IMEX Awards 2004
Nine industry and academy awards were presented to delighted winners at the IMEX 2004 Gala Dinner.
The IMEX Academy Awards are intended to recognise and pay tribute to those individuals within the meetings and incentives travel industry who have made an exceptional contribution to its growth and development. A co-operative mindset and a clear track record of helping others is also a strong factor in deciding the short list.
The winners were: Peggy Lau of Pacific World (Asia Award), Jack Munro, Edinburgh and Lothians Tourist Board (European Award), Arnaldo Nardone, Radisson Montevideo (The Americas Award) and Sumaira Isaacs, Arabian Adventures (Africa-Middle East Award). New for 2004 was the Media Academy Award, won by Rob Spalding or Association Meetings International (UK), to acknowledge the education and investment contribution made by media organisations in the industry.
Rob Spalding Association Meetings International |
Jack Munro Edinburgh and Lothians Tourist Board |
Arnaldo Nardone Radisson Montevideo |
Peggy Lau Pacific World |
The MPI Youth Foundation Award was presented to Carly Anne Johnston of Leeds Metropolitan University in the UK. She qualified with first class honours last year having completed a thesis on ‘Continuous improvement within the industry: evaluating corporate events’. Carly Anne now works as a freelance event and incentive organiser, putting together staff award programmes.
 Carly Anne Johnston MPI Youth Foundation Award winner |
The JMIC Unity Award was presented to Olivier Lepine, General Manager of Biarritz Tourisme Convention Bureau.
 Oliver Lepine (right) General Manager Biarritz Tourisme Convention Bureau |
The Environmentally Responsible Meetings Award was made to Terri Stewart of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) for her work on the Green Build International Conference at the David Lawrence Convention Centre in Pennsylvania November 2003. The award attracted a very strong list of possible winners – clear demonstration that good environmental management within the meetings industry is on the up. According to the judge, Terri and her team were clearly focused on minimising environmental impacts and their application data was well crafted and well qualified. Terri also demonstrated a clear commitment to influencing the environmental policies of the show’s suppliers. The caterers, convention centre and registration company all changed their practises permanently as a result of what they learned from the USGBC.
Lucy Eisile of Creative Memories won the prestigious Programmes of Purpose Award for devising a socially responsible project in the village of La Cruz de Quelitan, Mexico. The aim of this ‘Day of Giving’ incentive event for the company’s top 150 sales achievers was to build a sense of accomplishment, teamwork and connection. A tightly organised series of activities centred on helping the children of the village and the end result was a totally refurbished school and landscaped playground. The ‘Day of Giving’ concept has now become an annual event.
