The Association of Event Organisers (AEO) has revealed the finalists for its 2011 AEO Excellence Awards.
 
The list of contenders was chosen by an industry judging panel during a meeting on 9 May. The AEO awards ceremony takes place at Excel London on 1 July.
 
“We are delighted to have received a record number of entries again this year,” AEO chief executive Austen Hawkins said. “The competition was fierce and the judges commented on the high quality of the entries submitted.”
 
The full list of finalists is below.
 
Official Contractor of the Year

• 360 Creative Event Services
• CEVA Showfreight
• Melville Exhibition & Event Services
• Penny Banks
• Solutions2UK

Service Supplier of the Year

• 360 Creative Event Services
• ASP
• CEVA Showfreight
• Etherlive
• Hotelzon UK
• Joe Manby
• Melville Middle East
• Showlite

Equipment Supplier of the Year

• 123 Hire
• Penny Banks
• Smart AV (UK)

Stand Design & Build Supplier of the Year

• 4D Design & Display
• Bray Leino Events
• Clements and Street Design Build
• Communication by Design
• Melville Teamwork
• RTH
• Skyline Whitespace
• Solutions2UK

Supplier Team of the Year

• CEVA Showfreight IT
• Eligo Recruitment
• Melville Exhibition & Event Services - The Green Team
• Penny Banks
• RTH 'Green' Team
• The Oasis Graphic Company

UK Venue of the Year

• Business Design Centre
• Excel London
• Manchester Central
• Olympia
• One Wimpole Street
• Ricoh Arena
• Roundhouse

International Venue of the Year

• ADNEC
• Amsterdam RAI

Venue Team of the Year

• Business Design Centre Front of House
• EC&O Marketing
• Edinburgh International Conference Centre Green Team
• Manchester Central

Venue Sustainable Initiative of the Year

• ADNEC
• 'Plan-it green' by Edinburgh International Conference Centre

Best Trade Launch Show

• BETT Middle East by Emap
• Farm Shop & Deli Show by William Reed Business Media
• Packaging Innovations London by Easyfairs
• Retail Business Technology Expo by Legend Exhibitions
• White Gallery London by Ocean Media 
  

Best Consumer Launch Show

• Golf Live by Brand Events
• Outdoor Leisure Show by Ocean Media
• The Big Scuba Show by Bluestone Events

Best Tradeshow Exhibition – Over Net 2,000M2

• CPhI Worldwide/ICSE/P-MEC/BioPh by UBM
• Ipex by Informa Exhibitions
• Labelexpo Americas by Tarsus Group
• Spring Fair International by Emap Connect
• The Dentistry Show by CloserStill Media Healthcare
• World Travel Market by Reed Exhibitions

Best Tradeshow Exhibition – Under Net 2,000M2

• camexpo - The Complementary, Natural and Integrated Healthcare Show by Diversified Business Communications
• EHI Live by E-Health Media
• Event Production Show by Ocean Media
• lunch! by Diversified Business Communications

Best Consumer Exhibition

• BBC Good Food Show Summer by BBC Haymarket Exhibitions
• Clothes Show Live by Haymarket Exhibitions
• Grand Designs Live by Media 10
• Ideal Home Show by Media 10 Ventures
• National Home Improvement Show by Centaur Exhibitions
• Spirit of Christmas Fair by Clarion Events
• Taste of London by Brand Events
• The Gadget Show Live by Upper Street Events
• Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show by National Boat Shows 
  

Best Trade Live Event

• Black Hat Abu Dhabi by UBM Middle East
• British Hairdressing Awards by Reed Business Information
• GSMA Mobile World Congress by GSMA
• The Building Awards By UBM Awards
• The National Business Awards by UBM Awards
• The Oracle Retail Week Awards by Emap Inform

Best Consumer Live Event

• Coors Light Mystery Mansion by Molson Coors
• Jameson Cult Film Club by Miss Jones & Co (London)
• Top Gear Festival by Brand Events

Marketing Campaign of the Year

• Education Show by Emap
• FESPA by AD Communications
• Grand Designs Live by Media 10
• Hospitality by Fresh RM
• Ideal Home Show by Media 10 Ventures
• Labelexpo Americas by Tarsus Group
• MOVE IT by Upper Street Events
• The Dentistry Show by CloserStill Media Healthcare

Organiser Team of the Year

• BBC Haymarket Exhibitions BBC Good Food Show Summer
• BBC Haymarket Exhibitions BBC Good Food Show Winter
• Fresh RM
• Media 10 Events
• Ocean Media Consumer Leisure Show
• Tarsus Group Labelexpo Global Series
• UBM Awards

Unsung Hero

• Craig Sinclair, senior operations manager at Melville Exhibition and Event Services
• Dave Freeman at Manchester Central Convention Complex
• Denise Capello at Amsterdam RAI
• Jenni Green, operations manager at Showlite
  
• Michael Enser, group marketing manager at National Boat Shows