The Venue Excellence Award recognizes five (5) IAVM venues of any type within the membership which demonstrate excellence in the management and operation of public assembly venues. This includes but is not limited to amphitheaters, arenas, auditoriums, complexes, convention centers, exhibit halls, fair/festival grounds, performing arts centers, racetracks, stadiums & university venues. IAVM takes pride in its members and member venues that excel in providing their communities with a safe and enjoyable space for all types of events and educational opportunities.

Any venue, publicly or privately owned and operated, that has demonstrated excellence within the last calendar year and has at least one current employee who is an IAVM member in good standing may apply. Venues are eligible to win multiple VEAs; however, previous winners are eligible to apply in the third year following their most recent award. As an example, a venue that wins in 2026 may apply for the 2029 award.

Each application submitted will be eligible for consideration for a three-year period. As an example, an application submitted for the 2025 award will remain in the application pool for 2026 and 2027, unless that venue wins. No further action by the venue is required. However, applicants may update or modify their application prior to the annual submission deadline for 2026 & 2027. Please contact Angela Coleman, if you’d like to update or modify your past submission.

May 1, 2026 – All materials must be received, via this online form.

WORD DOCUMENT FORMAT

Applications are to be submitted in a MS WORD document. It must include a header and a word count at the top of each section. Applications may include the pictures submitted below within body of each section.

CRITERIA & SCORING

Criteria and scoring of the IAVM Venue Excellence Awards reflects IAVM’s six Value Statements: integrity, service, safety, education, advocacy and people first. Scoring of the Venue Excellence Award applications is performed by the Awards & Recognition Committee, with final approval by the IAVM Board of Directors.

Successful applications will succinctly illustrate specific examples of ways in which the venue excels in the criteria outlined below. The four criteria are a framework to help demonstrate the ways in which the venue has demonstrated excellence in venue management and operations. The venue must satisfy each of the four criteria to be considered for nomination.

Note that the quality of the application, including writing style, clarity of narrative and use of relevant statistics, will be taken into consideration by jurors when scoring.

The Awards & Recognition Committee is responsible for selecting the awarded venues using the following weighted criteria:

40% Operational Excellence which includes the following sub-categories (1200 words max):

• Customer Satisfaction,
• Sales and Marketing,
• Sustainability
• Financial Integrity,
• Recent Innovation

20% Team building/Professional Development (600 words max)
20% Safety & Security (600 words max)
20% Service to the Community (600 words max)

See detailed descriptions below.

CONCLUDING  SUMMARY

Applicants must also provide a 300-word concluding summary as to why their venue should be awarded the Venue Excellence Award. Since applications will only be scored on the above four criteria, please do not base your summary on any information outside of what you already provided.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Applications may include up to nine (9) photographs. One photo must be an exterior photo of the venue, and the other eight (8) are left up to the applicant’s discretion but should be representative of the venue’s excellence. Photos need to be at least 300 dpi (print resolution), less than 30MB in size, jpg format, and should have an accompanying signed photo release form giving IAVM permission to use the photos for marketing the award.

Finalists may be asked to submit additional documentation, examples or images.

Operational Excellence

(40% of total score | 1,200-word maximum)

Statement

Operational excellence is foundational to the effective management of public assembly venues and to their broader contribution to community quality of life. Exemplary venues demonstrate disciplined, forward-thinking, and accountable operations across all areas of performance.

Purpose

This section should describe how the venue establishes and sustains high standards of operational performance. Nominations should demonstrate strategic vision, measurable results, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Areas for Consideration

Nominators may address the following attributes. The list is illustrative rather than exhaustive; additional relevant examples are encouraged.

Customer Satisfaction

• Systems for engaging patrons, clients, and community stakeholders.
• Formal processes for collecting and evaluating customer feedback.
• Operational or programmatic changes implemented in response to feedback.
• Alignment of customer service standards with employee performance management systems.
• Measurable improvements in satisfaction, retention, or reputation.

Sales and Marketing

• Targeted sales initiatives and marketing campaigns.
• Use of data analytics to guide outreach and audience development.
• Brand positioning strategies or market expansion efforts.
• Measurable increases in bookings, attendance, revenue, or market share.

Sustainability

• Implementation of sustainable technologies or operational standards.
• Energy, water, or waste reduction initiatives.
• Sustainable procurement practices.
• Environmental impact reductions or certifications achieved.

Financial Integrity

• Innovative financial management programs or systems.
• Process improvements that enhance efficiency or accountability.
• Internal controls or audit outcomes demonstrating sound governance.
• Revenue diversification or cost-containment strategies.

