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AEO Excellence Awards categories

The AEO Excellence Awards 2025 is now open for entries!

The qualifying period is for events that took place between 1st April 2024 and 31st March 2025. 

The deadline for entries is 28th March 2025.

The shortlist will be revealed by the 16th of May.

 

Judging process

To ensure only the very best entries reach the shortlist and ultimately win the accolade, alongside an independent third party judging process, 35% of the judges come from within the industry, and 65% from outside of membership which provides a unique and truly impartial view.

We promote and seek to attain both a diverse and inclusive profile for all our events, working groups, and judging panels.

Click here for top tips for writing a successful award entry

 

Entry guidance from the AEO Excellence Awards judges:

We value authenticity and originality — entries that tell your unique story and stand out.

While AI tools like ChatGPT can be helpful, over-reliance may result in submissions that feel formulaic or lack a personal touch.

Judges want to be inspired and engaged, so ensure your entry reflects your voice. Submissions that sound alike risk blending in with the crowd.

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE INDUSTRY AWARD

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE INDUSTRY AWARD

The winner of this Award is selected by the AEO Board.

Sponsored by: 

rx

MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR - UK TRADE SHOW

MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR - UK TRADE SHOW

Have you run a trade marketing campaign in the last 12 months in the UK that you are proud of? And more importantly, a campaign that was creative, innovative, compelling and effective? Entry is open to organisers, suppliers and venues within the events industry and the focus should be on creativity vs budget and cover all mediums / routes to market.  

Open to: Organisers, suppliers & venues

Enter now

Sponsored by:

Excel London

MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR - INTERNATIONAL TRADE SHOW

MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR - INTERNATIONAL TRADE SHOW

Have you run an international trade marketing campaign in the last 12 months that you are proud of? And more importantly, a campaign that was creative, innovative, compelling and effective? Entry is open to organisers, suppliers and venues within the events industry and the focus should be on creativity vs budget and cover all mediums / routes to market.  

Open to: Organisers, suppliers & venues

Enter now

Sponsored by:

asp

MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR - CONSUMER SHOW

MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR - CONSUMER SHOW

Have you run a consumer marketing campaign in the last 12 months that you are proud of? And more importantly, a campaign that was creative, innovative, compelling and effective? Entry is open to organisers, suppliers and venues within the events industry and the focus should be on creativity vs budget and cover all mediums / routes to market.

Open to: Organisers, suppliers & venues

Enter now

 

BEST EVENT LAUNCH

BEST EVENT LAUNCH

This award is open to all event organisers and events of any size in the UK and internationally; organisers of trade and consumer show, conferences, live events, awards, including hybrid, digital, virtual, omni channel.

We are looking for innovation and originality as well as great customer outcomes and commercial success.

Open to: Organisers

Enter now

Sponsored by:

nec

 

BEST UK CONFERENCE

BEST UK CONFERENCE

The winning entry must be able to demonstrate the overall; integration, innovation, financial success, marketing, communication and attendee feedback.

This award is open to any organiser, venue or supplier of a standalone and/or integrated conference in the UK.

Open to: Organisers, suppliers & venues

Enter now

BEST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

BEST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

The winning entry must be able to demonstrate the overall; integration, innovation, financial success, marketing, communication and attendee feedback.

This award is open to any organiser, venue or supplier of a standalone and/or integrated conference outside of the UK.

Open to: Organisers, suppliers & venues

Enter now

Sponsored by:

cvent

ESG INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

ESG INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

The ESG Initiative Award recognises, celebrates and rewards organisations making significant progress in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices within the exhibition and events industry.

If your organisation is committed to integrating ESG principles into its daily practices policies, and/or procedures, or is perhaps on the way to achieving a b-corp certification and can show measurable impact, we want to hear from you!

Open to: Organisers, suppliers & venues

Enter now

Sponsored by:

dmg events

ORGANISER TEAM OF THE YEAR

ORGANISER TEAM OF THE YEAR

This Award highlights the collaborative nature of event organisation, showcasing objectives and achievements, improved productivity, efficiency and performance.  

Open to: Organisers

Enter now

Sponsored by:

messe

SERVICE SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR

SERVICE SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR

This award is for event suppliers who provide a service to organisers or exhibitors, this can be either a technology or non-tech based service.

This case study led award will be judged against objectives and results in terms of quality, reliability, productivity, efficiency, performance, problem solving

Open to: Suppliers

Enter now

BEST CONSUMER SHOW

BEST CONSUMER SHOW

This Award is aimed at consumer exhibitions that delivered an excellent visitor experience with equally excellent and creative marketing campaigns, proven year-on-year success, coupled with a strong, competitive profile. 

