Special event professionals from throughout the world gathered in New Orleans last night for the Gala Awards ceremony, honoring the finest work in special events. The winners were:
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Lena Malouf, Sydney, Australia
View Lena Malouf on winning:
BEST FAIR/FESTIVAL
Event Architects, Chicago
"Rachael's Big Block Party"
BEST INVITATION
Jobe & Associates, Dublin, Ohio
"Costa Rica Exotic Adventure"
BEST DINING TABLE DESIGN
Janet Flowers Wedding & Event Designs, Rockville, Md.
"Luminous Affair"
BEST OFF-PREMISE CATERED EVENT
Culinary Capers Beijing Catering and Special Events, Beijing
"Great Wall of China Luncheon"
BEST CATERED EVENT PRODUCED BY A HOTEL BANQUET DEPARTMENT
Harith Productions, Willow Grove, Pa., and Hilton Reykjavik Nordica, Reykjavik, Iceland
"Country of Contrasts"
BEST FUNDRAISING EVENT
GEM Events, Vienna, Va.
"The Elements of Surprise"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
Event Creative, Chicago
"2008 After School Matters Gala"
BEST WEDDING: BUDGET UNDER $1,000 PER GUEST
About Last Night … Event Planning, Oklahoma City, Okla.
"Sarah Leedy Wedding"
View about Last Night's Bea Penhall on winning:
BEST WEDDING: BUDGET $1,000 AND ABOVE PER GUEST
Xena Productions, Dublin
"Vineyard Wedding"
View Xena Productions' Tara Fay on winning
BEST MULTIPLE-DAY INCENTIVE EVENT
Afilias, Horsham, Pa.
"2008 Afilias Retreat"
BEST MULTIPLE-DAY EVENT PROGRAM FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION
Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
"Press Launch for BMW X6M"
BEST EVENT STAGED IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
The Companies/The Event Co., Munich
"Larger Than Life"
BEST FLORAL DESIGN
Newberry Brothers, Denver
"Wright-Mandel Green Reception"
BEST TENT INSTALLATION
Pleon Event & Sponsoring, Bonn
"250 Years of Man Jubilee Event"
BEST USE OF LIGHTING
Digital Lightning, Kensington, Md.
"From India with Love"
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Richter Scale Productions, Denver
"Conference in the Round"
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN LOGISTICS
ES Group Ltd., London
"Chanel Mobile Art"
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EVENT RENTAL SUPPORT
Town and Country Event Rentals, Van Nuys, Calif.
"A Tropical Dream Destination Wedding"
BEST NEW, INNOVATIVE EVENT PRODUCT TECHNOLOGY
Creative Juice Group, Conshohocken, Pa.
"Living Bars"
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT AND EXECUTION: ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET UNDER $100,000
Eclectic Events International, Toronto
"Holiday Glamour"
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT AND EXECUTION: ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET ABOVE $100,000
Bravo Productions Entertainment, Dallas, and In Good Company, San Ramon, Calif.
"Hot Hot Hot Americas"
MOST OUTSTANDING SPECTACLE
John Donnelly & Associates, Vancouver, British Columbia
"2009 World Police and Fire Games"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL/INDIVIDUALS: BUDGET UNDER $1,000 PER GUEST
Events of Distinction, San Francisco
"A Super Silver Jubilee"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL/INDIVIDUALS: BUDGET $1,000 AND ABOVE PER GUEST
Rogers and Gala Creative Partners, Charlotte, N.C.
"Ali's Rock and Style Collection"
BEST EVENT MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Serviceplan Brandevent, Munich
"The Sony Ericsson Fan Walk 2008"
BEST THEATRICAL ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION
Luminous EMC Ltd., Hong Kong, China
"Audi Q5 Launch"
BEST DECOR: TOTAL DECOR BUDGET UNDER $20,000
E=MC2 Event Management, Calgary, Alberta
"Distinctive Collection Grand Opening Dinner"
BEST DECOR: TOTAL DECOR BUDGET $20,000 TO $49,999
Caravents Inc., Beverly Hills, Calif.
"2009 InStyle Golden Globes Suites"
BEST DECOR: TOTAL DECOR BUDGET $50,000 TO $150,000
AOO Events, Los Angeles
"ACZONE"
View AOO Events' David Merrell on winning:
BEST DECOR: TOTAL DECOR BUDGET ABOVE $150,000
Something New Events, Canfield, Ohio
"Linne's Fashion Week"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: OVERALL BUDGET UNDER $100,000
Jung von Matt Relations, Cologne, Germany
"The Biggest Concert in the World"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: OVERALL BUDGET $100,000 TO $249,999
Welcome Event Marketing, Copenhagen
"The Alpha Take-off"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: OVERALL BUDGET $250,000 TO $500,000
EuroEvents Ltd., Dublin
"BMW 7 Series Launch"
View Euro Events on winning:
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: OVERALL BUDGET ABOVE $500,000
Vok Dams Group, Wuppertal, Germany
"Skoda World Dealers Conference Yeti '09"
PARTY GETS ROLLING
The evening concluded with a gala dinner celebration at the Morial Convention Center. Under the direction of USA Hosts' New Orleans office, the party featured entertainment including trio Bella Rouge, fiddle virtuoso Amanda Shaw and the New Orleans Hornets Mini Drumline and Step.
View the New Orleans Hornets Mini Drumline:
For a full recap of The Special Event, see the March-April issue of Special Events Magazine.
