Award Categories

There are 19 categories up for grabs this year, and only UK-based bona-fide event organisers were permitted to vote in the majority of these. As the only independently verified and audited event industry awards programme, all votes will be reviewed against the rules listed below to ensure they qualify.

Please note: voting is now closed. View the finalists for this year’s Awards.

Award Categories

Voted for by Event Organisers

  • They’re the grease that keeps the event sector running smoothly, connecting buyers with fantastic hotels and venues. Which rep company is top of your list?

  • Whether it’s logistical support or drawing up creative programmes for corporate events, incentives or associations, which overseas DMC has used its knowledge, expertise and resources best to boost your event? Make sure your favourite gets a mention!

  • Overseas convention bureaux are the door to the world for the UK market – who’s made an impression this year?

  • The country’s convention bureaux have been working their socks off to attract events to the UK’s cities and regions. Who’s punched above their weight this year?

  • The production companies, AV firms, team building companies and F&B suppliers that work to make our events a success deserve our recognition. Who’s cream of the crop?

  • Small event agencies can make a big impression. Who has thrived this year?

  • Our mid-sized event agencies are some of the best in the business. Tell us your favourite!

  • The stakes are high for our large event agencies. Show your appreciation for all their hard work.

  • Event tech is one of the fastest-moving areas in our sector. Whether virtual or hybrid or beyond, whose offering has impressed you the most?

  • All over the world, conference centres are fighting for your business and events. Make sure your favourite gets recognised.

  • Whether it’s outstanding service levels, great facilities, or top sales teams, let us know your best non-UK property for your events.

  • Which hotel brand do you find yourself going back to again and again for your events? Who combines service levels, facilities, and reliability like no other?

  • Open to all those venues that fall outside the hotel or conference centre boxes for your events – who’s stood out from the crowd?

  • UK conference centres are the scene of some of our most memorable and inspiring events. Show your support for a standout venue.

  • Everyone’s got a favourite hotel for events – what’s yours?

  • We’re looking for individuals who have worked less than five years within the sector, but have already firmly left their mark. This is your opportunity to celebrate those industry stars who are showing the most initiative and creativity and who are on the path to a shining future.

    Things to consider when writing your nomination:

    • Showcase how the individual is making a positive impact on the events industry

    • Demonstrate their growth over their time in the sector so far and any achievements they have enjoyed along the way

    • Provide information on how the nominee has benefitted their organisation and any key projects that they have been involved in that have been particularly successful

    • Emphasise how their impact on the events industry is beyond the norm and why they deserve to be considered a ‘star’

    • If you have access to the information, include any stats and figures that help illustrate the nominee’s positive impact on their organisation, or the industry

    Additional information to consider to boost your nomination:

    • Consider what the nominee is doing both within and beyond their day job – are they active networkers? Do they have a strong social media presence? These are just examples, but any way you can demonstrate how your nominee goes above and beyond what is expected of them will be helpful.

    Judges' Considerations:

    • The judges will be looking for how nominees have had a positive impact on their organisation and/or the wider events industry. It is important that the judges can clearly understand how the nominee has performed in a way that would be considered beyond the ‘norm’ and why they are ‘one to watch’ for the future.

    Submission Format:

    • Provide a detailed narrative (max 1000 words) outlining why the individual is a rising star

    • Include supporting documentation, images, videos, or testimonials to strengthen your nomination

    • Clearly label and organise your submission based on the criteria outlined above

  • Whose name springs to mind when you think of the meetings and events industry? Whose LinkedIn posts go viral with their thought-leadership and interesting perspectives? Who’s doing the most to champion events and event professionals to a wider audience? The name that springs to mind should be the person you nominate to win Personality of the Year.

    Things to consider when writing your nomination:

    • Showcase how the individual is making a positive impact on the events industry through their own personal profile

    • Provide information on how the nominee has contributed to their organisation and identify any key initiatives that you know they have been a part of

    • Explain what it is about the individual that makes them stand out from the crowd and the particular qualities and personality traits they possess that causes them to have this impact

    • If you have access to the information, include any stats and figures that help illustrate the nominee’s positive impact on their organisation and the industry

    Additional information to consider to boost your nomination:

    • Consider what the nominee is doing both within and beyond their day job. How are they involved with the wider events industry community? What kind of causes and values do they champion? These are just examples, but any way you can demonstrate how your nominee shines amongst their fellow event professionals will be helpful.

