Santos Tour Down Under sets the pace at 2011 Australian Event Awards

The 2011 Santos Tour Down Under, Mother's Day Classic, the Sydney Festival and Australian Open are among Australia's most exceptional events named at the 2011 Australian Event Awards in Sydney last night (6th October).

With all six states represented, the Australian Event Awards is a celebration of the thriving national events industry, from major sporting tournaments and arts festivals, to charity events and business conferences.

The glittering night attended by hundreds of industry specialists was staged at Allphones Arena (formerly ACER Arena), Sydney Olympic Park tonight with extraordinary performances by all four Entertainer of the Year finalists.

Introducing the awards, Johnny Allen, Foundation Director of the Australian Centre for Event management and co-chair of the judges explained "from Australia's expertise in major sporting events like the 2011 Santos Tour Down Under and the Australian Open, to arts festivals such as Tropfest, Melbourne Music and the Sydney Festival, the judges were enthralled by the excellence and diversity of Australia's events arena.

"From more than 70 finalist entries across all categories, the judges made some tough decisions to select Australia's most remarkable achievements in an industry brimming with creativity, innovation and professional talent. The 2011 winners showcase a great range of brilliant events including Tasmania's Ten Days on an Island, the 35th International Trumpet Guild Conference, and outstanding individual successes, such as young achiever, Tara Whitfield and the world's fastest portrait painter, Brad Blaze."

After winning Best Tourism Event for the third consecutive year, Events South Australia took home the most prestigious award of the night, the 2011 Australian Event of the Year for the universally successful 2011 Santos Tour Down Under.

Allen added "the Santos Tour Down Under was again an incredible success, attracting thousands of people from across Australia and around the world to Adelaide last January. The incredible eight-day event has become a very important opening race on the UCI World Tour Program, with world ranked cyclists, including Lance Armstrong, making the journey from abroad to compete on the spectacular route."

The man behind numerous Australian iconic events and music legends, Peter Rix, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award, for his outstanding creativity, innovation and dedication to Australia's events and entertainment culture.

Another one of Australia's leading event producers and Judge of the Event Awards, David Grant added "Peter has delivered many of Australia's most memorable events, using his outstanding creativity and ultimate professionalism to produce unique, landmark experiences that both the industry and general public enjoy and fondly refer to."

Australia's expertise in producing events overseas was recognised in the category for Best Event Export, with Laservision Mega-Media receiving the award for delivering the launch of Fortune 500 company, Las Vegas Sands Corporation's newest hotel in Singapore - The Marina Bay Sands.
Best New Event was awarded to the City of Melbourne for Melbourne Music, an inaugural festival of great diversity that activated major live music venues and included over 100 free concerts.

Winner of two awards, the brand communication specialists, IMAGINATION, won Best Corporate Event for the Ford Ranger Global Launch Event and Best Achievement in Design, Look or Theming for the Ford stand at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney 2010.

Nominated as finalists in three categories, 2Fish Brand Experience Creators were rewarded for their innovative use of technology in the Hot Wheels Secret Race Battle, while the Sydney Showground was named Best Venue.

The Event Manager of the Year went to the small team at leading event management agency, Out There Productions, for their consistent production of high quality, innovative and diverse of the ...

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