EIBTM launches second year of Industry Press Awards

Following the successful launch of last year’s industry press award EIBTM ‘Journalist of the Year’ 2003, EIBTM continues to recognise the vital role the media plays within the industry and has announced the presentation of the award, for the second year running, at this year’s EIBTM in Barcelona, November, 30th to December 2nd.

The award was launched by EIBTM last year to acknowledge the contribution and support the specialist meetings and incentive press provides to the industry. Last year’s winner, Hans-Jürgen Heinrich, editor-in-chief of Convention International Magazine, Germany won EIBTM’s first ‘Journalist of the Year’ award for his piece entitled, ‘Social Incentives – Categorical Imperative?’ and a runners-up certificate went to John Keenan, editor of M&IT, for his article called ‘Corporate Cool – how MTV channels the brand image’.

The winner, Hans Jürgen Heinrich, said proudly: “Recognising excellence in the industry by creating awards is a well-practised responsibility of international fair organisers. Journalists usually stand on the sidelines but hardly win awards themselves. So it was an excellent idea of the EIBTM team to create a special award for the writing guild. I am proud to be the first winner of a long list of many colleagues who will succeed in the following years with outstanding editorial contributions on the international MICE business.”

In 2003 entries were received from print and electronic journalists throughout Europe, Australia, Asia and Canada. Each entry was reviewed and judged by a panel of industry leaders including ICCA's Chief Executive Officer, Martin Sirk, Peter Haigh, International Sales and Marketing, Director, UK Accor Hotels and President of the European Council for MPI and Stephen Norcliffe, Commercial Director of the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster, London, UK.

The EIBTM ‘Journalist of the Year’ 2004 award is open to all journalists writing for a publication within the specialist meetings, incentive and business travel press. The qualifying period is from May 2003 to July 2004 and to meet the criteria, entrants must display a strong grasp of the issues effecting the meetings and incentive travel sector. Their entries should offer insight and constructive comment on the industry through interesting and thought-provoking copy.