Australasia’s LEIF (Live Entertainment Industry Forum) won the prestigious The Ticketing Business of the Year Award at the TheTicketingBusiness Awards 2021 at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester.
LEIF was formed in 2020 by Australia’s biggest promoters of entertainment and sport, venue managers, and key peak bodies as the sector pulled together in the wake of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The award was accepted by executives from TEG and Live Nation.
Those who led the introduction of English cricket’s The Hundred competition won two awards.
The ECB and SecuTix won the Campaign of the Year award, while Manal Smith, Senior Ticket Manager at The Hundred won the Unsung Hero prize.
Martin Austin MBE, the Managing Director of Access Card, won the Outstanding Contribution award for his involvement in campaigning for improved accessibility for consumers with disabilities.
“Congratulations to everyone who reached the podium,” commented Ian Nuttall, founder of TheTicketingBusiness. “Winners included our industry’s leaders and stand-out innovators, who should all be very proud of their achievements.”
TheTicketingBusiness Awards recognise leadership, innovation and achievement in the application of ticketing across sports, performing arts, music, cinema, live entertainment and visitor attractions. The Awards aim to increase the standards and best practice of ticketing, drive awareness and adoption of future ticketing technology, and improve the customer experience for ticket-buyers across all sectors.
Hundreds of nominations were whittled down to create the shortlist, judged by an independent panel of industry figures including:
– Une Jurkstaite, Chief Business Officer, Zalgiris Kaunas
– Jim McCarthy, Co-Founder & CEO, Goldstar
– Jeanene Valentine, Director Of Ticket Operations, