What a night! M&IT Awards 2021 reunites sector in style

What a night! M&IT Awards 2021 reunites sector in style

The M&IT Awards 2021 saw the industry come together in celebration of event professionals on an exciting and emotional night in London.

The sector turned out in force for a glittering night with more than 550 event professionals in attendance at Battersea Evolution to celebrate the great and good of the industry.

The evening was once again compered by Welsh television presenter Gethin Jones, while last year’s Events R Talented winner Megan Unwin got the crowd up and dancing early on with her version of Amy Winehouse’s Valerie.

The awards saw Meetings Industry Association chief executive Jane Longhurst take home the Personality of the Year award, with Delegate Wrangler’s founder Neil Thompson named as runner-up.

Venues & Events International scored a double gold award win, landing both the Best Intermediary Agency (fewer than 40 employees) and Best Crisis Response gongs, the latter in recognition of the agency’s incredible work throughout the pandemic.

Glasgow Convention Bureau picked up the Best UK Convention Bureau award for an incredible 15th year running, while Park Regis Birmingham scooped Best UK Hotel.

M&IT editor Paul Harvey said: “The M&IT Awards 2021 were a fantastic release for a sector that has not had a chance to celebrate in far too long. It was such a thrill to come together and honour the sector after what has been such a difficult 18 months for so many of us. Congratulations to all our winners and finalists, huge thanks to all our sponsors, and thank you to everyone that attended for making it such a special night. These awards will live long in the memory as the moment the sector was finally able to have fun again.”

The night also saw industry charity Meeting Needs raise thousands with a table raffle and present its David Hackett Award for outstanding achievement to SongDivision. Following the awards, the industry partied the night away on the dancefloor.