NACE One Awards Categories and Fees


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Upcoming Deadlines:

Entries Open


March 2023

Submission Deadline


May 22, 2023, 11:59 PM Pacific

Nominees Announced


June 12, 2023

Awards Gala


July 25, 2023


Award Categories and Fees

  • Member Awards: FREE
  • Chapter Awards: FREE
  • Industry Awards: $125 Entry Fee

Add your team to your award submission!

  • Team Event of the Year Fee: $125 per participating company
  • All paid participating company winners will be presented with a physical award
  • Additional physical awards will be available for purchase after the event

Frequently Asked Questions

 


 

Industry Awards -$125 Entry fee

Submissions for Industry Awards are open to the public.

Nominees are not required to be NACE members.


Catered Event of the Year

The Catered Event of the Year award recognizes outstanding planning and execution for on-premise and off-premise events that include food and beverage.

Who should apply?

  • On-premise caterers, off-premise caterers, hotel caterers, private clubs, restaurants

Please note: the events nominated for this award MUST have taken place in 2022.

 

 

Criteria 

Submit Nomination 

Event Design and Décor of the Year

The Event Design and Décor of the Year award recognizes outstanding achievement in event design and décor for any social or corporate event. 

Who should apply?

  • Event planners, destination management companies, experiential marketing companies, florists

Please note: the events nominated for this award MUST have taken place in 2022.

 

 

Criteria 

Submit Nomination 

Event Entertainment of the Year

The Event Entertainment of the Year award recognizes outstanding achievement in event entertainment concepts and execution for events such as parties, banquets, award ceremonies, fundraisers, festivals, sporting events, conventions and expositions, and social, corporate, and wedding events.

Who should apply?

  • DJs, live entertainment professionals, auctioneers, live musical groups, emcees, event management companies

Please note: the events nominated for this award MUST have taken place in 2022.

Criteria 

Submit Nomination 

 


Event Photography of the Year

The Event Photography of the Year award recognizes outstanding photography and the photographer’s artistic talents.

Who should apply?

  • Photographers, photo booths, drone photography

 

Please note: the events nominated for this award MUST have taken place in 2022.

 

 

 

Criteria 

Submit Nomination 

Event Production of the Year

The Event Production of the Year award recognizes outstanding achievement in the overall event planning and production of events, such as parties, banquets, award ceremonies, fundraisers, festivals, sporting events, conventions, and expositions, but excluding weddings (see Wedding of the Year award).

Who should apply?

  • Event planners, facility venue, managers, videographers, drone videography, audio-visual companies, destination management companies, event production companies, public relations groups, experiential marketing companies

Please note: the events nominated for this award MUST have taken place in 2022.

 

Criteria 

Submit Nomination 

Event Rental Collaborator of the Year

The Event Rental Collaborator of the Year award recognizes outstanding achievement in event rental support, including furniture, linens, flatware, tableware, chairs, bars, tents, dance floors, staging, pipe and drape, and anything you can rent for events.

Who should apply?

  • Party rentals, furniture rentals, linen rentals, audio-visual companies, tabletop rentals, specialty rentals, tent rentals, unique rentals

 

Please note: the events nominated for this award MUST have taken place in 2022.

 

Criteria 

Submit Nomination 

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Frontline Hero of the Year

The Frontline Hero award recognizes a catering and event professional, business, or non-profit organization who, through dedication and charity, gives back to their community during a crisis with a pivotal impact in the event and hospitality industry.

Who should apply?

  • Everyone

 

 

Criteria 

Submit Nomination 

Industry Innovator of the Year

The Industry Innovator of the Year award recognizes an industry professional or business achievement and community impact resulting from adaptation during a time of crisis. The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual or business that was pivotal in the growth and adaptation of the industry during a time of change.

Who should apply?

  • Everyone

 

Criteria 

Submit Nomination 

Speaker of the Year

The Speaker of the Year award recognizes professional speakers who consistently engage, motivate, and inspire audiences.

Who should apply?

  • Speakers

 

 

 

Criteria 

Submit Nomination 

  


Team Event of the Year

The Team Event of the Year award recognizes outstanding achievement in the seamless team effort by a group of catering and event companies to execute the total event planning and production of a catered event, such as parties, banquets, award ceremonies, fundraisers, festivals, sporting events, conventions, and expositions.

Who should apply?

  • Two or more companies who are collaborating together on an event 

Please note: the events nominated for this award MUST have taken place in 2022.

 

 

Criteria 

Submit Nomination 

Wedding of the Year

The Wedding of the Year award recognizes outstanding planning and execution for wedding events, including ceremony and reception.

Award nominations will be split into two subcategories:

  • < $75,000
  • > $75,000

Who should apply?

  • Wedding planners, venues, hotels, on-premise and off-premise caterers, private clubs

Please note: the weddings nominated for this award MUST have taken place in 2022.

