Wednesday, 20 March 2019

SUMMARY:
The Prestigious Star Awards Grand Ball took place on Friday evening at One Whitehall Place in London to celebrate the world’s best venues. In an evening that fizzed with energy, guests enjoyed captivating performances, glamorous dance troupes, enchanting foot jugglers, glittering musicians and ballroom dancing. London’s Grand Ball revived the elegant and timeless art of the ballroom dance in one of London's most beautiful ballrooms. Performing arts company City Academy gracefully demonstrated traditional ballroom dancing, which added a touch of magic to this opulent Ball. During the awards presentation, the 2019 winners were announced and winning venues included Palazzo Versace Dubai (UAE), Blenheim Palace (UK), Su Gologone (Italy), Hôtel Majestic Barriere (France), Unico 20 87 (Mexico), Hard Rock Hotel Davos (Switzerland), and more. The ‘World’s Best Events’ section of the evening was a showcase of exceptional events, selected among over 200 outstanding submissions, hosted at notable international venues including Lord’s Cricket Ground, Brocket Hall and Hotel Villa Diodoro. The winner was selected through a live audience vote that took place on the night. Hotel Villa Diodoro in Sicily enjoyed a decisive victory to win the 'World’s Best Event' trophy. The Prestigious Star Awards program celebrates the quality, performance and reputation of the world’s best venues qualified to host the most memorable events. It remains, the only global luxury venue recognition programme across the industry.

FULL PRESS RELEASE:
Building on the spectacular success of last year, guests at London's 2019 Grand Ball enjoyed a star-studded night filled with energy, captivating performances, glamorous dance troupes, enchanting foot jugglers, glittering musicians and ballroom dancing. The evening brought together distinguished individuals from the Prestigious Venues network, including senior representatives from leading international venues, corporate partners, prestigious event suppliers, and VIPs from a wide range of sectors.

In spectacular style, the evening revived the old-world tradition of ballroom dancing to classical ballroom pieces including Shostakovich’s Waltz No. 2. Set in motion by City Academy, this element of the awards evening was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Over the course of the evening, five lucky guests also won luxury weekend stays at some of the world’s most prestigious hotels.

Every year, the Prestigious Star Awards celebrates the world’s best event venues and unique spaces across the globe, spanning countries far and wide, from Mexico to Sardinia. Over a staggering 2,000 global venues and suppliers were assessed and reviewed in the past year, with only one winner selected in each of the 24 event categories. Awards categories included event based categories, such as Best Gala Dinner Venue, Best Film Location Venue, Best Event Supplier and the World’s Most Prestigious Venue. In 2019 an exciting new employee category was introduced, recognising the unbridled dedication of venue staff in driving the success of a venue.

Now in their tenth year, the Prestigious Star Awards celebrate the quality, performance and reputation of the world’s best venues and suppliers qualified to host the most memorable events. The awards program is run annually by Prestigious Venues. Venue performance in the awards is used to make recommendations and develop a series of international rankings, including ‘Top 100 Venues’ worldwide. Nominated venues were voted for by event bookers when 3 finalists were shortlisted in each category. After this, an in-depth review by Prestigious Venues global ambassadors, venue specialists and event planners led to the winners being selected.

Event partners included One Whitehall Place, Yellow Entertainment, Eclipse AV, Rupa Photography, Richard Birtchnell, Sportography, City Academy, and Libertine.

The 2019 Prestigious Star Awards Winners Are:

1. Best Gala Dinner Venue:
Winner: One Great George Street, UK
Highly Commended: Palazzo Versace Dubai, UAE

2. Best Conference Venue:
Winner: Sopwell House, UK
Highly Commended: Gloria Golf Club, Turkey

3. Best Meeting Venue:
Winner: Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, UK
Highly Commended: The Langham Sydney, Australia

4. Best Christmas Party Venue:
Winner: Hard Rock Hotel Davos, Switzerland
Highly Commended: Cafe de Paris, UK

5. Best Private Dining Venue:
Winner: Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Highly Commended: Faro Capo-Spartivento, Italy

6. Best Reception Venue:
Winner: Gran Meliá Rome Villa Agrippina, Italy
Highly Commended: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

7. Best Engagement Party Venue:
Winner: Su Gologone, Italy
Highly Commended: Hôtel Majestic Barriere, France

8. Best Wedding Venue:
Winner: Blenheim Palace, UK
Highly Commended: UNICO 20 87 Riviera Maya, Mexico

9. Best Romantic Venue:
Winner: Hotel Villa Diodoro, Italy
Highly Commended: Hotel TwentySeven, The Netherlands

10. Best Birthday Party Venue:
Winner: De L’Europe Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Highly Commended: Hotel Maiensee, Austria

11. Best Fashion Event Venue:
Winner: Cafe de Paris, UK
Highly Commended: Blenheim Palace, UK

12. Best Networking Event Venue:
Winner: Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, UAE
Highly Commended: The Royal Horseguards Hotel and One Whitehall Place, UK

13. Best Product Launch Venue:
Winner: Palazzo Versace Dubai, UAE
Highly Commended: Conservatorium Hotel, The Netherlands

14. Best Film Location Venue:
Winner: Blenheim Palace, UK
Highly Commended: Brocket Hall, UK

15. Best Press Conference Venue:
Winner: The Royal Horseguards Hotel and One Whitehall Place, UK
Highly Commended: One Great George Street, UK

16. Best Corporate Incentive Venue:
Winner: UNICO 20 87 Riviera Maya, Mexico
Highly Commended: Vila Monte, Portugal

17. Best Training Venue:
Winner: The Royal Horseguards Hotel and One Whitehall Place, UK
Highly Commended: The Roseate Reading, UK

18. Best Exhibition Venue:
Winner: Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, UAE
Highly Commended: Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, Mexico

19. Best Sporting Venue:
Winner: Brocket Hall, UK
Highly Commended: Lord's Cricket Ground, UK

20. The World's Most Prestigious Venue:
Winner: Hôtel Majestic Barriere, France
Highly Commended: Brocket Hall, Italy

21. Best Venue in The Netherlands:
Winner: Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Highly Commended: Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam, The Netherlands

22. Best Venue in The UK:
Winner: Goodwood, UK
Highly Commended: The Grove, UK

23. Best Event Supplier:
Winner: Tropical Incentives, Mexico
Highly Commended: Potel & Chabot, France

24. Best Venue Staff:
Winner: Katie Hadley, One Great George Street, UK
Highly Commended: Silmiya Hendricks, Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, UK

25. Best Event:
Winner: Hotel Villa Diodoro, Italy

BRIEF FACTS
✶ 2,000+ Venues - Over 2,000 venues reviewed across the globe each year
✶ 200 Selected - Only 200 venues nominated worldwide
✶ 3 Finalists - 3 Finalists in each of the 20 events based categories
✶ 1 Highly Commended - 1 venue (the runner-up) is awarded the Highly Commended accolade
✶ 1 Winner - 1 venue per category is awarded the STAR award - the most prestigious accolade in premium hospitality
✶ 1 Annual Celebration - At one of London's most prestigious venue
✶ 100 Guests - 100 industry leaders including venues and event bookers attend
✶ Thought Leadership - Unique insights into the world's best events
✶ New Categories - Recognising the best Event Suppliers and hospitality professionals behind the scenes
✶ All Year Long - A 12 month program, filled with inspiration, recognition & celebration

PRESS CONTACTS
⊙ Habib Amir, Interviews & Quotes: habib@prestigiousvenues.com / Tel +4420 3397 8399
⊙ Jessamie Dunton-Rose, Media Queries: jessamie@prestigiousvenues.com / Tel +4420 3397 8399