International Awards Blog

Organizations and individuals in more than 40 nations have been announced as Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie® Award winners in The 10th Annual International Business Awards, the world’s only international, all-encompassing business awards program.

Nicknamed the Stevies from the Greek word “crowned,” the awards will be presented at a gala event on Monday, October 14 at the W Hotel in Barcelona, Spain. Tickets for the event are on sale now at www.StevieAwards.com/IBA.    

Canadian organizations won 10 Gold, 10 Silver, and 12 Bronze Stevie Awards in this year’s IBAs.  Harbinger Communications, Toronto, and Wajam, Montreal, each won two Gold Stevies.  Other Gold winners include Canadian Tire Corporation, Toronto; Clearpath Robotics, Kitchener, ON; Firmex, Toronto; TELUS Communications, Edmonton; Toronto Hydro Electric System; and WiLAN, Ottawa.

Among the Silver and Bronze Stevie winners are Aditya Birla Minacs, Mississauga, ON; Amaya Gaming, Pointe-Claire, QC; BlueCat, Toronto; Eagle’s Flight, Guelph, ON; iFinance Canada, Toronto; Inovex Inc., Oakville, ON; LAJQ Chick Enterprises, Toronto; Magazine Maison Montreal Inc.; Opentext, Waterloo, ON; Prophix Software Inc., Mississauga, ON; Rogers Communications, Toronto; and TELUS, Burnaby, BC.

A complete list of all 2013 Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners by category is available at www.StevieAwards.com/IBA.   

Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie winners were selected from more than 3,300 nominations received from organizations and individuals in more than 50 nations.  All organizations worldwide are eligible to compete in The International Business Awards, and can nominate in a wide range of categories, including management awards, company/organization awards, marketing awards, public relations awards, customer service awards, human resources awards, new product awards, IT awards, web site awards, and more.  

More than 100 professionals around the world participated in preliminary judging in May-July.  Their average scores determined the entries that were eligible to be considered in final judging, which was performed earlier this month by the members of 10 specialized committees.  In total, nearly 300 executives around the world participated in the judging process this year. 

Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.  A fifth program, the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, will open for entries in September.  Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide.  Learn more about the Stevie Awards at www.StevieAwards.com, and follow the Stevie Awards on Twitter @TheStevieAwards.   

The final extended entry deadline for The 2013 (10th Annual) International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards competition, is 10 July. No additional late penalties or fees will be charged in association with the deadline extension. If you haven't already done so, you can request your entry kit here and it will be emailed to you right away.

The International Business Awards recognize achievement in every facet of the workplace. All individuals and organizations worldwide -- public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small -- may submit nominations to the IBAs. Categories include:

• Management Awards
• Company of the Year Awards
• Customer Service Awards
• Human Resources Awards
• Information Technology Awards
• Marketing Awards
• New Product Awards
• Public Relations Awards
• Web Site Awards, Smartphone and Tablet App, and other media awards

See the full list of international business awards categories.

Stevie® Awards are conferred upon top-scoring nominations in each category, as chosen by an international judging panel of more than 200 business leaders. Nominations should cite achievements during our eligibility period: January 2012 through 10 July 2013, the last day that late entries will be accepted. There is no eligibility timeframe for web site entries - it does not matter when the web sites were first published.

The 2013 International Business Awards will include the People’s Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite Companies, in which the general public worldwide will vote for their favorite companies. Each company honored with a Gold, Silver or Bronze Stevie Award in The International Business Awards’ company of the year categories will automatically be included in people’s choice voting.  Voting will open on 15 August.

Because the 2013 awards banquet will take place on 14 October in Barcelona, Spain, all organizations in Spain may submitted an unlimited number of entries to the IBAs free of charge this year. Organizations in Spain should submit the promotion code "Barcelona" where indicated in the online entry process to have their entry fees waived.

