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 | |
