
FAMTASTIC
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Awards 2025
Welcome to the Famtastic Awards 2025, celebrating agents and venues nationwide and recognising the rewarding relationships between buyers and suppliers with categories designed to allow everyone a chance to shine. Free to enter and with a fair and transparent judging process, the Famtastic Awards are a true celebration of our fabulous industry and we would love you to be involved.
The Timeline
2 March 2025 | Awards Open for Entry
4 July 2025 | Early Bird Closing Date
25 July 2025 | Final Closing Date
August 2025 | Judging
1 September 2025 | Finalists Announced
31 October 2025 | The Famtastic Awards (The Village Hotel Blackpool)
The Judging
The Famtastic Judging is based a fair and transparent scoring system, where each category has points available depending on the category. As we only ask both agency judges and supplier judges to score those entrants of whom they have direct knowledge or those they have worked with, the more judges we get the better, so the overall score are representative of the industry at large.
Our agency judges score supplier entries and our supplier judges score entries, so there is no canvassing and no rallying for votes - it's just very fair and very simple. The overall scores are then based on a mean average of how many judges rated the entry and the overall scores – which is how we calculate the winners - and everything is adjudicated by the very formidable Carol Ann Whitehead from the Zebra Partnership.
The Judges
Rachel Lowther | The Venue Hunters
Carol Gilman | The Imperial Torquay
Krishna Pastakia | Edgbaston Park
Janet Scally | The Grand York
Clair Harper | Radisson Blu East Midlands Airport
Rosie Ackerman | Wyboston Lakes
Lorraine Kerry | MTC Venues
Charlotte Booth | First4Venues
Magda Marsh | Best Western
Karen Guile | ToBook
Helen Vann | Hothorpe Venues
Aziza Yessi | Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel
Emily Lockwood | Excelerate Consulting
Lisa Carpenter | Magnifisense
Emma Wigan | Diamond Cut Events
Mark Heywood | Countrywide Hotels
Richard Brown | Chew Events
Laura Dudley | ArrangeMY
Wes Wilson | Manchester Marriott Piccadilly Hotel
Jennie Mort | Sovereign Conferences
Gail Crowe | Magnifisense
Rosie Meiklejohn-Cribdon | ClueGo
James Manford | Successful Events
Pauline Caldaralo | PAC Events
Nicky Brown | Arctic Fox
Donna Hodges | Inception Events
Ella Wilson | Ace Bookings
Sarah Shirley | BrightVision Events
Kerry Edwards | Bien Venue
Henrik Court | HC Events
Jess Ford | Blackberry Events
Megan Earl | Hotel and Travel Solutions
Kieron Bowen | Eventurous
Charlotte Carrier | QTP Events
Alison Francis | Travelperk
Lottie Stokes | Hotel and Travel Solutions
Leigh Bacon | We Are MEat
Stephen Caldaralo | PAC Events
Lauretthe McCellan | Pineapple Events
Sherine Whittle | Brand-Nu
Claire Lee | Venue Queen
Emma Da Silva | The Events Company
Dan Gibson | Carden Park
Vicki Williams | ZiaBia
Bob Scott | Event Collection Group Ltd
Christine Ferris | Legacy Hotels
Kathy Nakra | No Ordinary Hospitality
Lewis Howe | Buxton Crescent
Ian Fletcher | Courtyard London Heathrow Airport
Katherine Connelly | University Arms
Julia Cooke | Relais Retreats
Jade Green | Jade Green Productions
Lewis Howe | Buxton Crescent Hotel
Dan Gibson | Carden Park
Gemma Ryder | ArrangeMY
Debbie Walker | Travel Trade Events
Deborah Collins | The Belfry
Wendy Burrows | First4Venues
Sarah Bryne | Mosaic Events
Abi Luty | Goldcrest Events
Liz Gibbons | Classic British Hotels
Andrew Woods | Leonardo Hotels
Victoria Webb | Millennium Point
Barry Clarke | Events Plus
Emily Mills | The Leeds Met
Naomi Phillips | Classic Lodges
Stijn Huijbers | Hilton Hotels
Kelsey Summerfield | Valor Hotels
Michael Judd | Aimbridge
Phillip Allsop | Classic British Hotels
Jamie Taylor | Leonardo Hotels
Louise Copley | The Grand York
Helen Wilson | Forest of Arden Hotel
Sean Perkins | Imago
Kate Shaw | DeVere
Sally Clift | Choice Locations
Danny Archer | The Milner
Dan Coyles | Q Hotels
Alison Hadaway | Mottram Hall
Want to Judge in 2026?
Please let us know
The Finalists for 2025!
