The evening of 26 January 2017 saw the Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO)successfully host the first ever ROAR Organiser and Exhibitor Awards – a glamorous opportunity for the industry to unite like never before. Over 330 guests attended this glittering event which was a record for the industry. Exhibitors, organisers, suppliers, the media and industry champions joined the highly respected team of judges to celebrate the successes of the industry in 2016. The event further gave AAXO members the opportunity to network with award winners and industry greats while enjoying the inaugural traditional-themed evening at the Ticketpro Dome.
For the first time ever in South Africa, exhibitors were included in industry awards, as entries were accepted in two sections. The first, being solely for exhibitors and the second being for exhibition organisers. Chairperson of AAXO, Carol Weaving, explains: “Including exhibitors in these awards was a focus for AAXO. Previously, exhibitors were not even invited to industry awards, despite the fact that there would really be no stands or even exhibitions without them. AAXO’s focus has always been to champion the cause of our members, but also of the industry as a whole. The ROAR Organiser and Exhibitor Awards give us one opportunity to do so.”
For the Best Exhibitor Awards, entries were accepted in five categories, including Trade Exhibition, Trade and Consumer Exhibition, Consumer Exhibition, Confex and Table Top Exhibition and exhibitors and exhibition organisers were competing for over 16 individual awards. A record 40 entries were submitted for judging.
To ensure that judging took place to the highest standard given the broad range of categories, AAXO required a unique, talented and highly experienced group of professionals from within the exhibitions, communication and marketing industry.
The organiser award section judges included respected industry experts like Dirk Elzinger, MD, Convention Industry Consultants,TalitaMyburg, Business Unit Director, Grey Advertising, Clinton Souter, National Sales Manager, Franke, Martin Hiller, Associate Publisher and Editor, 3S media, Chantal Riley Marketing Manager, Clockwork Media and Anton Post, MD, Sanctuary Retreats
One of the well-respected AAXO ROAR Award judges, Martin Hiller, said that he was highly impressed with the standard and variety of the entries submitted. “When you have the opportunity to judge so many unique and interesting entries it just demonstrates the skilled and dedicated professionals we have in exhibitions in South Africa. It drives home the fact that the South African Exhibitions industry can truly compete on an international stage.”
Reed Exhibitions enjoyed great recognition for their exhibition DecorexJoburg, which was awarded the ‘2016 Exhibition of the Year Award’. “It is a complete privilege to win this award,” explains SianCullingworth, Portfolio Manager for Reed Exhibitions. “We were up against amazing competition and winning this award not only gives us a lot of clout among our peers, but also solidifies our reputation and value proposition among our exhibitors; it proves that DecorexJoburg is here to stay.”
Some of the other well-deserved winners in the various categories included:
- In the category ‘Best Trade Exhibition: Under 6000 square meters’, Food and Hospitality Africa incorporating Hostexorganised by Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery.
- For ‘Best Trade Exhibition: 6001 – 12000 square meters’, the joint winners were African Utility Week organised by Spintelligent and WTM Africa organised by Reed Exhibitions.
- ‘Best Consumer Exhibition 6001 – 12000 square meters’ went to MamaMagic, The Baby Expo, Joburg Winter organised by Exposure Marketing.
- 100% Design South Africa organised by Reed Exhibitions took the ‘Best Trade and Consumer Exhibition under 6000 square meters’ award.
- The ‘Best Table Top Exhibition’ went to Africa Showcase in North America organised by On Show Solutions.
“We would like to thank the esteemed panel of judges for being able to consider entries of such excellence. I would not want to be in the same position! Thank you also to EXSA and the Exhibition Industry Awards for their partnership in hosting the ROAR Organiser and Exhibitor Awards and thereby uniting the industry. And thank you to each entrant for attending and also for the exceptional quality of submissions.
AAXO was created to bring quality, credibility and professionalism to the exhibition industry. It is good to see that we are steering in exactly the right direction.” – Carol Weaving MD, AAXO
AAXO ROAR Award winners list:
ROAR Exhibitor Awards:
In the Trade Exhibition Category, Distinctions in Exhibiting went to:
- Carison Rezidor Hotel Group built by Pivion at WTM Africa
- India Tourism built by Scan Display at WTM
- Nosa built by Sugo Projects at A-Osh
- Compex built by Compex at Markex
- Scan Display built by Scan Display at Markex
- BCE built by Expo Guys at Food and Hospitality Africa
In the Consumer Exhibition Category, Distinctions in Exhibiting went to:
- YuppieChef built by Hollywood Furniture at The Wedding Expo Joburg
- Lounge Around built by Lounge Around at The Wedding Expo Joburg
- Pampers by Procter & Gamble built by Cube Design Innovations at MamaMagic, The Baby Expo Durban
- Born Fabulous built by Efam at MamaMagic, The Baby Expo, Joburg Summer
In the Trade and Consumer Exhibition Category, Distinctions in Exhibiting went to:
- Belgotex Floors designed by Marot and Sanders and built by Compex at Decorex Joburg
- Caeserstone built by Progroup at Decorex SA
- Franke built by Penny Patrick at Decorex Joburg
- Dokter and Misses built by Dokter and Misses at 100% Design
ROAR Exhibition Organiser Awards:
In the category ‘Best Trade Exhibition: under 6000 square meters:
- The winner was Food and Hospitality incorporating Hostex organised by Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery
In the ‘Best Trade Exhibitions: 6001 – 12000 square meters:
- The joint winners were African Utility Week organised by Spintelligent and WTM Africa organised by Reed Exhibitions
In the ‘Best Trade Exhibition: over 12000 square meters:
- Electra Mining Africa organised by Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery took the award
In the category “Best Consumer Exhibition under 6000 square meters:
- Tops at Spar Wine Show organised by The Wine Show received the award
In the ‘Best Consumer Exhibition 6001 -12000 square meters:
- MamaMagic, The Baby Expo, Joburg Winter organised by Exposure Marketing
In the ‘Best Consumer Exhibition over 12000 square meters:
- SA Cheese Festival organised by Agri Expo and MamaMagic, The Baby Expo, Joburg Summer
In the ‘Best Trade and Consumer Exhibition under 6000 square meters:
- 100% Design South Africa organised by Reed Exhibitions
In the ‘Best Trade and Consumer Exhibition 6000 – 12000 square meters:
- Decorex Durban organised by Reed Exhibitions
In the ‘Best Trade and Consumer Exhibition over 12000 square meters:
- Agritech Expo Zambia organised by Spintelligent
In the ‘Best Confex’ category:
- African Real Estate & Infrastructure Summit organised by Spintelligent
In the ‘Best Table Top’ category:
- Africa Showcase in North America organised by On Show Solutions
The ‘Distinctions in Greening’ award went to:
- Meetings Africa organised by Synergy Business Events
The ‘Distinctions in Social Responsibility’ award went to:
- Agritech Expo Zambia organised by Spintelligent
The ‘2016 Exhibition of the Year’ award went to:
- Decorex Joburg organised by Reed Exhibitions
For more information on AAXO,visit www.aaxo.co.za or contact Annamari Erwee on 011 549 8300 or at admin@aaxo.co.za.
All membership inquiries, including a full list of membership benefits and information on how to join can be directed tomembers@aaxo.co.za.
For more information on EXSA including a full list of membership benefits and information on how to join visit www.exsa.co.za or contact ThuliNdlovuon 011 805 7272 or at info@exsa.co.za