 

Criteria 

Submit Nomination 

 


Chapter Awards - FREE Submission


Note: Click here to view Updated Chapter Size Tiers for 2022

Chapter of the Year

The NACE Chapter of the Year award recognizes NACE chapters that exemplify outstanding achievement in chapter planning and management, member participation, the merit of educational programs, and membership growth and retention. Entries will be judged on how well the chapter achieved its overall goals and objectives for membership, educational programs, fundraising, community service, special activities, communications, and marketing.

One award will be given to each of two tiers of chapter sizes.

  • Up to 39 members
  • 40+ members

 

Criteria 

Submit Nomination 

Chapter Community Service of the Year

The NACE Chapter Community Service of the Year award recognizes outstanding work benefiting a charitable or non-profit organization, by means of an event or series of events, outreach activity, or fundraising.

One award will be given to each of two tiers of chapter sizes.

  • Up to 39 members
  • 40+ members

 

Please note: the events nominated for this award MUST have taken place in 2022.

 

Criteria 

Submit Nomination 

 

Chapter Diversity and Inclusion of the Year

The NACE Chapter Diversity and Inclusion award recognize and celebrates a chapter’s initiatives, policies, and practices that embrace diversity and inclusion across the catering and events industry. This can be achieved through community service, professional development, and programming activities that enhance opportunities for people of diverse cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. This also includes the practice of inclusive policies and chapter procedures.

 

 

 

Criteria 

Submit Nomination 

 


Chapter Education Program of the Year

The NACE Chapter Education Program of the Year award recognizes the planning, production, and execution of a chapter program that demonstrates superior achievement in educational content.

One award will be given to each of two tiers of chapter sizes.

  • Up to 39 members
  • 40+ members

 

Please note: the events nominated for this award MUST have taken place in 2022.

 

Criteria 

Submit Nomination 

Chapter Fundraising Event of the Year

The NACE Chapter Fundraising Event of the Year award recognizes success in planning, producing, and executing a single fundraising event for the chapter that exemplifies the outstanding efforts and abilities of the chapter and its members.

One award will be given to each of two tiers of chapter sizes.

  • Up to 39 members
  • 40+ members

Please note: the events nominated for this award MUST have taken place in 2022.

 

Criteria

Submit Nomination 

 

Chapter Program of the Year

The NACE Chapter Program of the Year award recognizes the planning, production, and execution of a chapter program, which demonstrates superior achievement in educational content, theme, and presentation.

One award will be given to each of  two tiers of chapter sizes.

  • Up to 39 members
  • 40+ members

 

Please note: the events nominated for this award MUST have taken place in 2022.

 

Criteria

Submit Nomination 


Member Awards - FREE Submission


Member of the Year

The NACE Member of the Year award recognizes members whose membership, local and national association participation, contributions, and involvement have made a significant impact on NACE.
 






​​​Criteria 

Submit Nomination 

Student Member of the Year

The NACE Student Member of the Year award recognizes student members whose chapter participation, contributions, and involvement have paved the way for fellow and future students, as well as increased the chapter’s involvement in the academic community.
 




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​​​​Criteria 

Submit Nomination 

Emerging Member of the Year

The Emerging Member award recognizes relatively new members whose membership, local and national association participation, contributions, and involvement have made a significant impact on NACE. Candidates must be professional or young professional NACE members in good standing for at least one year, but not more than 5 years.

 

 

Criteria 

Submit Nomination 

 


 

George Zell Spirit of NACE

The George Zell Spirit of NACE award recognizes NACE members whose commitment and compassion toward humanitarianism make a profound and recognizable impact in memory of NACE member George Zell, who passed away in 1999. George was the quintessential NACE member, dedicated to his chapter and the national organization through leadership. Nominations will require a recommendation from a previous George Zell Spirit of NACE award winner.


Criteria 

Submit Nomination 

 

 


Honorary Awards


Hall of Fame Award

The Hall of Fame Award honoree demonstrates history a of career achievement, sustained commitment to the advancement of the industry, and significant contributions to NACE on a national or local level. Honorees are individuals that have contributed to the catering and events industry and their service to the association has been significant, substantial, and long-standing.

The Hall of Fame honoree will be nominated by the National Board. Nominees are judged by the Awards Committee. All nominees will be interviewed and evaluated on the criteria listed below.

NACE National Board

Criteria 

Icon Award

The NACE Icon award recognizes an industry professional who has made an impact through their company’s or personal efforts that advanced or made a significant contribution to the catering and events industry. The recipient of this award will join a group of outstanding individuals who have also made a meaningful impact on the industry. The recipient will be profiled by NACE and highlighted in future NACE Experience Conference marketing and promotions.

 

 

 

Criteria 

Submit Nomination