Oh what a night! M&IT Awards 2020 shines light on industry’s stars

The M&IT Awards 2020 saw the stars of the meetings and events industry come out for an exciting and action-packed night.
Attendees were wowed by performances from the cast of We Will Rock You and Events R Talented winner Megan Unwin, while the evening was once again compered by Welsh television presenter Gethin Jones.
The industry turned out in force for a glittering night with more than 1,200 event professionals in attendance at Battersea Evolution to celebrate the great and good of the industry.
Imago Venues – Burleigh Court scored a double gold award win, picking up the gongs for both Best UK Conference Centre and Best Academic Venue, while Glasgow Convention Bureau picked up the Best UK Convention Bureau gong for the 14th year running.
Conference Care landed Best Intermediary Agency (more than 40 employees) for a sixth time and treated those backstage to a numerically-amended version of the Tom Jones hit Sex Bomb.
Former CAT Media managing director Martin Lewis proved a very popular winner of the Personality of the Year award, receiving a standing ovation.
The night also saw industry charity Meeting Needs raise more than £43,000 with a table raffle and online auction. Following the awards, the industry partied the night away on the dancefloor.
Glasgow Convention Bureau said: “We are delighted to have won Best UK Convention Bureau for the 14th consecutive year at the M&IT Awards! Huge thanks to everyone who voted and congratulations to all the finalists!”
First Choice Conference and Events said: “Yes we did it! Thank you to everyone who voted. We’re so chuffed with our gold, especially for our special year! That’s five golds now!”
Celtic Manor Resort said: “Absolutely delighted to win Gold for Best UK Hotel again. Nine years out of 10! Thanks to our amazing team and everyone who voted for us!”
The winners of the M&IT Awards 2020 were as follows:
Best UK HotelGold – Celtic Manor Resort
Silver – Chewton Glen
Bronze – Coombe Abbey Hotel
Best Overseas HotelGold – Sandals Grande Antigua
Silver – Four Seasons
Bronze – Marina Bay Sands Singapore
Best UK Conference CentreGold – Imago Venues – Burleigh Court
Silver – ACC Liverpool
Bronze – Scottish Event Campus
Best Overseas Conference CentreGold – The Convention Centre Dublin (The CCD)
Silver – Grimaldi Forum Monaco
Bronze – RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre
Best Venue Group Meeting ProductGold – Hilton Worldwide
Silver – Marriott International
Bronze – Radisson Hotel Group
Best Intermediary Agency (fewer than 40 employees)Gold – First Choice Conference & Events
Silver – Venues and Events International
Bronze – Principal. Global Events
Best Intermediary Agency (more than 40 employees)Gold – Conference Care
Silver – Inntel
Bronze – DRPG
Best Destination Management CompanyGold – Vista Events DMC Greece
Silver – ECMeetings Malta
Bronze – Factor 3 Events
Best AirlineGold – British Airways
Silver – Emirates
Bronze – Virgin Atlantic
Best Academic VenueGold – Imago Venues – Burleigh Court
Silver Technology & Innovation Centre – University Of Strathclyde
Bronze – Warwick Conferences
Best UK Convention BureauGold – Glasgow Convention Bureau
Silver – NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau
Bronze – Conference Hull
Bronze – London & Partners
Best Overseas Convention BureauGold – Monaco Tourist Authority
Silver – The Hague Convention Bureau
Bronze – Dubai Business Events
Best UK Unusual VenueGold – Alton Towers Resort
Silver – Coombe Abbey Hotel
Bronze – Tobacco Dock
Best Event ProviderGold – KDM Events
Silver – Firebird Events
Bronze – AVT Connect
Best Food & Beverage SupplierGold – Imago Venues – Burleigh Court
Silver – Kudos
Bronze – rhubarb
Personality of the YearGold – Martin Lewis, Former Managing Director of CAT Media
Silver – Helen Moon, Managing Director & Founder – EventWell Ltd
Bronze – Michelle Rees, Head of Events – GLG (Gerson Lehrman Group)
Bronze – Neil Harvey, Creative Director & Co-Founder – Blue Hat Teambuilding