The 9th Annual International Business Awards were presented in October 2012 in Seoul, South Korea.  Stevie winners included A.P. Moller Maersk AS, Accenture, Coca Cola Turkey, Delta Air Lines, Inc., Etisalat Group, HSBC, Hyundai Motor Company , Infosys, Lenovo Group, Qualcomm Incorporated, Samsung Electronics, TATA Power, and Unilever, among others.  2012 results are summarized at http://www.stevieawards.com/pubs/iba/awards/408_2219_21728.cfm.  

Have questions regarding the 2013 IBAs? Don't hesitate to contact us or call us at + 1 703-547-8389.

The 2013 (10th Annual) International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards program, will be presented on 14 October in one of Europe’s most beautiful cities: Barcelona. The 2013 gala will be held at the W Hotel, in Barcelona, Spain. On the beach.

Recognized as the only completely international business awards competition, The International Business Awards honors all facets of the workplace. Our award categories include: annual report awards, app awards, company/organization awards, customer service awards, human resources awards, information technology awards, management awards, marketing awards, new product awards, public relations awards, support awards, and website awards, among others. See all corporate awards categories. (12 June is the final entry deadline for the 2013 IBAs. If you haven't already done so, you can request your entry kit here and it will be emailed to you right away.)

Following is more information on recent initiatives by W Hotels Worldwide:

The W Hotel in Barcelona, part of W Hotels Worldwide, was designed by the Barcelona-born Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill.  Completed in 2009, this 26-story, sail-shaped building has become a landmark on the shoreline, providing exceptional Mediterranean views. Other examples of Bofill’s work around Barcelona include Terminal 1 of Barcelona Airport, and The National Theater of Catalonia. His architectural designs can be seen around the world, including the United Continental Headquarters building in Chicago, completed in 2010. 

Support for Charity
In 2012, W Hotels Worldwide formed a partnership with charity: water, an organization whose mission is to bring clean and safe drinking water to every person in the world.  “charity: water is a forward-thinking organization with an unparalleled commitment to bringing clean drinking water to developing communities around the world,” said Carlos Becil, Vice President, North America Brand Management, W Hotels Worldwide. “W Hotels shares in charity: water’s passion for inspiring innovation and creative energy to aid those in need, and we hope our guests will join us in giving back through unique opportunities throughout the next year.” 

Throughout 2013, W guests and locals will be able to get involved in different ways to support charity: water’s efforts in 20 developing countries around the world.

Green Initiatives
W Hotels Worldwide is part of the Starwood group, which recently announced a new global alliance to expand the use of renewable energy systems at Starwood properties.

NRG Energy will own the solar arrays while Starwood will be the enabling partner through a multi-year agreement to purchase electricity from the solar arrays installed at several locations. Not only will Starwood reduce its electricity costs, it will also lock in predictable energy costs at an affordable level for years to come and reduce the company’s carbon footprint and local air emissions. The customized solar solutions designed by NRG in consultation with Starwood will seamlessly integrate with the aesthetic of each location while enhancing the guest experience.

“At Starwood, we have established an environmental sustainability goal we call 30/20 by 20, meaning we’re committed to reducing our energy consumption by 30 percent and water consumption by 20 percent by 2020 throughout our global hotel and resort system,” said Ken Siegel, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel for Starwood. “We are making great progress against those goals through a variety of programs in place around the world and we’re pleased to partner with NRG to be able to provide affordable and sustainable electricity that will benefit the environment, our guests and our business.” 

“In many parts of the world, including in the United States, solar power, generated locally, is well on its way to becoming the most cost-effective, environmentally beneficial and aesthetically pleasing energy option for any customer-facing business,” said David Crane, NRG President and Chief Executive Officer. “Starwood is an acknowledged leader in this regard in the global tourism and hospitality industry. We look forward to working with Starwood on clean energy and related sustainability initiatives in order to achieve the environmental and economic goals that we share in common.” 

About Starwood Hotels:
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,146 properties in nearly 100 countries and 171,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts, and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and Element®. The Company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

The final entry deadline for The 2013 (10th Annual) International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards competition, is 12 June. If you haven't already done so, you can request your entry kit here and it will be emailed to you right away.