    Judges' Considerations:

    • The judges will be looking for what makes nominees stand out from the crowd and their passion for contributing to the wider industry, beyond their day job

    Submission Format:

    • Provide a detailed narrative (max 1000 words) outlining why the individual should win Personality of the Year

    • Include supporting documentation, images, videos, or testimonials to strengthen your nomination

    • Clearly label and organise your submission based on the criteria outlined above

  • The M&IT Elevate Award recognises organisations that are truly putting people before profit - those championing best practice in talent development, nurturing future leaders, and creating meaningful initiatives that drive long-term growth for both individuals and the wider events industry.

    In partnership with Elevate, the world’s largest mentoring programme for event professionals, this award celebrates businesses that actively invest in their people, support diverse career pathways, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive industry. Elevate operates as a social enterprise and in 2025 alone supported more than 600 event professionals, alongside a range of additional development initiatives designed to widen access, foster community and inspire growth at every career stage.

    Things to consider when writing your nomination:

    • Showcase how the business is driving best practice in people development and talent retention within the events industry
    • Demonstrate how the organisation has prioritised professional growth, wellbeing and inclusion over short-term commercial gain
    • Provide examples of initiatives, programmes or partnerships that have supported learning, mentoring or career progression
    • Emphasise how the organisation’s approach goes beyond the industry norm and delivers lasting impact for individuals and the wider sector
    • Where possible, include statistics or measurable outcomes that illustrate the scale and success of these initiatives

    Additional information to consider to boost your nomination:

    • Consider how the business supports development beyond core roles - for example through mentoring, flexible working, return-to-work support, outreach or education partnerships
    • Demonstrate how these initiatives have helped attract, retain or diversify talent within the organisation or the industry

    Judges' Considerations:

    • Judges will be looking for clear evidence that the business has made a meaningful and positive impact on its people and/or the wider events industry
    • Nominations should clearly show how the organisation’s actions represent best practice, exceed expectations, and contribute to sustainable industry growth
    • Judges will value measurable outcomes, long-term commitment and a people-first ethos.

    Submission Format:

    • Provide a detailed narrative (max 1000 words) outlining why the organisation deserves to win the M&IT Elevate Award
    • Include supporting documentation, images, videos, testimonials or case studies to strengthen your submission
    • Clearly label and organise your submission based on the criteria outlined above

Voted for by Event Organisers & Suppliers, Decided by our Panel of Judges

Decided by M&IT Editor, Paul Harvey, with Assistance from our Panel of Judges

  • Returning for a second year, our editor chooses an individual, group or company that deserves special recognition this year.

Voting & Canvassing Rules

Please note: voting has now closed.

Eligibility:

  • Only UK-based bona-fide event organisers can vote for non-judged categories.

  • Suppliers to the industry are not allowed to vote, except for judged categories: Rising Star, Personality of the Year, and the M&IT Elevate Award.

Category Limit:

  • Each voter can cast votes for an organisation in a maximum of three different categories.

Individual Votes:

  • Only one vote per person per category is allowed. Multiple votes from the same person will be excluded.

Cross Canvassing Prohibition:

  • No cross-canvassing between suppliers (e.g., venue/caterer) is allowed.

Personal Identifier Requirement:

  • The personal identifier question must be completed on all forms for votes to be registered.

Voting Deadline:

  • Votes must be cast by Friday 24 April 2026, to be registered.

Final Decision:

  • The decision of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) on behalf of the organisers is final. No correspondence will be entered into.

Voting Guidelines and Restrictions:

  • Eligibility: Votes from outside the UK will not be counted.

  • Category Limit: If a voter casts votes for an organisation in more than three different categories, the votes will be deemed invalid. Incomplete votes will not be considered.

  • Supplier Votes: Votes from suppliers in non-judged categories will not be counted.