The sun was shining (as it seems it always does) for the annual AEO Awards held in the dark but plush basement ballroom of the Grosvenor House Hotel. After the initial disappointment of Rob Brydon being replaced by Vernon Kay as the host, the awards flowed well with Kay providing the energy and humour to make presenting the 20+ awards both entertaining and engaging. The awards were decided by an updated and improved judging process that included many new judges from outside the exhibitions industry, winners were chosen based on individual scores from the judging panel rather than the collective consensus model which will always favour the more vociferous within the group.
As ever the team at the AEO did a great job in hosting an afternoon full of fine food, free alcohol, quality socialising and some not so great dancing.
Tim Etchells was recognised for his outstanding contribution to the industry and Chris Hughes was voted event personality of the year (or in his own words the fat and ugly kid award). I2I scooped 4 awards, with UBM and Olympia taking 2 each. Other winners included F2F Events, Diversified Communications, MCM Jack Morton, Clarion and ExCeL.
It was the 4th year Zing Insights had been proud to sponsor an award and much more than that spend time socialising with many of our great clients, friends and contacts within the industry.
Oh and Lisa would really like to go to Bolton Wanderers for the #AEOBackSeat prize!
Paul