The Famtastic Academic Venue of the Year
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Ashorne Hill
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Countrywide Hotels Denham Grove
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Countrywide Hotels Pendulum Manchester
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EICC
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DeVere Horsley Estate
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Nottingham Venues – The University of Nottingham
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University of Leeds Conferences & Events
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University of Strathclyde
The Famtastic Agency of the Year
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Ace Bookings
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Brighter
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Chew Events
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Magnifisense
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PAC
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Successful Events
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Venue Queen
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ZiaBia
The Famtastic Agent of the Year
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Abi Luty | Goldcrest Events
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Ella Wilson | Ace Bookings
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James Manford | Successful Events
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Jo Wilson | Ace Bookings
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Nicky Brown | Arctic Fox Events
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Rachel Lowther | Venue Hunters
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Sam Rourke | Bien Venue
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Stephen Caldaralo | PAC
The Famtastic Bedroom of the Year
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Champneys Mottram Hall
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Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly
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The Grand Hotel Brighton Leonardo Hotels
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The Catherine of Aragon Suite at Thornbury Castle
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The Landmark Hotel London
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The Leonardo Royal Hotel Birmingham
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The University Arms Cambridge
The Famtastic Boardroom of the Year
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Buxton Crescent Hotel | The Boardrooms
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DeVere Cotswold Water Park Hotel | The Teal Boardroom
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Macdonald Hotels & Resorts | The Fraser Suite at The Burlington Hotel
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The Slaughters Manor House | The Oxford Room
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Thornbury Castle | The Barons Boardroom
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Woodland Grange | Executive Suite 2
The Famtastic Caterer or Chef of the Year
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Gary Nixon | Wychwood Park | Legacy Hotels
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Jonathan Belfort | Fairmont St Andrews
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Matt Willis | Leonardo Royal Hotel Birmingham
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Sean Dell | Horwood House
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Tom Gardner | Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly
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Unique Venues of Birmingham | Gut Health Menus
The Famtastic Conference Centre/Hotel
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Carden Park
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Chesford Grange | Q Hotels
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DeVere Cotswold Water Park Hotel
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Doubletree by Hilton Brighton Metropole
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Hilton Birmingham Metropole
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Leonardo Conference Hotel & Venue Hinckley Island
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Nottingham Venues | The Orchard Hotel
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Wyboston Lakes Resort
The Famtastic Freelancer of the Year
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Clementine Crowther
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Jess Burrow
The Famtastic Green Initiative of the Year
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Ashorne Hill | Making Sustainability Practical, Purposeful, and People-Led
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Edgbaston Park Hotel | B Corp is More Than a Badge
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Eventurous | Leading the way for eco minded event agencies
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Hilton Hotels | Travel with Purpose
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Hyatt Place London City East | Froom Rooftop to Root Systems
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Wyboston Lakes | Room2Give
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Q Hotels | Green Tourism & Green Champions
The Famtastic Hotel Brand of the Year
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Arora Group
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Champneys
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Hilton Hotels
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Hyatt Hotels
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LGH Hotel Management
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Leonardo Hotels
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The Q Hotels Collection
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Village Hotels
The Famtastic Independent Hotel of the Year
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Buxton Crescent Hotel
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Carden Park
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Donnington Valley | Classic British Hotels
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Edgbaston Park Hotel & Conference Centre
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Foxhills Club & Resort
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The Belfry Hotel & Resort
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Edgbaston Park Hotel & Conference Centre
The Famtastic Independent Venue of the Year
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Millennium Point
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National Ice Centre and Motorpoint Arena Nottingham
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The British Motor Museum
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The Derby Conference Centre
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The Portico Library and Newsroom
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Unique Venues of Birmingham
The Famtastic Marketing Campaign of the Year
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Cedar Court Hotels | The Pudding Run
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Hilton Hotels | A Top Towel-tally For the Lionesses
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LGH Hotel Management | Summer Pops Campaign
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Leonardo Hotel & Conference Venue Hinckley Island | The 2024 Christmas Campaign "Leonardo Hinckley on Tour"
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Valor Hospitality | Valorfest 2025
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Village Hotels | Village Hotels: Championing Training Excellence
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Wyboston Lakes | More Than Monday to Friday: How We Unlocked the Power of Weekend Events
