Integrate awarded Best Trade Show over 10,000sqm at EEAA Awards

Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia

The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) has celebrated the end of the trade and consumer exhibition season with the announcement of the 2015 Awards for Excellence winners at Doltone House – Jones Bay Wharf.

The event was attended by almost 300 people representing Organisers, Association Organisers, Venues and Suppliers from across Australia and New Zealand and was hosted by SBS news presenter, Janice Petersen.

EEAA Chief Executive, Joyce DiMascio, said the Awards attracted a broad range of entries reflecting the diversity of events, venues and services in our important industry.

“These were judged by 29 independent volunteer judges from around Australia and overseas.”  Ms DiMascio said.

“It is clear from the judges’ feedback that our Members have worked very hard to deliver outstanding results. It is this drive to constantly excel that we celebrate tonight.”

EEAA President, Domenic Genua, said he was honoured to present the Trevor Riddell Award for contribution to both the Association and the Exhibition industry to Jim Delahunty of ExpoNet.

“Jim Delahunty has been a strong advocate for our industry across his whole career. He has always been one of those trusted, “go-to” people in our industry who gives pragmatic, unbiased, intelligent and strategic advice. He has built a significant organisation that has employed and developed the careers of many people in our industry.” Mr Genua said.

Among those also honoured were the two winners of the Richard Geddes Young Achiever Award –Stephanie Bleakley of Diversified Communications Australia, and Daniel Condon of Designteam.

The Best Australian Show was awarded to PAX Australia, organised by Reed Exhibitions Australia. The Best New Zealand Show was awarded to buildnz | designex & The National Safety Show, organised by XPO Exhibitions.

Mr Genua said that in 2015 the Association had introduced some changes to the Awards for Excellence program as part of a commitment to a process of continual improvement, and also to ensure the Awards reflect the evolution and innovation in our industry.

“New Awards categories were introduced, particularly to recognise the contribution of venues, suppliers and contractors to the success of our industry. The Best Green Initiative award was replaced with a more holistic award for Corporate Social Responsibility.

“These refinements were overseen by our 2015 Chair of Judges, John Trevillian, who has shared his outstanding events expertise with us. We thank John and all our judges for supporting the EEAA in this endeavour.

“We salute all those who entered the EEAA 2015 Awards for Excellence – and we salute our finalists and winners and also say thank you to all our partners and sponsors for supporting this special night.” he said.

THE EEAA 2015 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE WINNERS ARE:

Best Australian Show
Winner: PAX Australia – Reed Exhibitions Australia

Best New Zealand Show
Winner: buildnz | designex & The National Safety Show – XPO Exhibitions

Trevor Riddell President’s Award
Winner: Jim Delahunty – ExpoNet

*Richard Geddes Young Achiever
The judges awarded two winners in this category:

*Stephanie Bleakley – Diversified Communications Australia

*Daniel Condon – Designteam

Category Winners:

Best Consumer Show over 10,000 m2
PAX Australia – Reed Exhibitions Australia

*Best Trade Show over 10,000 m2
Winner: Integrate – Diversified Communications Australia

*Highly Commended: Australasian Oil & Gas Exhibition & Conference – Diversified Communications Australia

Best Supplier Team – Event
Winner: G20 Leaders’ Summit – ExpoNet

Best Supplier – Services or Products
Winner: Harry the hirer

Best Venue Team
Winner: IUCN World Parks Congress Team – Sydney Showground

Best New Product or Service

Winner: Conrad System – Reed Exhibitions Australia

Best Corporate Citizenship
Winner: Good Friday Appeal 2015 – Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

Most Outstanding Marketing Campaign
Winner: Integrate – Diversified Communications Australia

*Best New Initiative – Venue
Winner: Dockside Pavilion – First Year of Operation – Dockside Group

*Highly Commended: Aerial – Food & Desire

Best Consumer Show under 10,000 m2
Winner: Dog Lovers Show – Sydney – Event Management International

Best Trade Show under 10,000 m2
Winner: DesignBUILD – Diversified Communications Australia

Best Custom Stand
Winner: Cisco Stand at Cisco Live – Exhibit Systems

Best Show Team
Winner: 26th World Gas Conference – Exhibition Team – Exhibitions & Trade Fairs

Best New Show

Winner: The Australian Triathlon, Endurance & Cycling Expo – Informa Australia

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON EEAA 2015 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE WINNERS:

*Best Trade Show over 10,000 m2
Winner: Integrate – Diversified Communications Australia

Integrate has cemented its position as Australia’s leading event for the AV and IT systems integration industry. Integrate 2015 connected more than 5,300 industry professionals with 120 leading brands. Integrate ran its most successful event to date in seven years, being held in Melbourne for the first time ever. It cleverly fostered relationships with key associations and local partners and it achieved a deeper market penetration in Victoria which added to its success. In 2015, Integrate featured a sold out event for women in AV, which focused on developing careers for women in the industry.
*Highly Commended: Australasian Oil & Gas Exhibition & Conference – Diversified Communications Australia

Most Outstanding Marketing Campaign
Winner: Integrate – Diversified Communications Australia
Integrate – was held in a new location which meant it had to start from scratch in many ways. The increase in visitor numbers as well as the media coverage was impressive. Integrate – had a very innovative approach to social media. Its campaign involved creating a digital superhero figures and developing a campaign around these.  This campaign was an emotive “pull” to be a part of a superhero industry.

– ENDS –