The AIPC Innovation Award:
An Opportunity for Member Recognition

Two years ago the AIPC Innovation Award was established as a counterpart to the AIPC Apex Award for “World’s Best Congress Centre”, in response to the many other dimensions of the overall management equation that also deserve attention. As its name suggests, the Innovation Award recognizes the creation of new approaches in any aspect of management, marketing or operation of convention centres.

The AIPC Innovation Award reflects AIPC’s mission of “Encouraging and recognizing excellence in congress centre management”. It is made for specific projects or initiatives that represent “innovation” in the true sense of the word; that is, the development of a new, more creative or more effective approach to any aspect of congress centre management, operations or marketing.

The presentation of the 2009 AIPC Innovation Award candidates was accompanied by a poster session for entries and an opportunity for members to vote for their own choice as to the best innovation alongside the selection made by the formal Award judges based on a detailed analysis of entries. As a result, there were two awards made from the wide range of projects submitted for consideration:

The overall 2009 Innovation Award was made to the Adelaide Convention Centre of Australia for their comprehensive recycling and food management program;

The delegates choice award was made to the Darwin Convention Centre for the Darwin Workforce Development Strategy

AIPC Innovation Award winners in 2007 were the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, for recognizing the importance of "green”  issues to congress centres through their Zero Waste program; the Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB) for their new program for the management of technology, and the Washington State Convention and Trade Centre, Seattle, for the development of a food and beverage program that combined service, marketing and community relations.

The 2011 AIPC Innovation Award will be held in conjunction with the 2011 Annual Conference in San Diego, USA.

The winners of the AIPC Innovation Award are accorded the same level of recognition now given to AIPC Apex Award winners. Publicity will be achieved through trade media, member communications and industry presentations. At the same time, winners will be given the opportunity to profile their winning innovation as a case study to be presented as part of the Annual Conference program.