Innovation

• Implementation of new technologies or service models.
• Cross-departmental initiatives that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Industry-leading practices adopted or developed by the venue.
• Programs that elevate the overall event experience.

Team Building & Professional Development

(20% of total score | 600-word maximum)

Statement

The performance and reputation of a public assembly venue are directly shaped by its workforce. Excellence is achieved when staff members are supported through professional development, collaborative culture, and opportunities for advancement.

Purpose

This section should describe the tools, programs, and practices implemented to develop the workforce, strengthen morale, foster ownership, and attract new professionals to the industry. Quantitative measures and outcomes should be included where applicable.

Areas for Consideration

Nominators may address the following attributes. The list is illustrative rather than exhaustive; additional relevant examples are encouraged.

Mentorship and Career Development

• Structured mentoring programs.
• Leadership development initiatives.
• Succession planning efforts.
• Internal promotion rates or career pathway frameworks.

Professional Education and Industry Engagement

• Participation in IAVM or other professional development programs.
• Certifications earned by staff.
• Conference attendance and continuing education support.
• Investment in training as a percentage of payroll or budget.

Internal Development and Team-Building

• Structured training programs.
• Cross-training initiatives.
• Team-building activities designed to strengthen collaboration.
• Measurable improvements in employee engagement or retention.

Communication and Culture

• Internal communication tools that promote transparency and motivation.
• Recognition and reward programs.
• Employee feedback systems.
• Improvements in morale or organizational alignment.

Workforce Pipeline Development

• Partnerships with schools, colleges, or training institutions.
• Internship, volunteer, or apprenticeship programs.
• Outreach initiatives that introduce new talent to the industry.
• Hiring outcomes associated with pipeline programs.

Event Staff Training and Incentives

• Innovative formats for event-day training.
• Simulation-based or scenario-based instruction.
• Performance-based recognition or incentive programs.
• Improvements in service quality or operational consistency.

Safety & Security

(20% of total score | 600-word maximum)

Statement

The primary responsibility of any public assembly venue is to provide a safe and secure environment for patrons, employees, performers, and partners. A comprehensive and actively maintained life safety program is essential to earning and sustaining public trust.

Purpose

This section should describe the venue’s life safety framework, including planning, training, implementation, and continuous improvement. Plans must be active, regularly updated, and supported by documented training and testing.

Areas for Consideration

Nominators may address the following attributes. The list is illustrative rather than exhaustive; additional relevant examples are encouraged.

Training and Certification

• Staff participation in recognized programs such as AVSS, GuestX, CERT, NIMS, or similar.
• Annual in-house training exercises.
• Joint exercises with local emergency responders.
• Percentage of staff trained and frequency of updates.

Emergency Planning

• Comprehensive incident response plans.
• Medical and security operations protocols.
• Severe weather, shelter-in-place, or disaster response plans.
• Continuity of operations planning.

Risk Management

• Enterprise risk assessment processes.
• Mitigation strategies and monitoring systems.
• Insurance or compliance frameworks.
• Adjustments made in response to emerging risks.

Plan Testing and Real-World Application

• Events or incidents that validated or improved existing plans.
• After-action reviews and documented improvements.
• Innovative approaches to drills and preparedness exercises.

Community Collaboration

• Formal partnerships with law enforcement, fire departments, public health officials, and emergency agencies.
• Role in disaster relief or shelter operations.
• Testimonials or formal commendations from community partners.

Service to the Community

(20% of total score | 600-word maximum)

Statement

Public assembly venues achieve lasting excellence when they are deeply integrated into and responsive to their communities. Meaningful service strengthens public trust, enhances visibility, and reinforces the venue’s civic role.

Purpose

This section should describe how the venue serves local, regional, national, or international communities and how it is valued by those communities.

Areas for Consideration

Nominators may address the following attributes. The list is illustrative rather than exhaustive; additional relevant examples are encouraged.

Support of Nonprofit and Community Organizations

• Hosting or sponsoring nonprofit events.
• In-kind contributions or discounted use of space.
• Staff participation in charitable initiatives.
• Percentage of staff engagement in community service.
• Community recognition received.

Public-Private Partnerships

• Collaborative community action projects.
• Number and scope of partnership initiatives.
• Long-term community development programs.
• Demonstrated community impact.

Addressing Identified Community Needs

• Programs designed in response to specific local needs.
• Educational, cultural, or workforce initiatives.
• Emergency or crisis response support.
• Measurable social, economic, or cultural outcomes.