awards
We’re a proud bunch – we’re so proud that we have dedicated this whole page to tell you how award-winningly brilliant we are! All the shiny industry awards we have won have been a result of our hard work, dedication and real relationships we’ve built with our clients. We’ve been recognised as “best in class” by industry professionals and peers; what’s not to be proud of!
M&IT 2020 Gold Best Intermediary Agency (fewer than 40 employees).
We are delighted and honoured to have received our 5th M&IT Gold Award. We couldn’t have wished for a better start to this special 25th Anniversary year for First Choice Conference & Events. The ceremony took place again at the fantastic Battersea Evolution, London on Friday 28th February awarded to us by the fabulous Gethin Jones; TV presenter, it was great to meet him again.
Speaking about the win, Penny Banyard, Managing Director – First Choice Conference & Events, said:
“From the moment I heard that we had been short-listed as finalists again, my heart was in my mouth. Every year the competition for the Gold award gets better and winning this fantastic accolade it is much harder. I have always believed strongly in two principles in business. First, grow and nurture a strong, talented and committed team. Second, provide the best service possible for our clients.
I feel very proud and thankful we have won this prestigious industry award again. I am proud of my fantastic team. They continue to nurture both a professional and friendly relationship with all our clients. I am also very appreciative to our clients. Because with their continued support, commitment and votes, we are once again recognised as the M&IT Best Intermediary Agency in the UK. Thank you so much.”
M & IT 2019 Gold Best Intermediary Agency (fewer than 40 employees).
We are over the moon to announce that we were awarded gold for the fourth time, in the category of Best Intermediary Agency (less than 40 employees) at the 2019 M&IT Awards at the fantastic Battersea Evolution London on the 1st March 2019, presented to us by the lovely Gethin Jones; TV presenter. Our clients are at the heart of everything we do and to have won such a prestigious industry award that has been voted for by clients is a true accolade to the team and all our hard work.
Speaking about the win, Penny Banyard, Managing Director – First Choice Conference & Events, said:
“It’s overwhelming to be the Gold winners again, I can’t thank our clients enough for being our greatest fans! The team love working with our clients to make the best events come alive. Innovation, support & reliability are key values and I think that our clients feel this throughout. I know the team feel very proud to receive the Gold award in 2019”
M & IT 2018 Gold Best Intermediary Agency (less than 40 employees).
We are delighted to have been awarded GOLD, for the third time, in the category of Best Intermediary Agency (less than 40 employees) at the M&IT Award 2018 at Battersea London on the 2nd March 2018, handed over by the lovely Kate Garraway from Good Morning Britain. As the snow stopped us reaching London, our lovely industry friend and colleague Jackie Boughton collected the award on our behalf. The awards attract the top industry professionals – ‘our industries Oscars’, for the biggest night in the events calendar. Voted for by our clients the team are extremely proud to have won the gold.
Speaking about the win, Daniel Sweet, Operations Director – First Choice Conference & Events, said:
“The whole team were beyond excited when we were announced as the gold winner. These are the awards that get talked about it our industry so it’s huge recognition. We never take it for granted that our clients make the effort to cast their vote and we’re always flattered by their support in winning this brilliant award”
M & IT 2017 Silver Best Intermediary Agency (fewer than 40 employees).
The awards just keep on flowing for the Cheltenham based boutique event management and hotel booking agency. For the third year running, First Choice Conference & Events have been awarded in the category of Best Intermediary Agency (fewer than 40 employees) at The M&IT Awards 2017 in London on the 3rd March.
Attracting more than 1200 industry professionals – twice as big as any other awards evening in the event industry calendar and celebrating its 30th anniversary – the awards brings together all sectors of the industry to measure market reaction in rewarding excellence of service.
Speaking about the win, Penny Banyard, Managing Director – First Choice Conference & Events, said:
“I am proud of the team to receive Silver for Best Intermediary Agency 2017 (fewer than 40 employees). For the third year we have received this prestigious award and in an age when customer service is more and more demanding, it’s fantastic to be appreciated and supported by our clients. The team work hard to deliver a highly bespoke and personalised service and this award demonstrates our commitment to our clients”
M & IT 2016 Gold Best Intermediary Agency (fewer than 40 employees).
Winning for a second year, First Choice Conference & Events were delighted to pick up the accolade for another year. Voted for by their clients, this was a great honour. They pride themselves in offering a high level of care and attention with their event bookers.
Organised by Meetings & Incentive Travel magazine, the awards event brings together the various sectors of the business to measure market reaction in rewarding excellence of service, held on 26th February at Battersea Evolution. First Choice Conference & Events prides itself on its consistent quality of service and ability to save its clients time and money. It aims to provide personalised, specialist venue finding and event management solutions, where the overriding factor is always attention to detail.
