The brightest stars in special events took the stage Friday night at L.A.'s renowned Shrine Auditorium--longtime site of the Academy Awards ceremonies--to accept the coveted Gala Award. Winners in 35 categories were chosen after five rounds of judging by the Special Events Magazine Advisory Board.
A WONDERFUL LIFE
Also honored with the Gala Award for Lifetime Achievement was Joann Roth-Oseary, founder of caterer Someone's in the Kitchen, Tarzana, Calif., for her superior work in special events and ongoing philanthropy.
The winners appear below:
BEST FAIR/FESTIVAL
JHE Production Group, Concord, N.C.
"Food Lion Speed Street"
BEST INVITATION
Jobe and Associates, Dublin, Ohio
"NFS Huntington Beach Invitation"
BEST DINING TABLE DESIGN
High Rise Events, Las Vegas
"April Showers Bring May Flowers"
BEST OFF-PREMISE CATERED EVENT
Someone's in the Kitchen, Tarzana, Calif.
"Chernick Bar Mitzvah"
BEST CATERED EVENT PRODUCED BY A HOTEL BANQUET DEPARTMENT
Harith Productions Ltd., Willow Grove, Pa.,
and The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Naples, Fla.
"Everglades Elegance"
BEST FUNDRAISING EVENT
Hala Events & Communications, Toronto
"An Enchanted Evening"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
Alison Silcoff Events, Montreal
"The Daffodil Ball"
BEST WEDDING: BUDGET UNDER $500 PER GUEST
Events of Distinction, San Francisco
"That's Amore Wedding"
BEST WEDDING: BUDGET $500 AND ABOVE PER GUEST
Designs by Sean, Dania, Fla., and Weddings Unique, Winter Park, Fla.
"Fairy Tales Do Come True"
BEST MULTIPLE-DAY INCENTIVE EVENT
Harith Productions Ltd., Willow Grove, Pa., and Designs by Sean, Dania, Fla.
"Alaska and Yukon Expedition"
BEST MULTIPLE-DAY EVENT PROGRAM FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION
Circ Corporate Experience, Wiesbaden, Germany, and EON Energie, Munich, Germany
"Group Conference 2005"
BEST EVENT STAGED IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
Los Angeles Party Designs, Los Angeles
"The Fruits of our Success"
BEST FLORAL DESIGN
Designs by Sean, Dania, Fla.
"Fairy Tales Do Come True"
BEST TENT INSTALLATION: TENT BUDGET UNDER $75,000
Harlequin Marquees and Event Services, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
"Nokia Phone Launch"
BEST TENT INSTALLATION: TENT BUDGET $75,000 AND ABOVE
De Boer Vinings, Austell, Ga.
"The Drive"
BEST USE OF LIGHTING
Total Event Resources, Schaumburg, Ill.
"Big Build-Integrate-Grow"
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN TECHNICAL SUPPORT
LD Systems, Houston
"Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo"
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN LOGISTICS
Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
"CEMEX: Leona Vicario School Renovation Event"
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EVENT RENTAL SUPPORT
ASI Production Services, Orlando, Fla.
"2006 Georgia Power Leadership Forum"
BEST NEW, INNOVATIVE EVENT PRODUCT/TECHNOLOGY
Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
"CEMEX Executive Conference 2005: The Memento"
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT AND EXECUTION: ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET UNDER $25,000
Total Event Resources, Schaumburg, Ill.
"Abbott HR Worldwide Conference"
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT AND EXECUTION: ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET $25,000 TO $100,000
Wilkinson Rhodes, San Antonio
"An Evening of Asian Splendors"
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT AND EXECUTION: ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET ABOVE $100,000
Sensix Communications and Events, Montreal
"Team Vaccination Launch"
MOST OUTSTANDING SPECTACLE
JHE Production Group, Concord, N.C.
"NASCAR Nextel Pit Crew Challenge"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL: BUDGET UNDER $500 PER GUEST
Mitchell's Catering & Events, Raleigh, N.C.
"Mason Bat Mitzvah"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL: BUDGET $500 AND ABOVE PER GUEST
Someone's in the Kitchen, Tarzana, Calif.
"Indulge"
BEST EVENT MARKETING CAMPAIGN
XA: The Experiential Agency, New York
"2005 Real Simple Holiday Solutions"
BEST THEATRICAL ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION
Vok Dams Group, Wuppertal, Germany
"Lancome Award Show"
BEST THEME DÉCOR: TOTAL DÉCOR BUDGET UNDER $20,000
High Rise Events, Las Vegas
"April Showers Bring May Flowers"
BEST THEME DÉCOR: TOTAL DÉCOR BUDGET $20,000 TO $50,000
Total Event Resources, Schaumburg, Ill., and Timot McGonagle, Nashville, Tenn.
"Chrome"
BEST THEME DÉCOR: TOTAL DÉCOR BUDGET ABOVE $50,000
EventWorks, Los Angeles
"Spice Market"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: OVERALL BUDGET UNDER $100,000
Harith Productions Ltd., Willow Grove, Pa., and Designs by Sean, Dania, Fla.
"Alaska and Yukon Expedition"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: OVERALL BUDGET $100,000 TO $249,999
Total Event Resources, Schaumburg, Ill.
"The Ambitious Race"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: OVERALL BUDGET $250,000 TO $500,000
EventWorks, Los Angeles
"The Dream Park"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: OVERALL BUDGET ABOVE $500,000
MGM Mirage Events, Las Vegas
"L'Affaire"
