The Meetings Industry Association (MIA) has announced the winners of its 2026 miaList awards, recognising outstanding individuals, teams, venues and initiatives across the UK’s business meetings and events sector.
Held at the East Midlands Conference Centre, the annual awards celebrated achievements across 14 categories, highlighting excellence in event delivery, leadership, innovation, sustainability and inclusivity.
Among the major winners, Carden Park Hotel secured gold in the Venue of the Year (Over 300 Delegates) category, while Imago Venues – Burleigh Court took the top honour for venues accommodating fewer than 300 delegates.
Sam Glenister-Batey of University of Leeds, Conferences & Events received the Inspirational Leadership Award, presented this year in memory of the late Gail Tomlinson-Short.
The Rising Star Award went to Tori Hodges of Edgbaston Park Hotel & Conference Centre, with Isabel Harrison and Scarlett Barker-Niland, both from The Belfry Hotel & Resort, receiving silver and bronze respectively.
In the agency and supplier categories, Lemon Lane was named Agency of the Year, while Leopold Marketing Limited secured Supplier of the Year.
The University of Birmingham won Event of the Year (Over 300 Attendees) for its Christmas on Campus: 125 edition, while Experience North East England’s Media Gateway 2026 received gold in the under-300 category.
Church House Westminster was recognised as Events & Operations Team of the Year, while Imago Venues’ Commercial Team won Sales & Marketing Team of the Year.
Sustainability and accessibility also featured prominently, with Celtic Manor Resort winning the ESG Initiative award and Lumiere London Underwood Flagship taking gold for Inclusive Events Initiative.
Liverpool Hospitality Association’s Agency Fam Trip March 2026 was named Destination Initiative of the Year.
MIA Chief Executive Shonali Devereaux said the awards provided an opportunity to recognise achievements that often go unnoticed behind the scenes.
“It’s particularly exciting to see established industry names and organisations celebrated alongside those making their mark for the first time,” she said.
The awards also recognised ten individuals who secured places on the 2026 miaList, representing organisations including The Belfry Hotel & Resort, Eventurous, Imperial War Museums, Nottingham Venues and The Venues Collection.
Entries were assessed by an independent panel of industry professionals drawn from venues, agencies, suppliers and industry organisations.
The annual awards aim to showcase the people and businesses contributing to the continued development of the UK’s meetings and events industry.
The 10 individuals to secure a place on this year’s list were:
- Abbie Tindal, Access Bookings
- Gail Aldridge, The Belfry Hotel & Resort
- Hayley Hardy, Imago Venues
- Kieron Bowen, Eventurous
- Lucy Nicholls, The PS Events Group
- Matt Whiteman, The Venues Collection
- Michelle Osborne, Nottingham Venues
- Robert Mitchell, Imperial War Museums
- Susi Lennie, Crowne Plaza – Newcastle, Stephensen Quarter
- Tracey Whyte, Edgbaston Park Hotel & Conference Centre
The full list of winners also include:
Inspirational Leadership Award
Winner: Sam Glenister-Batey, University of Leeds, Conferences & Events
Rising Star Award
Gold: Tori Hodges, Edgbaston Park Hotel & Conference Centre
Silver: Isabel Harrison, The Belfry Hotel & Resort
Bronze: Scarlett Barker-Niland, The Belfry Hotel & Resort
Venue of the Year (Under 300 capacity)
Gold: Imago Venues – Burleigh Court
Silver: Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross
Bronze: Churchill War Rooms – Company of Cooks
Venue of the Year (Over 300 capacity)
Gold: Carden Park Hotel
Silver: Hilton Birmingham Metropole
Bronze: British Motor Museum
Agency of the Year
Gold: Lemon Lane
Silver: Premier Events
Bronze: Blackberry Events
Supplier of the Year
Gold: Leopold Marketing Limited
Silver: Selling Savvy
Bronze: Just Smile Ltd
Event of the Year (Over 300 attendees)
Winner: University of Birmingham – Christmas on Campus: 125 edition
Highly Commended: Whittlebury Park – Formula 1 British Grand Prix Weekend
Event of the Year (Under 300 attendees)
Gold: Experience North East England – Media Gateway 2026
Silver: Event Essex
Bronze: Whittlebury Park – France & Ireland Women’s Rugby World Cup
Events & Operations Team of the Year
Gold: Church House Westminster
Silver: ICC Wales
Bronze: Warwick Conferences
Sales & Marketing Team of the Year
Gold: Imago Venues – Commercial Team
Silver: ICC Belfast
Bronze: Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter
ESG Initiative
Winner: Celtic Manor Resort
Highly Commended: Clean the World Global
Destination Initiative
Winner: Liverpool Hospitality Association – Agency Fam Trip March 2026
Inclusive Events Initiative
Gold: Lumiere London Underwood Flagship
Silver: MEN (Meetings and Events Network)
Bronze: University of Leeds Conference Events
Image credit: mia