The International Business Awards recognize achievement in every facet of the workplace. All individuals and organizations worldwide -- public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small -- may submit nominations to the IBAs. Our business award categories include: annual report awards, app awards, company/organization awards, customer service awards, human resources awards, information technology awards, management awards, marketing awards, new product awards, public relations awards, support awards, and website awards, among others. See all corporate awards categories.

Nominations should cite achievements during our eligibility period: January 2012 through 12 June 2013, the last day that late entries will be accepted. There is no eligibility timeframe for web site entries - it does not matter when the web sites were first published. Results will be announced on 14 August.

Stevie® Awards will be conferred at three levels of distinction: Gold, Silver and Bronze.  New for 2013, several Grand Stevie Awards will be conferred as best-of-competition prizes. The Stevie Award trophies, made by the company that makes the Oscar and other major international awards, are among the world’s most coveted prizes. Stevie Award winners will be selected by an international judging panel of more than 200 executives.

Because the 2013 awards banquet will take place on 14 October in Barcelona, Spain, all organizations in Spain may submitted an unlimited number of entries to the IBAs free of charge this year. Organizations in Spain should submit the promotion code "Barcelona" where indicated in the online entry process to have their entry fees waived.

The 9th Annual International Business Awards were presented in October 2012 in Seoul, South Korea.  Stevie winners included A.P. Moller Maersk AS, Accenture, Coca Cola Turkey, Delta Air Lines, Inc., Etisalat Group, HSBC, Hyundai Motor Company , Infosys, Lenovo Group, Qualcomm Incorporated, Samsung Electronics, TATA Power, and Unilever, among others.  2012 results are summarized at http://www.stevieawards.com/pubs/iba/awards/408_2219_21728.cfm.  

Have questions regarding the 2013 IBAs? Don't hesitate to contact us with your questions or call us at + 1 703-547-8389.

The 2013 International Business Awards, the world’s premier business awards program, will feature the third edition of the People's Choice Stevie® Awards for Favorite Companies, a worldwide vote in which the general public will get to choose one favorite company in more than 30 categories. (The final entry deadline for the 2013 IBAs is 12 June, if you haven't already done so, you can request your entry kit here and you will receive it right away.)

All individuals and organizations worldwide -- public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small -- may submit nominations to the IBAs. All organizations that are recognized as Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners in the IBAs' 34 Company of the Year categories will automatically be included in People's Choice voting.  

Company awards categories include:

• Accounting
• Advertising, Marketing, & Public Relations
• Aerospace & Defense
• Automotive & Transport Equipment
• Banking
• Business Services
• Chemicals
• Computer Hardware
• Computer Software
• Computer Services
• Conglomerates
• Consumer Products - Durables
• Consumer Products - Non-Durables
• Diversified Services
• Electronics
• Energy
• Financial Services
• Food & Beverage
• Health Products & Services
• Hospitality & Leisure
• Insurance
• Internet/New Media
• Legal
• Manufacturing
• Materials & Construction
• Media & Entertainment
• Metals & Mining
• Non-Profit or Government Organizations
• Real Estate
• Retail
• Pharmaceuticals
• Telecommunications
• Transportation
• Utilities

See all organization awards categories.

People's Choice winners will receive a special People's Choice Stevie Award trophy allowing for honorees in the Company of the Year categories to have the opportunity to receive a second award, as voted by the general public. Voting will open to the general public worldwide on 15 August and run through 13 September.

Which companies will you nominate in this year's People's Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite Companies?

The entry deadline for The 2013 (10th Annual) International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards competition, is quickly approaching on 15 May.

If you haven't already done so, you can request your entry kit here and it will be emailed to you right away. (If you can't make the 15 May entry deadline, late entries will be accepted through 12 June with the payment of a late fee per entry.)

Stevie® Awards will be conferred at three levels of distinction: Gold, Silver and Bronze.  New for 2013, several Grand Stevie Awards will be conferred as best-of-competition prizes. The Stevie Award trophies, made by the company that makes the Oscar and other major international awards, are among the world’s most coveted prizes. Stevie Award winners will be selected by an international judging panel of more than 200 executives.