The Famtastic International Representation of the Year
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destinations UNLIMITED
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Global DMC Partners
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Maritim Hotels
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Star Your World
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Visit Malta
The Famtastic New Talent of the Year
Agents
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Annabel Thorlby-Wilson | Brighter
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Caroline Dyos | PAC
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Emily Frost | Bien Venue
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Phoebe March | V-Ex Events
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Rae Rodien | Blackberry Events
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Sarah Ajeil | Hamama Events
Suppliers
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Aleksandra Makowska (Ola) | Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly
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Julia Dunst | The Derby Conference Centre
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Gordon Frame | Crieff Hydro
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Grace Elsegood | Ashorne Hill
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Samantha O’Neill | The Derby Conference Centre
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Silke Griffin | Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly
The Famtastic Refurbishment of the Year
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Crowne Plaza Stratford Upon Avon | Valor Hospitality
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Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly
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Nottingham Venues | The Orchard Hotel
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The Grand Brighton | Leonardo Hotels
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The Lakeside Hotel & Spa | Classic Lodges
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Village Hotels | Our Multi-Million-Pound Programme of Innovation and Expansion
The Famtastic Representation of the Year
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Classic British Hotels
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Classic Lodges
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Eventsplus
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HRH
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Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly
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Valor Hospitality
The Famtastic Sales Professional of the Year
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Chris Bason | Global DMC Partners
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Christine Ferris | Legacy Hotels
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Julia Cook | Relais Retreats
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Kelsey Summerfield | Valor Hospitality
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Lewis Howe | Buxton Crescent Hotel
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Liz Gibbons | Classic British Hotels
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Naomi Phillips | Classic Lodges
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Paula Moran | Birmingham Conference and Events Centre
The Famtastic Unique Venue of the Year
Hotels
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Buxton Crescent Hotel
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DeVere Horsley Estate
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Doubletree by Hilton Brighton Metropole
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The Kingfisher | Classic British Hotels
Venues
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Millennium Point
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The British Motor Museum
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The Royal Armouries
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Unique Venues of Birmingham
The Famtastic Sports Venue of the Year
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Doncaster Racecourse
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National Ice Centre and Motorpoint Arena Nottingham
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The Jockey Club Venues
The Famtastic Representation of the Year
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Classic British Hotels
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Classic Lodges
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Eventsplus
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HRH
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Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly
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Valor Hospitality
The Famtastic Team Building Company of the Year
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ClueGo
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Eventurous
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Introducing Events
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Team T Events
The Famtastic Use of AI in Events
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Millennium Point | Future-Ready Events, Delivered Today: Why Millennium Point Sets the Standard
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Park Hall Chorley | The AI Concierge
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The Luxe 360 Booths | Redefining the Photo Booth Industry
The Awards Event & Information
We're heading to Blackpool this year and the very lovely Village Hotel and as we are conscious that it is Half Term & Halloween, we are making the event as family friendly as possible!
We will shortly be publishing details for discounted rail fares with our friends at Avanti West Coast,
Cross Rail & Northern Rail so please check back for details.
We are also introducing a creche on site at The Village Hotel, with fully qualified and trained
professionals with three rooms for three different age ranges.
Discounted hotel rooms are available at The Village Hotel and 70 rooms are available currently for suppliers - £85 BB per night. Rate is available up until 01/08/25. To book please email claire.crooks@village-hotels.com (Rooms available for the Saturday also at £85 BB single
occupancy or £95 for double occupancy - and family friendly rooms are also available.
If people want to extend their stay to include the Saturday night, then you can make a weekend
of it and enjoy the attractions and we are working on a range of discounted tickets.
Watch This Space for Additional Details Coming Soon!
Friday 31 October 2025
10am-12noon Arrival & Registration
12noon-1.30pm Lunch in the Helter Skelter Restaurant
(Jacket Spuds with Toppings Galore! & a range of Soft Drinks)
1.30pm-4pm Networking Session
4pm Leisure Time (Sports Bar | Pool | Driving Range etc)
6.30pm Drinks Reception
7.15pm Seating for Dinner
7.30pm Welcome
7.45pm Dinner
(Two Courses Included & Half a Bottle of Wine pp)
9.00pm The Awards
10.00pm Entertainment & Disco
12midnight Wrapping Up
Post Event Drinks the Sports Bar
Tickets Now Available
Sp

Ray of Stars – Event & Wedding Day Childcare Services
Ray of Stars is a small, passionate business delivering big experiences for little guests! We provide a fully equipped crèche, set up in a location of your choice, offering a fun, safe, and engaging space for children during your event. With a wide range of toys, games, crafts, and activities, we keep little ones happily entertained while parents enjoy the celebration. For peace of mind, all children are securely signed in and out. In addition to Event childcare, Ray of Stars also offers Children’s Parties, School Workshops, Early years sessions, Children’s corners, and Nannying services














Sponsor the Famtastic Awards
We have a range of fabulous packages for sponsors so please contact
Cathryn via famtastic.rocks@cloud9em.co.uk for details