What was the most innovative event concept this year? Who came up with the smartest integration of social media? Which new venue is the best option for meetings and events? For the second year, BizBash is honoring the best ideas, strategies, products, and venues across North America with the 2014 National Event Style Awards. And, after examining nearly 1,000 submissions—entries from Alabama to Vancouver, California to Montreal, and everywhere in between—the judges have narrowed each category down to the finalists. The winners will be announced at BizBash Live: The Expo New York on October 28 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center; more information on how to attend the expo and the award ceremony can be found here.
BizBash is also introducing the People's Choice Awards this year, eight of the most popular award categories—plus a section for the most promising event or meeting professional in North America—open to public vote. See who the finalists are here.
Update: Due to an error, a finalist was excluded from the original version of this story.
Best Association Event
Design Leadership Network's Design Leadership Summit
Submitted by Barkley Kalpak Agency
Entrepreneurs' Organization University 2013
Submitted by Inspiria Global Events
U.S. Travel Association's IPW (International Pow Wow) Closing-Night Party
Submitted by Sodexo Leisure Services at the Museum of Science and Industry
Best Conference
Hamptonality Unleashed: 2014 Ultimate GM Huddle
Submitted by AgencyEA
2014 PTTOW! Summit
Submitted by JOWY Productions
Women in the World Summit 2014
Submitted by Tina Brown Live Media/Women in the World Media
Best Marketing Activation or Guerrilla Marketing Campaign*
Carlsberg's Join the Greats Campaign
Submitted by Verve Marketing
Coca-Cola's "Share a Coke" Gallery
Submitted by Verve Marketing
Target's "Best.Snowday.Ever"
Submitted by Deutsch
Target's Snack Shack Tour
Submitted by David Stark Design and Production
Best Product Launch
Call of Duty: Ghosts Multiplayer Reveal
Submitted by NCompass International
Nespresso's 108-Day Invasion Tour
Submitted by MAS Event & Design
Ray-Ban District 1937 Launch
Submitted by Luxottica
Best Social Event*
50th Birthday Party
Submitted by AOO Events
Tropical-Style Birthday Celebration
Submitted by Silhouette Group
Winter Wonderland Wedding
Submitted by A Legendary Event
Best Trade or Consumer Show
The Agenda Show 2014
Submitted by Global Experience Specialists (G.E.S.)
E3
Submitted by IDG WorldExpo
The WedLuxe Wedding Show
Submitted by WedLuxe
Best Corporate Event Concept—Budget Over $250,000*
2014 AMC Upfront
Submitted by Empire Entertainment
Puppy Bowl X Experience
Submitted by Discovery Communications
Target's "Best.Snowday.Ever"
Submitted by Deutsch
Universal Music Group's 2014 Grammy After-Party
Submitted by Krislyn Design
Best Corporate Event Concept—Budget Under $250,000*
Kawasaki's "Gaslamp Takeover"
Submitted by Access Destination Services
La Quinta Inn & Suites' Annual Meeting
Submitted by Raymond Ramsay & Associates
The Outlet Collection at Niagara's Grand Opening Event
Submitted by the Mint Agency
Best Nonprofit Event Concept—Budget Over $250,000*
Creative Time's 2014 Gala
Submitted by BMF Media
Pacific Pride Foundation's Royal Ball
Submitted by Merryl Brown Events
Safeway Foundation's 2013 Gala
Submitted by Blueprint Studios
Best Nonprofit Event Concept—Budget Under $250,000*
Celebrity Series' Le Grand Continental
Submitted by Celebrity Series of Boston
Nature Conservancy of Arizona's "Restoring Arizona's Forests" Opening and Dinner
Submitted by Nature Conservancy of Arizona
U.C.I. MIND's Time of Your Life 2013 Benefit
Submitted by Elite OC Productions
Best Event Decor—Budget Over $250,000*
Absolut's Tales of the Cocktail Welcome Reception
Submitted by Legacy Marketing Partners
Food Network's 20th Birthday Party
Submitted by Mirrorball
High-Tech Indian Wedding
