The 2025 M&IT Awards are just one month away, taking
place Friday 19 September at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House London. And what
can I tell you about this year's event?
Well, it’s going to be absolutely
fantastic. It’s the Oscars of our industry after all: everyone's favourite
event of the year, the social event of the year, the networking event of the
year, the glitziest, most glamorous event of the year. With incredible, red
carpet-worthy outfits and THE Vernon Kay from the telly as our host.
There will be more than 700 of the event industry’s finest in
the room – nearly 100 of whom will be anxiously, patiently waiting to see if
they’ve won one of our 18 awards, including a brand new award this year chosen
by yours truly – the M&IT Editor’s Choice award.
One of last year’s winners – Daniel Mitchell from Inntel –
said this: “Before joining this industry, I hadn’t experienced anything quite
like the M&IT Awards. They’re more than just a celebration – they’re a chance
for people facing similar challenges to come together, share successes and lift
each other up.
“Every
industry is competitive – but I’ve been genuinely surprised by how welcoming
this one is. The ‘leave your competition at the door’ mindset is real. It’s a
space where people champion one another, and that’s inspiring to be part of.
“For
Inntel, winning M&IT awards has had a real impact. We’ve had clients
comment on how our wins helped reinforce their decision to partner with us. It
shows we’re not just saying we’re good – others are recognising it too.
“And of
course, there’s something pretty special about the night itself. It’s a rare
moment to swap the office for a dinner jacket, spend time with colleagues and
connect with industry professionals in person. We’re proud of our culture – but
evenings like these give it a whole new sparkle.”
There are a handful of tickets still
available, which can be purchased online from www.MITawards.co.uk. And, here are some more thoughts from last year’s
winners why the M&IT Awards is such a special event in our industry
calendar.
Danielle
Bounds, ICC Wales: “The lovely thing about
the awards is that it's all your favourite people all in one room together. So,
it is a bit like a wedding. Everyone that you kind of love and care for
throughout the industry and that you've, you know, really built such strong relationships
with, is there.”
Karen
Johnson, Alton Towers: “Representing
Alton Towers Resort at the M&IT Awards is always a real privilege. It’s one
of the few times in the year when the entire industry comes together to
celebrate the people, venues and partnerships that make the events world so
special. Personally, it’s a brilliant opportunity to catch up with
familiar faces and make new connections. There’s a genuine sense of community
in the room and it’s inspiring to be surrounded by so much passion and
creativity. From a business perspective, it’s invaluable. It allows us to
strengthen relationships, explore new opportunities and showcase what Alton
Towers Resort can offer as a unique and versatile event venue.”
Brad
Davies, KDM: "We attend the awards
because it is a once-a-year opportunity to be in the same room as, and catch up
with, all our industry colleagues and peers. We have won the Gold Award for
Best Event Provider six times in a row, so we greatly enjoy the recognition that
comes from this!”
Vicky
Gardner, director, ZiaBia: “We love the
M&IT Awards and have been going for many years now – it's always such a
good fun night seeing old and new faces. Great networking in a social way with
our industry friends! For us we enter the awards for our team and if we are a
finalist this is great recognition for them and a chance to celebrate with the
winners.”
Tia
Goadby, director of sales, Hinckley Island: “It is a great night, highlight of our, of our year, and will be for
years to come...”
Eleni
Kyprianou, Principal. Global Events: “The
M&IT Awards was an unforgettable evening! It was amazing to be in a room
full of industry friends, reconnecting and celebrating everyone’s
achievements.”
Graeme
Saunders, Sandals: “We attend the M&IT Awards as it's one of the go-to events each year and a great opportunity to
meet new contacts but also catch up with industry friends/colleagues in a
relaxed and fun atmosphere.”
Kai
Schulman, hotelrepublic: “We love the
M&IT Awards, and we've been loads of times. Last year, we had a table for
hotelrepublic with 10 of our hotels, which was great. We were all together and
we had a great night.”
Andrew
Deakin, Conference Care: “It's a great
night, and we want to be there, and we desperately, desperately want to win. I
think the best part of the night for me is the networking; it's just immense.”
Rebecca
Petit Jean, Monaco Government Tourist and Convention Authority: “I think my favorite part is the networking that we do
during the night. It's so rewarding.”
Gary
Strain, client success manager, Lightbulb Teams: “Winning M&IT’s Best Positive Impact / Event Legacy
Award 2024 was a proud achievement for our team and a testament to what we
can accomplish with our clients. Celebrating the experience alongside
like-minded industry professionals made the moment even more meaningful. We had
a great night!”
M&IT editor Paul Harvey is a journalist with more than 15 years of experience. He began his career in the local press, working for various titles across the north. Since joining M&IT in 2013, he has become a trusted and respected voice in the sector, championing event professionals and reporting on all aspects of the events industry for the brand.