The International Business Awards recognize achievement in every facet of the workplace. All individuals and organizations worldwide -- public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small -- may submit nominations to the IBAs. Our business award categories include: annual report awards, app awards, company/organization awards, customer service awards, human resources awards, information technology awards, management awards, marketing awards, new product awards, public relations awards, support awards, and website awards, among others. See all corporate awards categories.

Nominations should cite achievements during our eligibility period: January 2012 through 12 June 2013, the last day that late entries will be accepted. There is no eligibility timeframe for web site entries - it does not matter when the web sites were first published. Results will be announced on 14 August.

Because the 2013 awards banquet will take place on 14 October in Barcelona, Spain, all organizations in Spain may submitted an unlimited number of entries to the IBAs free of charge this year. Organizations in Spain should submit the promotion code "Barcelona" where indicated in the online entry process to have their entry fees waived.

The 9th Annual International Business Awards were presented in October 2012 in Seoul, South Korea.  Stevie winners included A.P. Moller Maersk AS, Accenture, Coca Cola Turkey, Delta Air Lines, Inc., Etisalat Group, HSBC, Hyundai Motor Company , Infosys, Lenovo Group, Qualcomm Incorporated, Samsung Electronics, TATA Power, and Unilever, among others.  2012 results are summarized at http://www.stevieawards.com/pubs/iba/awards/408_2219_21728.cfm.  

Have questions regarding the 2013 IBAs? Don't hesitate to contact us with your questions or call us at + 1 703-547-8389.

We invite you to apply to be a preliminary-round judge for The 10th Annual International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards program. Interested?  Apply here.

If you're a working professional with experience in your discipline, you'll be assigned categories related to your expertise. The IBAs have many different categories: app awards, customer service awards, HR awards, marketing awards, new product awards, PR awards, website awards, and more. Even if you've already entered or plan to enter the IBAs this year, you can still participate in the judging process, because you can still judge categories in which your organization is not an entrant.

How does preliminary-round judging work?

• All judging is done online so judges will be able to review nominations on their own time and at their own pace.
• Judges will be assigned categories based on their experience, function, and industry.
• There is no limit to how many (or how few) nominations judges can review.

See the introduction and application page on the IBA web site. 

What are the benefits of being a Stevie® Awards judge?

• Judges get an inside look at how other organizations and individuals are achieving success and confronting challenges. 
• All active judges will receive a certificate of appreciation, suitable for framing.
• All judges will have a chance to win two free tickets to the 10th annual awards banquet on Monday, 14 October in Barcelona, Spain.

Need more information?

• Get the application form.
• Learn more about the judging and awards process.
• Meet the 2012 preliminary-round judges.
• Contact us at help@stevieawards.com.

Apply to be a judge and be a part of a worldwide coalition of business heroes.

What's your top reason for applying to be a 2013 International Business Awards  judge?

The entry deadline for The 2013 (10th Annual) International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards competition, is quickly approaching on 15 May. If you haven't already done so, you can request your entry kit here and it will be emailed to you right away.

The International Business Awards recognize achievement in every facet of the workplace. All individuals and organizations worldwide -- public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small -- may submit nominations to the IBAs. Our business award categories include: annual report awards, app awards, company/organization awards, customer service awards, human resources awards, information technology awards, management awards, marketing awards, new product awards, public relations awards, support awards, and website awards, among others. See all corporate awards categories.

Nominations should cite achievements during our eligibility period: January 2012 through 12 June 2013, the last day that late entries will be accepted. There is no eligibility timeframe for web site entries - it does not matter when the web sites were first published.

Stevie® Awards are conferred upon top-scoring nominations in each category, as chosen by an international judging panel of more than 200 business leaders. Nominations should cite achievements during our eligibility period: January 2012 through 12 June 2013, the last day that late entries will be accepted. There is no eligibility timeframe for web site entries - it does not matter when the web sites were first published.

