Venue Industry Awards 2026

Venue Innovation Award Assessment and Shortlisting 

Shortlisting Panel 

• A panel of three (3) industry representatives will assess all applications. 

• Panel members will be independent of the VMA Board.  

• Panel members will be selected for their industry experience, credibility, and understanding of innovation in venue management. 

Assessment Criteria 

Applications will be assessed against the following criteria: 

• Innovation and originality 

• Demonstrated impact and effectiveness 

• Clarity of learning outcomes 

• Relevance and applicability to the wider industry 

Shortlist 

• A shortlist will be created for the award. 

• Shortlisted applicants will be notified in advance of Congress and invited to present. One presenter from the shortlisted venue/consortia will receive a Congress pass. 

Congress Presentations

Presentation Requirement 

• Shortlisted applicants must deliver a live presentation at the VMA Congress. 

• Each presentation will be strictly limited to 15 minutes. 

• Presentations should focus on: 

• The innovation or improvement activity 

• Key outcomes and learnings 

• Practical insights for the industry 

Presentation Format 

• Presentation format and technical requirements will be communicated by the VMA. 

• Presenters must adhere to allocated time limits. 

Judging and Voting

Audience Voting 

• The final winner will be determined by audience vote from Congress attendees. 

• Each VMA member venue in attendance at the live voting will have a maximum of five votes. The VMA will filter any votes above this number from the final result. 

• Voting mechanisms will be determined and administered by the VMA. 

Determination of Winners 

• The applicant receiving the highest audience vote will be declared the winner. 

• The audience vote is final and binding. 

Award Presentation

• Winner will be announced at the VMA Congress Gala Dinner. 

• Winner will receive formal recognition as determined by the VMA (e.g. trophy, certificate, or other acknowledgement). 

Promotion and Use of Materials

• By submitting an application, applicants consent to the VMA using submitted material for promotional, educational, and reporting purposes. 

• This may include use in Congress materials, VMA publications, digital channels, and post‑event communications. 

Governance and Amendments

• The VMA reserves the right to amend these Terms of Reference at any time prior to the opening of applications. 

• The VMA may vary timelines, presentation formats, or voting mechanisms where required for operational reasons. 

• All decisions of the VMA in relation to the administration of the Awards are final. 

Enquiries

All enquiries regarding the VMA Venue Innovation Award should be directed to the VMA Office.