Speaking about the win, Daniel Sweet, Operations Director – First Choice Conference & Events, said:
“Having won the award last year it felt even more daunting to find out if we’d done it again in 2016. Penny and I were absolutely ecstatic when the announcement was made and I know the whole team were hugely excited to hear the news. It’s the best kind of recognition for the team to know that their clients really do appreciate them going the extra mile, enough to cast their personal vote for us as best agency!”
M & IT 2015 Gold Best Intermediary Agency (fewer than 40 employees).
Cheltenham based boutique event management and hotel booking agency, First Choice Conference & Events, has won the 2015 Gold Meetings & Incentive Travel Industry ‘Best Intermediary Agency’ (fewer than 40 employees) Award. Voted for by corporate clients the award recognises industry excellence and the promotion of best practice. 2015 marks the anniversary of First Choice Conference & Events 20th year in business; the award is a great testament to this significant milestone.
Speaking about the win, Penny Banyard, Managing Director – First Choice Conference & Events, said:
“I can’t describe how delighted and proud I am. Daniel and I were excited to be attending the M & IT awards as finalists and then to receive the award for Best small intermediary Agent, was totally amazing. Thanks to our clients for voting for us and making us the Best Intermediary Agency, its testament to the teams work in looking after our clients and delivering great events.”
Award Winning Meeting & Events Agency Achieves GOLD Investors in people status. 2012 - 2018
Although they are a small company of 10 First Choice Conference & Events have big values and ambitions which have set them apart from their competitors since 1995. After winning the ‘Agency of the Year’ award for the third year running at The Hotel Booking Agency Association (HBAA) Annual Forum last September, the team at First Choice Conference & Events go from strength to strength and continue to celebrate. They have proudly achieved a Silver Investors in People (IIP) accreditation in 2015.
An IIP assessor visited the offices of First Choice Conference and Events several times and interviewed each member of the team within First Choice Conference & Events to understand the people processes that are in place and how they are put into practice. Organisations that have IIP recognition are more likely to achieve their goals, have better levels of employee engagement as well as better levels of productivity and financial performance.
First Choice Conference and Events will continue to use the IIP principles to provide focus and attention to detail in all of the services they offer to their clients.
Managing Director Penny Banyard said:
“To be awarded Gold for our assessment was such a great achievement and I am personally thrilled; the team are a real credit to the business.”
First Choice Conference & Events scoop HBAA's ‘Meetings Agent of the Year’ award 2013 for third year.
We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded the title for being the best meetings agent in the Hotel Booking Agents Association for the third year.
A focus on training and retaining professionals from the hotel and hospitality industry has kept Cheltenham based event management and venue booking agency First Choice Conference & Events at the top of their game.
The Hotel Booking Agents Association (HBAA)’s annual awards took place on the 5th September 2013 at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Heathrow where First Choice Conference & Events were recognised as the nations ‘Meetings Agent of the Year 2013’
The award, which recognises best practice across the industry, was totally independent and a result of ‘mystery shopping’ exercises undertaken by BDRC Continental, the UK’s largest independent market research consultancy.
Sharing the success on the evening our Account Manager, Laura Irwin also received a Silver Certificate from the HBAA Academy for completing four HBAA Training Courses. The HBAA Academy offers a structured ‘route to success’ which recognises achievement for the individual, their employer and the industry. The Awards support the personal development and commitment of an individual to deliver best practice within the industry’
Commenting on the success, Penny Banyard, Managing Director, said:
“In these challenging trading conditions it is essential that business’s demonstrate high levels of professionalism and customer care. To win this award my team were measured on test calls to assess quality of service, effective processing, clarity of communication and market knowledge. Having won this award twice before my team continue to impress me with their passion, commitment and desire to deliver.”
Winners for The 2nd Year of the Hotel Booking Agent Association’s (HBAA) Annual ‘Agent of the Year’ Award for small sized agencies, in the UK.
Cheltenham based event management and hotel booking agency, First Choice Conference and Events, has won the Hotel Booking Agent Association’s (HBAA) annual ‘Agent of the Year’ award for small to medium sized agencies, in the UK. The award recognises industry excellence and the promotion of best practice and was voted for by corporate clients.
The HBAA is the UK’s leading association for hotel booking agents and presented the award at their annual forum, held on Wednesday 8 September 2011 at Holiday Inn Stratford. First Choice Conference & Events prides itself on its consistent quality of service and ability to save its clients time and money. It aims to provide personalised, specialist venue finding and event management solutions, where the overriding factor is always attention to detail.
Speaking about the win, Penny Banyard, Managing Director said:
“I’m just so proud of this amazing achievement and can’t thank our clients enough for being so supportive and loyal and taking the time to vote for the team for a second year. The team are delighted and I am so proud in the knowledge that this award acknowledges all the hard work and dedication by the team, that we provide our clients in arranging their events.”