Awards Submissions

After extended review by industry leaders across Australia, MEA has announced new categories and processes for the Meetings & Events Australia Awards.
 
The most important change is that there are now more categories, giving you a better chance of success.

"Great - more chances to win, but who can devote the time needed to write a winning award submission?" we hear you ask. We can. And we know our stuff.

We'll produce a MEA award submission for you that will have just the right balance of meat (the facts and figures) and sauce (the tasty stuff that makes a submission interesting to read).
 
Making a judge fall in love with you 
 
MEA judges can assess dozens of submissions. And with every submission containing up to 11,000 words (that's one fifth of a Mills & Boon novel), you can imagine that judging the MEA Awards is tiring work.

So you'll be rewarded if you're kind to the judges.

There are five things that judges want when reading an award submission. Three of these are obvious - be accurate, be concise, and support your statements with substantiated facts and figures.

The other two things? Most judges aren't even aware of them. That's because they have nothing to do with writing accurately and concisely, or about business practices and achievements. Rather, they're core to human psychology.

The two other things that judges secretly seek when reading submissions are:
1. To be entertained.
2. To experience an emotional response to what they're reading.

According to Professor Jennings Bryant from the University of Alabama, one of the world's leading experts on the psychology of communication, reading as a task requires more effort than reading for entertainment. He has formed cognitive models for what happens to a person's mood, emotions and outlook when they're being entertained.

Once you know what people - including judges - are seeking when they read, then the next challenge is to write a submission that will be entertaining. Luckily, there are tricks of the trade to help you. Call us to learn more.
  
Full list of categories 
 
The 2009 MEA award categories are:

Meetings & Events of the Year Awards
1. Corporate Meeting of the Year *NEW*
2. Association or Government Meeting of the Year *NEW*
3. Cause Related Event of the Year *NEW*
4. Special Event of the Year
5. Exhibition of the Year
6. Incentive of the Year
7. Public Event of the Year (Including Festivals)

Meetings & Events Management Awards
8. Meetings or Events Management Organisation - 8 or more employees
9. Meetings or Events Management Organisation - less than 8 employees
10. In-House Meetings Management Department
11. Special Event Organisation

Products and Services Awards
12. Banqueting & Catering
13. Technical & Creative Production
14. Travel Services
15. Support Services

Venues Awards
16. Venue With Accommodation *NEW*
17. Venue Without Accommodation *NEW*
18. Specialty Venue

Individual Awards
19. Operations Person of the Year
20. Business Development Person of the Year *NEW*
21. Special Event Manager of the Year *NEW*
22. Meetings Manager of the Year
23. Y MEA Future Leader

Convention Bureau and Tourist Organisation Awards
24. Metropolitan Destination Marketing Organisation *NEW*
25. Regional Destination Marketing Organisation *NEW*

Other Awards
26. MEA Corporate Social Responsibility Award~
27. Platinum Award (highest scoring of all awards, except individual entrants)
28. Meeting or Events Professional of the Year (highest scoring individual entrant, excluding Y MEA) *NEW*
(~One additional optional 1,000 word response)
 
Looking to enter?
 
Remember, our availability is limited. Call us today on 1300 88 22 59.

Awards Absolute
PO Box 838, Coolum QLD 4573
T. 1300 88 22 59   E. liz@awardsabsolute.com

Proud member of MEA 

  
Awards Absolute operates independently of the MEA Awards