AEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2025 CELEBRATES GOLD-STANDARD ACHIEVEMENTS

The Association of Event Organisers (AEO) returned to Grosvenor House on Park Lane on Friday 13th June for the AEO Excellence Awards 2025, celebrating the talent, creativity, and resilience across the events industry.

With a “touch of gold” dress code and a buzzing atmosphere, the event was hosted by actor and comedian Stephen Mangan, who brought wit and warmth to the stage as the afternoon unfolded into an unmissable celebration of standout individuals, teams, and campaigns.

Anna Golden, chief executive officer of AEO said: “My first AEO Excellence Awards as chief executive - and what an introduction. It was inspiring to see the industry come together with such energy and passion. ‘A touch of gold’ captured not only the dress code, but the spirit of the day.

One standout moment was celebrating Lisa Hannant’s outstanding contribution to the industry. Hearing the tributes from colleagues past and present describing her as fearless, loyal and a true innovator, was incredibly moving. It was a real privilege to experience the day from the inside.”

The event welcomed over 1000 event professionals from across the sector for an afternoon of recognition and connection, as the winners of 2025 were announced across more than 20 categories. From powerful ESG initiatives to world-class tradeshows, the awards recognised the best of the best in an industry that continues to evolve, innovate, and lead.

Spotlight on the winners – judges’ comments:

Marketing Campaign of the Year – Consumer Show

Raccoon Media Group – National Running Show 2025

“What an amazing entry! A campaign that moved from strength to strength and kept delivering.”

 

Marketing Campaign of the Year – UK Tradeshow

CloserStill Media – Top 100 Marketing Influencers

“A great example of a community-led campaign that truly supported the main event.”

 

Marketing Campaign of the Year – International Tradeshow

dmg events – Big 5 Global

“Progressive use of data and incentives – clearly effective.”

 

Best International Show – Middle East & Africa

Tahaluf – Global Health Exhibition

“Immersive experiences, a hackathon, and a Live Well Zone made this a compelling entry.”

 

Best International Show – Europe

Clarion Events – World Gaming Week 2025

“Very high rebook and customer satisfaction rates – an incredible relocation success.”

 

Best International Show – Americas

Informa – MRO Americas

“Clear objectives and strong personalisation and inclusion.”

 

Best International Show – Asia Pacific

CloserStill Media – Tech Week Singapore

“Impressive use of technology and strong rebooking rates in a mature market.”

 

ESG Initiative of the Year

Raccoon Media Group

“A well-rounded and practical ESG approach with strong governance.”

 

Best UK Conference

GovNet – Counter Fraud 2025

“Strategic challenges clearly documented and effectively addressed.”

 

Best International Conference

Tahaluf – Black Hat MEA

“Impactful strategy with personalisation and inclusion techniques.”

 

Unsung Hero

Margaret Cowan – QD Events

“An extraordinary leader described as the ‘Carnival Queen’, with 35 years of impact.”

 

Independent Organiser of the Year (<20 Employees)

Hub Exhibitions

“Proactive post-pandemic strategy and community focus.”

 

Independent Organiser of the Year (>20 Employees)

Raccoon Media Group

“Collaborative content approach and strong charity alignment.”

 

Venue of the Year (<20,000sqm)

ACC Liverpool

“Sustainability and accessibility at the heart of its operations.”

 

Venue of the Year (>20,000sqm)

Excel London

“World-class customer experience and investment-led growth.”

 

Service Supplier of the Year

Creative Hire

“An entry that made judges want to work there – excellence in every metric.”

 

Organiser Team of the Year

Clarion Events – Clarion Gaming

“Clear strategy, competitive positioning and exhibitor value delivery.”

 

Best Event Launch

Tahaluf – 24 Fintech

“They didn’t just meet targets – they smashed them.”

 

Best Consumer Show

Raccoon Media Group – National Running Show

“Incredible ROI and resilience – a standout entry.”

 

Best UK Tradeshow (<2,000sqm)

Broadway Events – Childcare & Education Expo

“Strong results driven by user insight and great design.”

 

Best UK Tradeshow (2,001–4,000sqm)

William Reed Ltd – The London Coffee Festival

“Commendable rebook rates, team focus, and brand refresh.”

 

Best UK Tradeshow (4,001–8,000sqm)

Media 10 – Clerkenwell Design Week

“A focused anniversary celebration and strong venue strategy.”

 

Best UK Tradeshow (>8,000sqm)

Northstar Travel Media – Business Travel Show Europe

“Targeted strategy, strong evidence, and powerful testimonials.”

 

AEO thanks all judges, sponsors, and supporters who helped make the event a highlight in the industry calendar.

To view the full list of winners and images from the event, visit www.aeoawards.org.