The 2013 Venue Excellence Awards were presented in New Orleans, La., July 29 at VenueConnect, IAVM’s 88th annual conference and trade show. These prestigious awards recognize venues including stadiums, convention centers, arenas, and performing arts centers, and academic institutions that demonstrate excellence in the following four criteria: service to the community, team building/professional development, safety and security, and operational excellence. The criteria used to evaluate the venues are at the core of IAVM’s mission, and are key components to the success and vitality of the venue industry. A committee of industry leaders chose the finalists for each venue type, and winners were approved by the IAVM Board of Directors.
The 2013 Venue Excellence Award Winners
INTRUST Bank Arena – Wichita, Kansas
Convention Centers/Exhibit Halls
Orange County Convention Center – Orlando, Florida
Performing Arts Centers
Starlight Theatre – Kansas City, Missouri
Stadiums
Georgia Dome – Atlanta, Georgia
Venue Education Award
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. – Toronto, Ontario Canada
IAVM President and CEO, Vicki Hawarden remarked after the awards luncheon on Monday, “Each winning venue epitomizes what we all strive for in our organizations – a shared sense of purpose and vision with collaboration and innovation at the forefront.” Representatives from each of the winning venues were on-hand to accept their award, including Jan Addison, CFE and Deputy General Manager of the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida. “It is an honor to be recognized by the International Association of Venue Managers with the 2013 Venue Excellence Award,” said Kathie Canning, the Orange County Convention Center, executive director. “Providing our clients with top-tier service is a priority at our center and being recognized for it is a testament to our staff, partners and service contractors.”
In its 88th year, the Association’s annual conference and trade show is considered to be one of the largest venue industry gatherings in the U.S. Approximately 1200 venue management professionals and exhibitors attended this year’s conference. Next year’s annual VenueConnect 2014 will take place July 26-29, 2014 in Portland, Oregon.
The 2013 Venue Excellence Awards luncheon was sponsored by Ungerboeck Software International. Venue Excellence Award, Arenas, sponsored by BOK Center; Venue Excellence Award, Convention Centers, sponsored by Freeman; and the Venue Education Award, sponsored by Northwood University.
