Special Events magazine today announces the nominees for the 2016 Gala Awards, the oldest and most prestigious award in events. This year, the magazine received entries from nine countries; the nominees were chosen by members of the Special Events Advisory Board.
The winners will be named at a gala celebration on Jan. 14 at The Special Event in Orlando, Fla.
BEST FAIR/FESTIVAL
Concept Communications, Hong Kong
"Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival"
National Archives, Washington
"July Fourth at the National Archives"
Showorks Inc., Tampa, Fla.
"St. Joseph's Hospital South Grand Opening"
BEST INVITATION
Dragonfly Custom Design, Orlando, Fla.
"π r (shared) = An Ultimate Pi Day Party"
Hannah Handmade, Evanston, Ill.
"Aiden and Chloe's Wonderland
Wilkinson Rhodes, San Antonio
"Take a Seat at the Tobin"
BEST DINING TABLE DESIGN
Fiore Dorato International, Frisco, Texas
"An Affair to Remember"
Jobe and Associates, Dublin, Ohio
"Family Game Night"
Showorks Inc., Tampa, Fla.
"Hobo Chic"
BEST OFF-PREMISE CATERED EVENT
Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth, Montreal
"Bal Annuel Musee D'Arts Contemporain"
Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth, Montreal
"The Daffodil Ball"
MGM Resorts Event Productions , Las Vegas, and Occasions Caterers, Washington
"Masterpiece Meal"
BEST CATERED EVENT PRODUCED BY A HOTEL BANQUET DEPARTMENT
Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth, Montreal
"The Daffodil Ball"
The Peninsula Chicago, Chicago
"Introducing Luxury Redefined"
The Venetian | Palazzo Hotel, Las Vegas, and Destinations by Design, Las Vegas
"The Grand Banquet"
BEST FUNDRAISING EVENT
Alison Silcoff Events, Montreal
"The Daffodil Ball"
Incredible Artists Ltd., Askrigg, North Yorkshire, England
"A Very Venetian Masquerade Ball"
Tolo Events, Seattle
"First Fifty Gala"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
Chromis Event Strategies, Washington
"Fifth Annual Build the Center Benefit"
Future Affairs Productions, Pawtucket, R.I., and Lifespan Development, Providence, R.I.
"Journey to the Serengeti"
Hello! Destination Management, Orlando, Fla.
"Give Kids the World Black and White Gala: Big Top Ball"
BEST WEDDING: BUDGET UNDER $1,000 PER GUEST
Euro Events, Dublin
"Rustic Fairy Tale"
Weddings Unique, Orlando, Fla.
"A Meant to Bee Wedding"
Wilkinson Rhodes, San Antonio
"Storybook Beginning"
BEST WEDDING: BUDGET $1,000 AND ABOVE PER GUEST
High Rise Events, Westlake Village, Calif.
"Wedding Love Affair to a Midnight Carnival Extraordinaire"
Kristin Banta Events, Studio City, Calif.
"Elegant Garden Fete"
Kristin Banta Events, Studio City, Calif.
"Ojai Summer Wedding"
BEST MULTIPLE-DAY INCENTIVE EVENT
Jobe and Associates, Dublin, Ohio
"Senior Partner Trip"
MotivAction, Minneapolis
"2015 Circle of Excellence Program"
POP Kollaborative, Calgary, Alberta
"President's League"
BEST MULTIPLE-DAY EVENT PROGRAM FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION
Hagen Invent and Co., Dusseldorf, Germany
"International Media Launch 2015 of BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer"
MGM Resorts Event Productions, Las Vegas
"REMA 1000"
Newport Hospitality, Newport, R.I.
"Volvo Ocean Race Newport"
BEST EVENT STAGED IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
Avantgarde, Cologne, Germany
"Rally the World"
EventMaker Marketing and Communication Co., Beijing
"Cat Hero Challenge Campaign"
Vok Dams, Wuppertal, Germany
"Lipton City Slide"
BEST FLORAL DESIGN
Fiore Dorato International, Frisco, Texas
"The Merge Event: When Floral Glamour Meets High Fashion"
The Precious Moment, Beijing
"Cinderella in Bloom"
Wilkinson Rhodes, San Antonio
"Storybook Beginning"
BEST TENT INSTALLATION
Arena Americas, Oak Creek, Wis.
"New Jersey Wedding"
EventQuip, Lansdale, Pa.
"Penn Medicine 250th Celebration"
Stagg and Friends, Dusseldorf, Germany
"125 Years of Pfeiffer Vacuum"
BEST USE OF LIGHTING
Got Light, San Francisco
"Chinese New Year Gala"
Got Light, San Francisco
"San Francisco Ballet Gala"
PTE Productions, Orlando, Fla., and Hello! Destination Management, Orlando, Fla.
"MGXFY 16 Final Night Concert"
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Brite Ideas, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., and Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
"The Grand Opening of Downtown Summerlin"
PRG Canada, Toronto
"Pan Am/Para Pan Am Live Sites"
Fifth Element Group, Toronto
"Leading Men Gala"
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN LOGISTICS
Boom Goes the Drum, Calgary, Alberta
"Beakerhead's The Periodic Table"
Creative Backstage, Phoenix
"Wet Electric"
EventWorks, Los Angeles
"Bridge to Success"
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EVENT RENTAL SUPPORT
Arena Americas, Oak Creek, Wis.
"U.S. Open Championship"
Blueprint Studios, South San Francisco, Calif.
