Lemon Lane, Carden Park Hotel and Imago Venues were among the winners at the 2026 miaList, as the Meetings Industry Association recognised individuals, venues, agencies and events across 14 categories.
Carden Park Hotel was named Venue of the Year for venues with a capacity of more than 300, while Imago Venues – Burleigh Court took gold in the under-300 category.
Sam Glenister-Batey, University of Leeds, Conferences & Events, received the Inspirational Leadership Award, presented this year in memory of the late Gail Tomlinson-Short.
The awards were announced at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham, with Lemon Lane named Agency of the Year and Leopold Marketing Limited taking Supplier of the Year.
Tori Hodges of Edgbaston Park Hotel & Conference Centre won gold in the Rising Star Award, while Church House Westminster took the top prize for Events & Operations Team of the Year and Imago Venues' commercial team won Sales & Marketing Team of the Year.
Celtic Manor Resort won the ESG Initiative category, Liverpool Hospitality Association took the Destination Initiative award for its Agency Fam Trip March 2026, and Lumiere London Underwood Flagship won gold for Inclusive Events Initiative.
Two event categories were also recognised. University of Birmingham's Christmas on Campus: 125 edition won Event of the Year for events with more than 300 attendees, while Experience North East England's Media Gateway 2026 took gold in the under-300 category.
MIA chief executive Shonali Devereaux said: “As an industry, we're brilliant at creating memorable experiences for others, but we don't always stop to celebrate our own achievements. That's what I love about the miaList. It's an opportunity to recognise the hard work, ambition and sheer determination that so often goes on behind the scenes, and this year's winners have given us so much to be proud of.
“It's particularly exciting to see established industry names and organisations celebrated alongside those making their mark for the first time. It’s the mix of experience, fresh thinking and a willingness to challenge the norm that keeps our sector moving forward, and this years’ miaList is a fantastic reflection of exactly that. I'm hugely grateful to our judges for the time and expertise they've dedicated to recognising these achievements. And to all our winners and finalists, I hope you take a moment to enjoy this recognition and feel incredibly proud of what you've accomplished. It's thoroughly deserved.”
2026 miaList individuals
The 10 individuals securing a place on the 2026 miaList were:
- Abbie Tindal, Access Bookings
- Gail Aldridge, The Belfry Hotel & Resort
- Hayley Hardy, Imago Venues
- Kieron Bowen, Eventurous
- Lucy Nicholls, The PS Events Group
- Matt Whiteman, The Venues Collection
- Michelle Osborne, Nottingham Venues
- Robert Mitchell, Imperial War Museums
- Susi Lennie, Crowne Plaza – Newcastle, Stephenson Quarter
- Tracey Whyte, Edgbaston Park Hotel & Conference Centre
Full 2026 miaList award winners
Inspirational Leadership Award
Winner: Sam Glenister-Batey, University of Leeds, Conferences & Events
Rising Star Award
Gold: Tori Hodges, Edgbaston Park Hotel & Conference Centre
Silver: Isabel Harrison, The Belfry Hotel & Resort
Bronze: Scarlett Barker-Niland, The Belfry Hotel & Resort
Venue of the Year, under 300 capacity
Gold: Imago Venues – Burleigh Court
Silver: Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross
Bronze: Churchill War Rooms – Company of Cooks
Venue of the Year, over 300 capacity
Gold: Carden Park Hotel
Silver: Hilton Birmingham Metropole
Bronze: British Motor Museum
Agency of the Year
Gold: Lemon Lane
Silver: Premier Events
Bronze: Blackberry Events
Supplier of the Year
Gold: Leopold Marketing Limited
Silver: Selling Savvy
Bronze: Just Smile Ltd
Event of the Year, over 300 attendees
Winner: University of Birmingham – Christmas on Campus: 125 edition
Highly commended: Whittlebury Park – Formula 1 British Grand Prix Weekend
Event of the Year, under 300 attendees
Gold: Experience North East England – Media Gateway 2026
Silver: Event Essex
Bronze: Whittlebury Park – France & Ireland Women’s Rugby World Cup
Events & Operations Team of the Year
Gold: Church House Westminster
Silver: ICC Wales
Bronze: Warwick Conferences
Sales & Marketing Team of the Year
Gold: Imago Venues – Commercial Team
Silver: ICC Belfast
Bronze: Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter
ESG Initiative
Winner: Celtic Manor Resort
Highly commended: Clean the World Global
Destination Initiative
Winner: Liverpool Hospitality Association – Agency Fam Trip March 2026
Inclusive Events Initiative
Gold: Lumiere London Underwood Flagship
Silver: MEN (Meetings and Events Network)
Bronze: University of Leeds Conference Events
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.
