Anticipation has been running high as industry leaders across Australia have awaited the launch of the 2011 MEA Awards. Meetings & Events Australia has now opened the Awards, unveiling new categories and further changes.
New Awards Categories
The most important change is that there are now more categories than previous years, 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.
The perfect balance for your submission
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).
PLUS exclusivity for your category
We only accept one client in each category so you can rest assured that your entry will be the only entry in your category written and produced by our experienced team of professional writers. Even better, next year you'll be given first right of refusal for our services in your category.
SPECIAL OFFER
Engage us before Friday 18 November 2011 to receive an Early Bird discount that will save you 17 percent.
Contact us by filling in and faxing or emailing back our Request for Quote Form, to find out if we're available to produce a submission, and we will also provide you with a quote.
Lock in your category early - we only produce one entry for each category.
Making a judge fall in love with you
MEA judges can assess dozens of submissions. And with every submission now containing up to 12,000 words (that's more than half the length of Shakespeare's Macbeth), 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 2011 MEA award categories are:
Meetings & Events of the Year Awards
1. Corporate Meeting of the Year
2. Association or Government Meeting of the Year
3. Cause Related Event of the Year
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. Event Management Organisation
Products and Services Awards
12. Banqueting & Catering
13. Technical & Creative Production - branch turnover >$5 million
14. Technical & Creative Production - branch turnover <$5 million
15. In-house AV Services (company or department)
16. Exhibition Services *NEW*
17. Support Services
Venues Awards
18. Meeting Venue (under 500 delegates)
19. Meeting Venue (500 delegates or more)
20. Specialty Meeting Venue *NEW*
21. Specialty Event Venue *NEW*
Individual Awards
22. Operations Person of the Year
23. Business Development Person of the Year
24. Event Manager of the Year
25. Meetings Manager of the Year
26. Y MEA Future Leader
Convention Bureau and Tourist Organisation Awards
27. Metropolitan Destination Marketing Organisation
28. Regional Destination Marketing Organisation
Other Awards
29. MEA Corporate Social Responsibility Award ~
30. MEA Education Award *NEW* ~
31. Outstanding Contribution Award
32. Platinum Award (highest scoring non-individual entrant)
33. Meeting or Events Professional of the Year (highest scoring individual entrant)
(~ One additional optional 1,000 word response)
Looking to enter?
Awards Absolute offers two submission services:
(1) Complete submission production, and
(2) Submission editing.
Our availability for both services is limited.
*****
SPECIAL OFFER
Engage us before Friday 18 November 2011 to receive an Early Bird discount that will save you 17 percent.
Contact us by filling in and faxing or emailing back our Request for Quote Form, to find out if we're available to produce a submission, and we will also provide you with a quote.
Lock in your category early - we only produce one entry for each category.
*****
Awards Absolute
PO Box 838, Coolum QLD 4573
Tel. 1300 88 22 59
Fax: 07 5446 4289
E. liz@awardsabsolute.com
