More than 900 guests gathered at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., to learn the names of winners in 34 categories. Special Events editor Lisa Hurley presented a special award—Top Event Professional—to longtime event leader Patti Coons, CSEP, of Patti Coons Event Marketing Group, Orlando. Guests ended the evening with dinner and dancing.
The Gala Awards conclude events at the magazine’s trade show, The Special Event, which ran Jan. 8-11.
The Gala winners are:
BEST FAIR/FESTIVAL
City of Garland
, Garland, Texas
BEST INVITATION
Arlene Segal Designs, North Miami Beach, Fla.
BEST DINING TABLE DESIGN
Legendary Events, Atlanta
BEST FOOD PRESENTATION
Someone's in the Kitchen, Tarzana, Calif.
BEST CORPORATE/COMPANY PICNIC
Eclectic Events International, Toronto
BEST OFF-PREMISE CATERED EVENT
Classic World Events, San Jose, Calif., and Chefs Expressions, Timonium, Md.
BEST CATERED EVENT PRODUCED BY A HOTEL BANQUET DEPARTMENT
Eagle Ridge Inn & Resort, Galena, Ill.
BEST FUND-RAISING EVENT
Timot McGonagle, Nashville, Tenn.
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
BEST WEDDING, BUDGET UNDER $500 PER GUEST
Carolyn Dempsey Design Inc., Greenwich, Conn.
BEST WEDDING, BUDGET $500 PER GUEST AND ABOVE
MGM Mirage Events, Las Vegas
BEST MULTIPLE-DAY INCENTIVE EVENT
Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
BEST FLORAL DESIGN
MGM Mirage Events, Las Vegas, and David Tutera, New York
BEST TENT INSTALLATION
Celebration Rentals, Pipersville, Pa.
BEST USE OF LIGHTING
Designs by Sean, Dania, Fla.
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN TECHNICAL SUPPORT
BRAVO! Entertainment, Dallas, and VIP Events, Dallas
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN LOGISTICS
Clear Channel Entertainment Special Events, St. Louis
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EVENT RENTAL SUPPORT
Thorns Group, London
BEST NEW, INNOVATIVE EVENT PRODUCT/TECHNOLOGY
Creations Fantastic, Macon, Ga.
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT AND EXECUTION, ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET UNDER $25,000
Airstar Space Lighting, Orlando, Fla., and T. Skorman Productions, Orlando, Fla.
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT AND EXECUTION, ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET $25,000 TO $100,000
Timot McGonagle, Nashville, Tenn.
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT AND EXECUTION, ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET ABOVE $100,000
Creative Consulting Specialists, Northbrook, Ill.
MOST OUTSTANDING SPECTACLE EVENT
Clear Channel Entertainment Special Events, St. Louis
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL, BUDGET UNDER $50,000
Legendary Events, Atlanta
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL, BUDGET $50,000 AND ABOVE
Someone's in the Kitchen, Tarzana, Calif.
BEST EVENT MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Charles Banfield Productions, Los Angeles
BEST THEATRICAL ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION
Timot McGonagle, Nashville, Tenn.
BEST THEME DECOR, TOTAL DECOR BUDGET UNDER $20,000
Kehoe Designs, Chicago
BEST THEME DECOR, TOTAL DECOR BUDGET $20,000 TO $50,000
An Original Occasion, Los Angeles
BEST THEME DECOR, TOTAL DECOR BUDGET ABOVE $50,000
Designs by Sean, Dania, Fla.
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION, OVERALL BUDGET UNDER $100,000
Distinctive Design Events, Otto, N.C.
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION, OVERALL BUDGET $100,000 TO $249,999
Bravo Productions, Long Beach, Calif.
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION, OVERALL BUDGET $250,000 TO $500,000
Carlson White, Selangor, Malaysia
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION, OVERALL BUDGET ABOVE $500,000
Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
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