If you can't make the 15 May entry deadline, late entries will be accepted through 12 June with the payment of a late fee per entry. Results will be announced on 14 August.

Because the 2013 awards banquet will take place on 14 October in Barcelona, Spain, all organizations in Spain may submitted an unlimited number of entries to the IBAs free of charge this year. Organizations in Spain should submit the promotion code "Barcelona" where indicated in the online entry process to have their entry fees waived.

Have questions regarding the 2013 IBAs? Don't hesitate to contact us with your questions or call us at + 1 703-547-8389.

Keith Murray, Senior Consultant at Awards Intelligence in the U.K., shows how winning a Stevie® Award in The International Business Awards, the world’s premier business awards competition, has helped one of his clients expand into global markets.

In an increasingly competitive business world, it has never been more important for companies to set themselves apart from their rivals. Winning a prestigious award is not just proof that you’re the best at what you do; it is also an accolade that gives your company a real edge in the marketplace.

The benefits of winning a Stevie Award can super-charge your business—as companies that Awards Intelligence has helped have discovered.

Heaven® Skincare founder and chief executive Deborah Mitchell says winning awards such as Best New Product in The 2012 International Business Awards has given her Shropshire, U.K.-based beauty and skincare company a vital boost, particularly in global markets.

Expanding Into Global Markets
Heaven has been enjoying spectacular growth, expanding into new global markets, and leading the way ahead of other specialist skincare companies. 

Deborah Mitchell is also a two-time winner of Entrepreneur of the Year in the Stevie Awards for Women in Business.  She commented: “Winning these awards has really helped put us on the map, especially in countries where we have been trying to enter the market.  It gives us credibility and shows we are the best at what we do.”

Mitchell used Awards Intelligence to help her company shine against tough global competition.  She stated: “We couldn’t have done this without Awards Intelligence. They not only advised us on which awards to enter but they presented us in the best possible way.” 

Increased Success Rate
Awards Intelligence has helped many companies to shine against global competition in highly respected awards such as the Stevies.  Says Keith Murray, Senior Consultant at Awards Intelligence:  “With a success rate of more than 40%, our clients are four times more likely to win.”

Murray added: “We are meticulous and professional in the way we prepare submissions.  More than this, our expert writers take the stress out of compiling an award entry, leaving our clients free to do what they do best:  running their businesses.”

About Keith Murray:
Keith Murray, a Senior Consultant at Awards Intelligence, has more than 25 years experience of writing at the highest level. A trained journalist, he was for many years a Desk Editor overseeing coverage of global events on one of Britain’s leading national newspapers, the Daily Mail. As a senior awards writer, he has drafted winning entries in every sector, from education and manufacturing to telecommunications and healthcare, as well as in personal achievement awards.

About Awards Intelligence:
Letting the experts at Awards Intelligence professionally draft a company’s awards entries may significantly increase its chances of winning while saving valuable time.  Awards Intelligence claims to have drafted more successful award entries for clients than anyone else in the world. For more information, contact enquiries@awardsintelligence.co.uk, or telephone: +44 (0)1444 242792.

Por qué postular a un premio a la excelencia mundial en negocios:

MADRID, ESPAÑA--(Marketwired - April 23, 2013) - Ya están abiertas las inscripciones para que las empresas de todo el mundo postulen a los célebres premios de negocios Stevie® Awards. Entre las empresas de gran tamaño que ganaron en 2012 alguna de las codiciadas estatuillas en estuvieron Visa Inc., Ford, Siemens y DHL. Pero hubo decenas de otros galardones que recayeron en pequeños negocios y emprendedores individuales de países emergentes. Muchos de estos últimos pasaron del anonimato a tener un prestigio que ahora les está ayudando a explorar nuevos mercados. Los Stevies no sólo son premios a los que pueden aspirar las transnacionales. Las empresas pequeñas, y los emprendedores individuales pueden postular a más de 200 categorías de premios entre ellos innovación, crecimiento, marketing, relaciones públicas, publicidad, recursos humanos, ventas y servicio al cliente, desarrollo de productos, tecnología... entre otras.