"Levi's Stadium Corporate Holiday Party"
Event Source, Cleveland
"UH Annual Gala"
BEST NEW, INNOVATIVE EVENT PRODUCT/TECHNOLOGY
Bart Kresa Design, Santa Monica, Calif.
"Shogyo Mugo"
Go West Creative, Nashville, Tenn.
"Spoken Cinema"
Insglueck Gesellschaft für Markeninszenierung, Berlin
"Hannover Messe 2015"
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT AND EXECUTION: ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET UNDER $25,000
Alison Silcoff Events, Montreal
"The Daffodil Ball"
Event Show Productions, Tampa, Fla.
"Sync Like a Star"
Joke Event, Bremen, Germany
"Summer Camp"
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT AND EXECUTION: ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET $25,000 TO $100,000
Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks, Calif., and Kaboom Entertainment, North Hollywood, Calif.
"The Grand Opening of Downtown Summerlin"
Hala Events and Communications, Toronto
"The Book Lover's Ball 10th Anniversary"
Insglueck Gesellschaft für Markeninszenierung, Berlin
"Investment Aktuell 2015"
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT AND EXECUTION: ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET ABOVE $100,000
EventWorks, Los Angeles
"Bridge to Success"
Hello! Destination Management, Las Vegas
"Eclipse"
MGM Resorts Event Productions, Las Vegas
"Back to the Beach"
MOST OUTSTANDING SPECTACLE
Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
"The Grand Opening of Downtown Summerlin"
Hello! Destination Management, Orlando, Fla.
"MGXFY 16 Final Night Concert"
KMS Blackspace, Munich, and Marbet, Kunzelsau, Germany
"Audi TT 360"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL: BUDGET UNDER $1,000 PER GUEST
Designs by Sean, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
"A 50th Birthday Celebration Gallery Eleven Eleven"
Something New Events, Canfield, Ohio
"To Life: A Celebration"
Wilkinson Rhodes, San Antonio
"Sinners and Saints"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL: BUDGET $1,000 AND ABOVE PER GUEST
Fifth Element Group, Toronto
"Catenacci Christmas"
Kristin Banta Events, Studio City, Calif.
"Carnival Freak Show Halloween"
MB Events, Montreal
"Mondrian Theme"
BEST EVENT MARKETING CAMPAIGN
High Rise Events, Westlake Village, Calif.
"JAFRA Beauty Emporium to Taking the Show on the Road"
Matt Circus, Cologne, Germany
"100 Years of Maybelline New York"
MotivAction, Minneapolis
"CEO Sales Club"
BEST THEATRICAL ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION
Entertainment Plus Productions, Los Angeles
"Beachbody 2015 Summit"
Insglueck Gesellschaft für Markeninszenierung, Berlin
"Investment Aktuell 2015"
MGM Resorts Event Productions, Las Vegas
"Convention Industry Council"
BEST DECOR: TOTAL DECOR BUDGET UNDER $50,000
POP Kollaborative, Calgary, Alberta, and Decor and More, Oakville, Ontario
"Cocktail Mountaineering"
The Precious Moment, Beijing
"A Walk in Nature"
White Lotus Productions, San Diego, and Bridal Stop and Events, San Diego
"Tim Burton Wedding"
BEST DECOR: TOTAL DECOR BUDGET $50,000 TO $99,999
Alison Silcoff Events, Montreal, and Décor and More, Oakville, Ontario
"The Daffodil Ball"
Mosaic Catering + Events, Richmond, Va.
"Road to China Gala"
The Precious Moment, Beijing
"Cinderella in Bloom"
BEST DECOR: TOTAL DECOR BUDGET $100,000 TO $250,000
FOS Decor Center, Toronto, Ontario
"Emily in Wonderland"
Hello! Destination Management, Las Vegas
"Steampunk Empire"
Kristin Banta Events, Studio City, Calif.
"Carnival Freak Show Halloween"
BEST DECOR: TOTAL DECOR BUDGET ABOVE $250,000
Destination Concepts Inc., San Diego
"New Orleans from the Ground Up"
Raymond Ramsay and Associates, Orlando, Fla.
"Club Qwinn wINNing Event"
Vok Dams, Wuppertal, Germany
"Volkswagen Financial Drive"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: OVERALL BUDGET UNDER $100,000
Joke Event, Bremen, Germany
"Summer Camp"
Senik Evenements, Montreal-Est., Quebec
"New Tesla Montreal Store Opening"
POP Kollaborative, Calgary, Alberta
"Cocktail Mountaineering"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: OVERALL BUDGET $100,000 TO $249,999
Hello! Destination Management, Washington
"Gaylord CPC"
Kuoni Destination Management, Las Vegas, and White Lotus Productions, San Diego
"Vintage Circus"
Wilkinson Rhodes, San Antonio
"Life at the Top"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: OVERALL BUDGET $250,000 TO $500,000
Elias Events, Houston
"Cirque du Chevron"
Incredible Artists Ltd., Askrigg, North Yorkshire, England
"A Very Venetian Masquerade Ball"
MGM Resorts Event Productions, Las Vegas
"Convention Industry Council"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: OVERALL BUDGET ABOVE $500,000
Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
"The Grand Opening of Downtown Summerlin"
Hagen Invent and Co., Dusseldorf, Germany
"International Media Launch 2015 of BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer"
Showtime Events, New Delhi
"Launch of the New Mini: The New Original"