Submitted by AOO Events
Best Event Decor—Budget Under $250,000*
Godiva Lounge at Warner Brothers and In Style Golden Globes Party
Submitted by Abel McCallister Designs
Southern Makers
Submitted by Goodwyn, Mills, and Cawood
U.S. Travel Association's IPW (International Pow Wow) Closing-Night Party
Submitted by Kehoe Designs
Best Catering at an Event
Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce's Experience: East Meets West Celebration
Submitted by An Catering
Boston Scientific's Global Leadership Summit
Submitted by BeEvents
Dancing With the Stars Season 18 Wrap Party
Submitted by Riviera 31 at the Sofitel Hotel Los Angeles
Best Event Lighting Design
Redwood Forest Wedding
Submitted by Got Light
65th Annual Primetime Emmys Governors Ball
Submitted by Images by Lighting
Universal Music Group's 2014 Grammy After-Party
Submitted by Krislyn Design
Best Floral Design for an Event or Meeting
Citi ThankYou Event With John Legend
Submitted by Mac Presents
Staro-Bruskin Wedding
Submitted by En Masse Flowers
Traditional With a Modern Twist Wedding
Submitted by Birch Event Design
Best Print Invitation Design
ChiTown Yacht Charters' Launch Party
Submitted by Dragonfly Custom Design
"Garden Glamor" Wedding
Submitted by Ceci New York
"The Great Party"
Submitted by RedBliss Design
Best Staging and Set Design
Doodle 4 Google 2014
Submitted by Google
Puppy Bowl X Experience
Submitted by Discovery Communications
Talking Transition
Submitted by Production Glue
Best Trade Show Booth
Activision & Blizzard's E3 Experience
Submitted by NCompass International
American Express Open at 2014 International C.E.S.
Submitted by Momentum Worldwide
Target at 2013 WBENC National Conference & Business Fair
Submitted by Amy Zaroff Events & Design
Best Use of Event Technology
Audi A3 Launch
Submitted by MKG
Delta's "Social Soul" Experience at TED2014
Submitted by MKG
Private Event at Umaid Bhawan Palace
Submitted by Bart Kresa Design
Best Use of Social Media for an Event or Meeting
Bryant University's 151st Commencement
Submitted by Bryant University
Mashable House at SXSW 2014
Submitted by Mashable
Target's "Give With Target" Campaign
Submitted by Periscope
Best Use of Special Effects at Events
Audi A3 Launch
Submitted by MKG
Christie Digital at the Palm Expo 2014
Submitted by Bart Kresa Design
Rhone Valley Wines' "Rhone Odyssey"
Submitted by Sopexa USA
Best Use of Video at an Event
2014 AMC Upfront
Submitted by Empire Entertainment
2014 ESPN Upfront
Submitted by Invnt
Pilot Freight National Meeting
Submitted by CinemaCake Filmmakers
Best Video Capture of an Event
2014 AMC Upfront
Submitted by Empire Entertainment
Huawei's Ascend P6 Global Launch
Submitted by Uniplan Hong Kong
Target's "Best.Snowday.Ever"
Submitted by Deutsch
Best Event Photo
Target's "Write the Next Chapter" at TED2014
Submitted by Deutsch
Times Square Alliance's Love in Times Square
Submitted by CenterPeace Films/Hart Productions
Waldorf-Astoria Wedding
Submitted by Pegasus Productions
Best Event Entertainment Act
Aerial Dubstep Violin With Video Mapping
Submitted by L.E.D. (Luminocity Entertainment Division)
Extreme Beam
Submitted by T. Skorman Productions
SwarmGaming
Submitted by Swarmworks
Best New Event Product
Mobile Luxury Suites
Submitted by Forts
Social App
Submitted by Attendify
SuperWall
Submitted by Atomic
Best New Venue for Meetings and Events
E11even
Herscher Hall and Guerin Pavilion
Best Hotel for Meetings and Events
Conrad New York
Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto
Best Rooftop Space
Miami Design District Rooftop Garden
Top of the Lot at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center
Touché Rooftop Lounge & Restaurant
Best Wedding and Events Venue
Keep Memory Alive Event Center
Tiato Kitchen Bar Garden & Venue
* These categories are also part of the People's Choice Awards, where the winners will be determined by a separate public vote.
