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

The M&IT Awards 2020 saw the stars of the industry come out for an exciting and action-packed night.

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 treble gold award win, picking up the gongs for Best UK Conference Centre, Best Academic Venue and Best Food & Beverage Supplier, 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.

M&IT Awards 2020

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.

David Chapple, managing director UK of Northstar Travel Media, said: “Thanks to everyone who attended and helped make it a fantastic night, we are really grateful for the support of the whole industry. We also want to thank all our sponsors – in particular our headline sponsor, Edwardian Hotels London, for contributing so much to the event's success. It was another really great night – congratulations to all our winners."

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 Hotel Gold - Celtic Manor Resort Silver - Chewton Glen Bronze - Coombe Abbey Hotel

Best Overseas Hotel Gold - Sandals Grande Antigua Silver - Four Seasons Bronze - Marina Bay Sands Singapore

Best UK Conference Centre Gold - Imago Venues - Burleigh Court Silver - ACC Liverpool Bronze - Scottish Event Campus

Best Overseas Conference Centre Gold - The Convention Centre Dublin (The CCD) Silver - Grimaldi Forum Monaco Bronze - RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre

Best Venue Group Meeting Product Gold - 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 Company Gold - Vista Events DMC Greece Silver - ECMeetings Malta Bronze - Factor 3 Events

Best Airline Gold - British Airways Silver - Emirates Bronze - Virgin Atlantic

Best Academic Venue Gold - Imago Venues - Burleigh Court Silver Technology & Innovation Centre - University Of Strathclyde Bronze - Warwick Conferences

Best UK Convention Bureau Gold - Glasgow Convention Bureau Silver - NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau Bronze - Conference Hull Bronze - London & Partners

Best Overseas Convention Bureau Gold - Monaco Tourist Authority Silver - The Hague Convention Bureau Bronze - Dubai Business Events

Best UK Unusual Venue Gold - Alton Towers Resort Silver - Coombe Abbey Hotel Bronze - Tobacco Dock

Best Event Provider Gold - KDM Events Silver - Firebird Events Bronze - AVT Connect

Best Food & Beverage Supplier Gold - Imago Venues - Burleigh Court Silver - Kudos Bronze - rhubarb

Personality of the Year Gold - 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

View the event images here. 

Written By

Paul Harvey

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.