Cada categoría cuenta con galardones en oro, plata y bronce. Se trata de estatuillas diseñadas y producidas por los mismos autores de los reconocidos "Oscar" que otorga la Academia de Hollywood. Cada Stevie (conocido en Estados Unidos como "el Oscar de los negocios") pesa alrededor de 4 kilos.

"Los premios Internacionales de Negocios 'Stevie' ofrecen oportunidades a una gran variedad de negocios de todos los tamaños, puesto que abarcan más categorías que cualquier otro programa internacional de estímulo al emprendimiento", afirma la consultora internacional Martha Hooper. La especialista, que se dedica a difundir estos y otros galardones, y ayuda a las empresas a postular en las categorías donde tienen mayores posibilidades de éxito, expresa: "Me sorprende que España aún no tenga una mayor presencia en los International Business Awards ... Es sabido que las empresas españolas están teniendo una impresionante actuación. Productos y servicios españoles de calidad (y no me refiero solamente al vino) llegan a muchos mercados. Pienso que ahí hay un espacio por conquistar en materia de reconocimiento para el trabajo que están haciendo los españoles" sostiene.

Los galardones internacionales- sostiene Hooper- forman parte de un circulo virtuoso que favorece numerosos aspectos de la gestión de un negocio: "Ganar premios tiene grandes beneficios, más allá de poner una linda estatuilla dorada en un lugar visible de la oficina. El reconocimiento de terceros motiva al personal, impacta positivamente en la productividad, apoya la labor en recursos humanos en aspectos como retención y reclutamiento; favorece la comercialización de productos y servicios; posiciona la empresa ante accionistas y grupos de interés para facilitar la inversión y el respaldo, y entrega insumos a marketing para que pueda desarrollar una campaña dinámica entre otras cosas. "

Debido a que el 2013 IBA gala de los premios tendrá lugar en Barcelona en octubre, todas las organizaciones españolas podrán presentar un número ilimitado de nominaciones a los IBAs este año gratuitamente, renunciando a los derechos de inscripción que se encuentran entre $300US a $500US. Este es el único año en que las organizaciones españolas tendrán este privilegio. La fecha de cierre de inscripciones vence el 12 de junio 2013.

La postulación es electrónica y se puede realizar en inglés o en español directamente en el sitio web de los Stevies: www.StevieAwards.com/IBA.

En octubre del año pasado, empresas de 40 países recibieron galardones durante la gala que tuvo lugar en Seúl, Corea. En 2013, la premiación será en Barcelona, España. La lista completa de los ganadores anteriores de estatuillas de Oro, Plata y Bronce del Premio Internacional Stevie se encuentra en www.StevieAwards.com/IBA.

Entender el sistema, reunir los requisitos exigidos y saber cómo postular es fundamental a la hora de ganar un premio internacional. Martha Hooper, representante de los premios Stevie en España (www.hooperconsultinginternational.com) lo sabe, y por ello entrega un servicio de consultoría a los postulantes a cualquier premio internacional (de habla inglesa o castellana) que asegura postulaciones optimas que permiten a los postulantes una tasa de éxito del 75%.

Nota para Editores:
Más información, fotografías en alta resolución y recursos de prensa en http://www.stevieawards.com/pubs/iba/press/172_701_3121.cfm.

Acerca de los Premios Stevie
Los premios Stevie están entre los más prestigiosos y codiciados del mundo de los negocios. Se confieren en cuatro programas: los American Business Awards dentro de Estados Unidos, los Premios Internacionales de Negocios en los 5 continentes, los Premios Stevie para Mujeres de Negocios, y los Premios Stevie por logros en Ventas y Servicio al Cliente. Junto con premiar la excelencia de las organizaciones de todo tipo y tamaño y a sus gestores y colaboradores, los Stevies reconocen el desempeño sobresaliente de los mismos en la comunidad donde se encuentran. Más información sobre los Premios Stevie en http://www.StevieAwards.com/. En Twitter @TheStevieAwards.