Sabbas Joseph and his toast to Experiential Marketing

The EEMAX GLOBAL AWARDS 2015 culminated on 20th September. The awards that went international this year got entries from India, other Asian countries, Middle East, Africa, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and USA.

The awards that encompass events and experiential marketing saw 32 golds, and 33 silver awards being given away. Altogether, 27 agencies walked away with awards. Top three winners at EEMAX 2015 were Encompass Events, Wizcraft International and TRO. These events companies walked away with eight, six and five awards respectively.

The Global Honours for Innovative Technology went to Daniel Rodriguez while Patrick Roubroeks, Creative Director, Partner & Founder, Xsaga bagged the Global Honours for Experience Creation. Nancy Frates, the mother that started the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was recognized for a successful Global Cause Campaign and Santiago Corrado, President and CEO – Tampa Bay was honoured for Event Tourism and Community engagement. The Global Honour for City Festival Creation went to Rogier van der Heide, Artistic Director, Amsterdam Light Festival. Funnymen AIB were honoured with an award for the Best Live Performance in the Comedy Category.

The awards ceremony was preceded by EEMAX Global Conclave which saw key international and Indian speakers from the industry sharing insights on various aspects of events and experiential marketing.

Nancy Frates, the mother instrumental in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge provided valuable insights behind the making of the global phenomenon and viral wonder of today’s day and age in her opening address.

Global speakers for the conclave included, Nancy Frates, founder of the Ice Bucket Challenge, Patrick Roubroeks: Creative Director, Partner & Founder, Xsaga, Santiago Corrada, President and CEO, Tampa Bay, Rogier van der Heide, Amsterdam Lights Festival, Artistic Director, Daniel Rodriguez- Holograms for Freedom- Copywriter & Creative Director, DDB Spain and Alistair Schoonmaker- Nike Rise House of Mamba- Client Partner, AKQA. Among the prominent Indian speakers were Viraf Sarkari, Wizcraft International; Vivek Singh, Procam International; Vijay Nair, Only Much Louder; Martin Da Costa, 70 EMG; Rajesh Kejriwal, Kyoorius Group; Kapil Mishra, Minister of Tourism, Art and Culture, Delhi Government; Sanjay Kumar, IAS, Commissioner- Excise, Delhi Government; Vijay Nair, Director, OML and Valsa Nair Singh, Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Govt. of Maharashtra.

As for expending the scope of the festival and going global, Sabbas Joseph, President- EEMA says, “Indian event companies are already working in the global space. Almost 50% of event companies in India are already working in the global market. The second part is that several of the International companies are looking at India in terms of partnership and appreciate the work being done by Indian companies. Thirdly, we see this as the opportunity that India can actually be the best and showcase itself as being the best.”

The event is growing as favoured networking platform for players from across the globe. Joseph says, “I can see several international companies looking at the Indian companies for tie-up, joint ventures and investment opportunities. I can also see several Indian companies looking at tie-ups with the international companies, looking at buying them out and making acquisitions of International global nature. So EEMEX is really a place for meeting, greeting and for making business opportunities.”