Open to: Organisers

Enter now

BEST UK TRADESHOW LESS THAN 2,000SQM

BEST UK TRADESHOW LESS THAN 2,000SQM

Open to any UK trade exhibition under 2,000sqm) held in the past 12 months. This Award is judged on stand out content and marketing elements, notable improvements in performance, rebookings, increases in visitor attendance and competitive success. 

Open to: Organisers

Enter now

Sponsored by:

Farnborough International

BEST UK TRADESHOW 2,001SQM - 4,000SQM

BEST UK TRADESHOW 2,001SQM - 4,000SQM

Open to any UK trade exhibition between 2,001-4,000 sqm) held in the past 12 months. This Award is judged on stand out content and marketing elements, notable improvements in performance, rebookings, increases in visitor attendance and competitive success.

Open to: Organisers

Enter now

Sponsored by:

db schenker

BEST UK TRADESHOW 4,001SQM - 8,000SQM

BEST UK TRADESHOW 4,001SQM - 8,000SQM

Open to any UK trade exhibition between 4,001-8,000 sqm) held in the past 12 months. This Award is judged on stand out content and marketing elements, notable improvements in performance, rebookings, increases in visitor attendance and competitive success.

Open to: Organisers

Enter now

Sponsored by:

Fusion by ClearCourse

BEST UK TRADESHOW MORE THAN 8,000SQM

BEST UK TRADESHOW MORE THAN 8,000SQM

Open to any UK trade exhibition over 8,000sqm held in the past 12 months. This Award is judged on stand out content and marketing elements, notable improvements in performance, rebookings, increases in visitor attendance and competitive success.

Open to: Organisers

Enter now

Sponsored by:

GES

VENUE OF THE YEAR - LESS THAN 20,000SQM

VENUE OF THE YEAR - LESS THAN 20,000SQM

This Award is open to both national and international venues and will focus on the elements that are unique about your facilities, your customer service and support; the visitor experience offered as well as what innovation makes your venue stand out from the rest. 

Open to: Venues

Enter now

Sponsored by:

pertons

VENUE OF THE YEAR - MORE THAN 20,000SQM

VENUE OF THE YEAR - MORE THAN 20,000SQM

This award is open to both national and international venues and will focus on the elements that are unique about your facilities, your customer service and support; the visitor experience offered as well as what innovation makes your venue stand out from the rest. 

Open to: Venues

Enter now

UNSUNG HERO

UNSUNG HERO

This Award recognises an individual who has made a significant contribution to a product / team / company etc.  But the nominee should be an individual that would NOT normally receive the deserved recognition for their efforts. 

Open to: Organisers, suppliers & venues

Enter now

Sponsored by:

Deutsche Messe

INDEPENDENT ORGANISER OF THE YEAR 

INDEPENDENT ORGANISER OF THE YEAR 

We are looking for innovation, originality, great customer outcomes and commercial success. This award celebrates how independent organisers create and develop shows which are at the forefront of their communities.

Open to: Organisers

Enter now

Sponsored by:

full circle logo

Testimonials

  • A huge thank you for the awards on Friday! It's one of the best awards I've been to in a while! The choice of entertainment was excellent, Dara O Briain was hilarious and it was just generally a brilliantly organised, fun day. Thank you to the whole team for your hard work. You're all fabulous.
    Julia Danmeri
    CEO & Founder, TranslateAble
  • The recognition from AEO means a great deal to us. It reinforces our commitment to providing a premier venue experience that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of our clients and guests. Being acknowledged among our peers in the industry motivates us to continue pushing boundaries.
    Miles Eady
    Head of Events, Roundhouse
  • The day was truly remarkable, and we are sincerely delighted to have received such esteemed recognition for our efforts with the New Futures Network. Winning the Best DEI Initiative Award at such a renowned event, amidst inspiring competition, is an honour beyond words.
    Charlotte Stone
    CEVA Showfreight
  • It is so much fun to have a day out with the industry and to just talk to everyone that loves it and is so passionate about it
    Nico Stanford
    Senior Sales Manager, Olympia London
  • I wanted to congratulate you both, and the wider AEO team, on such a fantastic awards ceremony last week. I have not attended the AEO Awards for several years, and perhaps I forgot just how much of a special day it is… it was incredibly well organised, and it was such a wonderful occasion.
    Ashley Roberts
    Managing Director, CONNECT
  • What a fantastic AEO Awards last Friday; such a buzz and a brilliant afternoon all round. Thank you all for putting on such a fabulous event. What Else Events will be back next year with an even stronger case. For now, being a Finalist is a major achievement in such a competitive category.
    Tim Else
    Founder & Managing Director, What Else Events

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