Special Events magazine named the winners of the 2019 Gala Awards last night at a ceremony during The Special Event in San Diego. The oldest and most prestigious award in events, the Gala Awards received entries from 13 countries this year.
In addition, Kathy Miller of Total Event Resources, Schaumburg, Ill., received the Gala Award for Lifetime Achievement, and Jerry Hellmann, head of AFR Furniture, received the Richard Carbotti Gala Award in recognition of his devotion to philanthropy.
BEST FAIR/FESTIVAL
“Surrey Fusion Festival”
City of Surrey, Surrey, British Columbia, and John Donnelly and Associates, Vancouver, British Columbia
BEST INVITATION
“A Great Impression is Key: Aurora’s Secret Garden Bat Mitzvah”
Dragonfly Custom Design, Orlando, Fla.
BEST DINING TABLE DESIGN
“Farm to Fork VIP Dinner”
BeEvents, Minneapolis
BEST OFF-PREMISE CATERED EVENT
“The Silver Anniversary Daffodil Ball”
Fairmont Le Reine Elizabeth, Montreal, and Marc Lintanf, Montreal
BEST ON-SITE CATERED EVENT BY A HOTEL BANQUET DEPARTMENT
“New Year’s Eve in Floating City”
The Venetian | The Palazzo, Las Vegas
BEST FUNDRAISING EVENT
“Who Cares Backyard Concert”
Someone’s in the Kitchen, Tarzana, Calif.
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
“Wallis Annenberg PetSpace AnniFURsary”
Zynger Events, Los Angeles
BEST WEDDING: BUDGET UNDER $1,000 PER GUEST
“Viva Maselyn!”
Wilkinson Rhodes, San Antonio
BEST WEDDING: BUDGET $1,000 AND ABOVE PER GUEST
”The Kat Von D and Leafar Seyer Wedding”
Center of Attention Events, Burbank, Calif.
BEST MULTIPLE-DAY INCENTIVE EVENT
“Sentimental Journey: A Step Back in Time”
Hello! Arizona Destination Management, Scottsdale, Ariz.
BEST MULTIPLE-DAY EVENT PROGRAM FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION
“Global AYA Cancer Congress”
The Special Event Co., Cary, N.C.
BEST EVENT STAGED IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
“Big Bash 2018”
Atlassian, Austin, Texas
BEST FLORAL DESIGN
“Sublime Boudoir--Egyptian Art Deco”
Fiore Dorato, Singapore and Austin, Texas
BEST TENT INSTALLATION
“Museum of Modern Art's Party in the Garden”
Arena Americas, Oak Creek, Wis.
BEST USE OF LIGHTING
“SFJazz Gala”
Got Light, San Francisco
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN TECHNICAL SUPPORT
“USC Village Gala”
Images by Lighting, Los Angeles
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN LOGISTICS
“Mega Relief”
Keller Williams Realty, Austin, Texas
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EVENT RENTAL SUPPORT
“KC2 Wedding”
Town and Country Event Rentals, Van Nuys, Calif.
BEST NEW EVENT PRODUCT/TECHNOLOGY
“VR Technology for Oculus Go”
AllSeated, New York
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT AND EXECUTION: BUDGET UNDER $100,000
“Bollywood Ball”
Imprint Events Group, Denver
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT AND EXECUTION: BUDGET $100,000 AND ABOVE
“Tamarack Music Festival”
Silhouette Group, New York
MOST OUTSTANDING SPECTACLE
“Walmart Associates and Shareholders Week”
LEO Events, Memphis, Tenn.
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL--BUDGET UNDER $1,000 PER GUEST
“Gwen Stefani's Opening Night VIP After-Party”
White Hot Events, Las Vegas
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL: BUDGET $1,000 AND ABOVE PER GUEST
“The Jewel that is Quebec”
Alison Silcoff Events, Montreal
BEST EVENT MARKETING CAMPAIGN
“Arcadia: The Dark Series”
MASN, Dubai, UAE
BEST EVENT VENUE
“City Market Social House”
Los Angeles
BEST DECOR: TOTAL DECOR BUDGET UNDER $50,000
“Andy Warhol Launch for the Art Gallery of Ontario”
Fifth Element Group, North York, Ontario
BEST DECOR: TOTAL DECOR BUDGET $50,000 TO $99,999
“Teen Choice Awards”
Russell Harris Event Group, North Hollywood, Calif.
BEST DECOR: TOTAL DECOR BUDGET $100,000 TO $250,000
“Under the Cosmic Sea”
Kehoe Designs, Chicago
BEST DECOR: TOTAL DECOR BUDGET ABOVE $250,000
“Hermès Palo Alto Store Opening Event”
Gallagher, Los Angeles
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: OVERALL BUDGET UNDER $100,000
“Live From Chicago--It's Saturday Night!”
CTC Destination Management, A DMC Network Co., Chicago, and Brass Tacks Events, Portland, Ore.
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: BUDGET $100,000 TO $249,999
“‘Experience Amazing’: Lexus On-Demand Press Conference”
VOK DAMS Events and Live-Marketing, Wuppertal, Germany
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: BUDGET $250,000 TO $500,000
“The Wild West”
Koncept Events, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: BUDGET ABOVE $500,000
“Shaping the Future: Volkswagen”
Insglueck, Berlin, and Volkswagen Group, Wolfsburg, Germany
