Special Events Magazine

honored the best work in the special event industry with its Gala Awards at a black-tie ceremony last night at Phoenix Civic Center, Phoenix, on the final night of The Special Event 2002 conference and trade show.

More than 900 guests applauded as awards were handed out in 36 categories. Emotions ran high as Steve Kemble, head of Steve Kemble Event Design, Dallas, accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The winners:

BEST FAIR/FESTIVAL

Jay Howard Events

, Concord, N.C.

BEST BALLOON CREATION

The Balloon House Design Studio

, Flower Mound, Texas

BEST INVITATION

Century Guild Press

, Monrovia, Calif.

BEST DINING TABLE DESIGN

Legendary Events

, Atlanta

BEST FOOD PRESENTATION

Harith Productions

, Oreland, Pa./ Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas

BEST CORPORATE/COMPANY PICNIC

Enchanted Parties

, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.

BEST OFF-PREMISE CATERED EVENT

Patti Coons & Associates

, Orlando, Fla./ A La Carte Catering, Tampa, Fla.

BEST CATERED EVENT PRODUCED BY A HOTEL CATERING DEPARTMENT

Chicago Downtown Marriott

, Chicago/The Meetinghouse Companies, Elmhurst, Ill.

BEST FUND-RAISING EVENT

Legendary Events

, Atlanta

BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

Classic World Events

, San Jose, Calif.

BEST WEDDING, BUDGET UNDER $50,000

Pura Vida Productions

, Annapolis, Md.

BEST WEDDING, BUDGET $50,000 AND ABOVE

Yifat Oren & Associates

, Sherman Oaks, Calif.

BEST MULTIPLE-DAY INCENTIVE EVENT

Harith Productions

/Designs by Sean, Dania, Fla.

BEST FLORAL DESIGN

MGM Mirage Events

, Las Vegas

BEST TENT INSTALLATION

The Stuart Rental Co.

, Milpitas, Calif.

BEST USE OF LIGHTING

Big Wave International

, Roxbury, Conn.

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Charles C. Technical Productions

, Newport Beach, Calif./Creative Technology, Van Nuys, Calif.

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN LOGISTICS

Sensix Communications & Events

, Montreal

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EVENT RENTAL SUPPORT

Austin RentAll Party

, Austin, Texas

SPECIAL EVENTS MAGAZINE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Steve Kemble

, Steve Kemble Event Design, Dallas

BEST NEW, INNOVATIVE EVENT PRODUCT/TECHNOLOGY

Designs by Sean

, Dania, Fla.

BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT AND EXECUTION, ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET UNDER $25,000

TLC Creative Special Effects

, Marina del Rey, Calif.

BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT AND EXECUTION, ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET $25,000 TO $100,000

Sensix Communications & Events

, Montreal

BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT AND EXECUTION, ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET ABOVE $100,000

Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino

, Las Vegas/Best Model Talent & Best Production, Las Vegas

MOST OUTSTANDING SPECTACLE EVENT

Vok Dams Gruppe

, Wuppertal, Germany

BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL, BUDGET UNDER $50,000

Barbara Wallace Weddings

, Corona del Mar, Calif.

BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL, BUDGET $50,000 AND ABOVE

Giants Enterprises

, San Francisco

BEST EVENT MARKETING CAMPAIGN

The Special Event Co.

, London/Cornerstone Associates, London

BEST THEATRICAL ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION

Imagination Entertainment

, San Diego

BEST THEME DECOR, TOTAL DECOR BUDGET UNDER $20,000

MGM Mirage Events

, Las Vegas

BEST THEME DECOR, TOTAL DECOR BUDGET $20,000 TO $50,000

Designs by Sean

, Dania, Fla.

BEST THEME DECOR, TOTAL DECOR BUDGET ABOVE $50,000

Classic World Events

, San Jose, Calif.

BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION, OVERALL BUDGET UNDER $100,000

Extraordinary Events

, Sherman Oaks, Calif./ Delaney Marketing, Dublin, Ireland

BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION, OVERALL BUDGET $100,000 TO $249,999

Extraordinary Events

, Sherman Oaks, Calif.

BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION, OVERALL BUDGET $250,000 TO $500,000

Andersen

, Chicago

BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION, OVERALL BUDGET ABOVE $500,000

Autostadt GMBH

, Wolfsburg, Germany

Look for complete details about The Special Event 2002 in the March issue of Special Events Magazine.