The winners of the Gala Awards—the most prestigious award in special events—were named last night at The Special Event 2012, held at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla. The black-tie evening capped off the week of seminars and showcasing events.
The winners were chosen by members of the Special Events Advisory Board from a pool of entries representing event experts based in Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Russia, Spain and the United States.
The Galas have been awarded since 1986 and represent the pinnacle in special events.
Veteran event producer Paul Creighton, CSEP, of T. Skorman Productions in Orlando, Fla., received the Gala Award for Lifetime Achievement in recognition of his years of contributions to professionalism in special events.
The Gala winners:
BEST FAIR/FESTIVAL
CSI-Capitol Services Inc., Falls Church, Va.
"It's Cool to be a Geek"
BEST INVITATION
Hannah Handmade, Evanston, Ill.
"National Stationery Show 2011/Paper Power"
BEST DINING TABLE DESIGN
The Precious Moment Beijing Ltd., Beijing
"Cindy Chao Black Label Unveiling Exhibition"--See this design here
BEST OFF-PREMISE CATERED EVENT
JDK Group, Camp Hill, Pa. , and TOLO Events, Renfew, Pa.
"Pennsylvania Governor's Inaugural Ball"
BEST CATERED EVENT PRODUCED BY A HOTEL BANQUET DEPARTMENT
The Peninsula Chicago, Chicago
"The Peninsula 10-Year Party"
BEST FUNDRAISING EVENT
Signature Events, New Orleans
"Liuzza Palooza 2011"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
Cava Rose, Montreal
"Create Your Night"--See this event here
BEST WEDDING: BUDGET UNDER $1,000 PER GUEST
KBY Designs, Rishon Lezion, Israel
"Wedding in a Field of Barley"--See this wedding here
BEST WEDDING: BUDGET $1,000 AND ABOVE PER GUEST
Rentals Unlimited, Stoughton, Mass.
"A Wedding Extraordinaire"--See this wedding here
BEST MULTIPLE-DAY INCENTIVE EVENT
Harith Productions, Willow Grove, Pa., and Ovation DMC, Dublin
"Embrace the Emerald Isle"
BEST MULTIPLE-DAY EVENT PROGRAM
Welcome Event Marketing, Copenhagen
"Danisco Business Forum 2011"
BEST EVENT STAGED IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
E=MC2 Event Management, Calgary, Alberta
"One Power"
BEST FLORAL DESIGN
A Legendary Event, Atlanta
"Love in the Big Easy"
BEST TENT INSTALLATION
EventQuip, Lansdale, Pa.
"Miracle on Fifth Street"
BEST USE OF LIGHTING
Brite Ideas, Foothill Ranch, Calif., and Megavision Arts, Santa Monica
"Los Angeles County Museum of Art Resnick Pavilion Gala Opening"
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN TECHNICAL SUPPORT
EventWorks, Los Angeles
"Solutions: Spirit of the Entrepreneur"
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN LOGISTICS
Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
"Produced by Conference 2011"
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EVENT RENTAL SUPPORT
Marquee Tents, Austin
"Austin City Limits Music Festival"
BEST NEW, INNOVATIVE EVENT PRODUCT/TECHNOLOGY
DaVinci Fusion, San Francisco, and In Good Company, San Ramon, Calif.
"15 Minutes of Fame"
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT: BUDGET UNDER $25,000
Designs by Sean, Dania, Fla., and The Special Event Company, Durham, N.C.
"Mint Museum Opening"
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT: BUDGET $25,000 TO $100,000
Alison Silcoff Events, Montreal
"The Daffodil Ball"--See this event here
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT: BUDGET ABOVE $100,000
Insgluck Event Marketing, Berlin
"International Opening Ceremony Hannover Fair 2011"
MOST OUTSTANDING SPECTACLE
Vok Dams Group, Wuppertal, Germany
"Skoda World Dealer Conference"
BEST EVENT FOR PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL: BUDGET UNDER $1,000 PER GUEST
Someone's in the Kitchen, Tarzana, Calif.
"Big 'B' Retirement Party"
BEST EVENT FOR PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL: BUDGET $1,000 AND ABOVE PER GUEST
KBY Designs, Rishon Lezion, Israel
"All the World's a Stage"
BEST EVENT MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Global Events Group, Madrid
"Malaga, Capital of Cinema"
BEST THEATRICAL ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION
Corporate Magic, Dallas
"Gaylord Opryland Grand Reopening"
BEST DECOR: BUDGET UNDER $20,000
Wilkinson Rhodes, San Antonio
"Caroline's Masquerade Ball"--See more of this decor here
BEST DECOR: BUDGET $20,000 TO $49,999
EventWorks, Los Angeles, and Kuoni Destination Management, Scottsdale, Ariz.
"Alice in Wonderland" --See more of this decor here
BEST DECOR: BUDGET $50,000 TO $150,000
Blueprint Studios, San Francisco
"San Francisco Symphony Centennial Anniversary" --See more of this decor here
BEST DECOR: BUDGET ABOVE $150,000
MGM Resorts Events, Las Vegas
"New Year's Eve"
BEST EVENT FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: BUDGET UNDER $100,000
Euro Events Ltd., Dublin
"Mini Countryman Launch"
BEST EVENT FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: BUDGET $100,000 TO $249,999
Someone's in the Kitchen, Tarzana, Calif.
"AMPAS Foreign Film Awards"
BEST EVENT FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: BUDGET $250,000 TO $500,000
POP Kollaborative Inc., Calgary, Alberta
"MindJam"
BEST EVENT FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: BUDGET ABOVE $500,000
Alison Silcoff Events, Montreal
"Frostbite"--See this event here
Guests at the Gala Celebration enjoyed an elegant outdoor reception in a park, a two-story restaurant for dining and an after-party. View some of the after-party entertainment here, from Metropolis Productions:
Photos © Special Events
RELATED STORIES FROM SPECIAL EVENTS
Gala Award Nominees 2011 Named by Special Events Magazine
Hot Ideas, Mega Event Experts and Wedding Dinner Shine at The Special Event 2012
Event Pros Kick Off The Special Event 2012 in Tampa
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