017 with all the details of the new categories and entry processes.
More details in the next issue of Business Events News.
