A NEW category to recognise the sustainable initiative of the year and a re-introduced marketing campaign category are among the EIBTM 2009 Meeting and Incentive Industry Awards to be presented at a VIP ceremony taking place during EIBTM 2009 in Barcelona, Spain from December 1 to 3.

Open to all event creators and planners, the awards are given in recognition to creativity, imagination, innovation and excellence across all types of events and marketing campaigns.

Mandy Torrens EIBTM’s exhibition director said, "EIBTM has been a major driver in raising the profile of sustainability within the industry through its BS8901 accreditation. This new award reflects the number of sustainable initiative campaigns undertaken over the past twelve months."

The EIBTM 2009 Awards are divided into seven categories namely: Best Special Event, Best Conference for less than 250 participants, Best Conference for more than 250 participants, Best Product Launch, Best Incentive Programme, Sustainable Initiative of the Year and Best Destination Marketing Campaign.

Additionally, two special awards will be presented – Industry Personality of the Year (closed judging and selection process) won last year by Christian Mutschelechner, director of the Vienna Convention Bureau and Best Event Evaluation (to be judged by Elling Hamso, ROI Institute), won last year by Spain’s Innevento Comunicación en Vivo. Deadline for entries is September 18. Entry forms, entry criteria and Awards terms and conditions can be found at www.eibtm.com/awards.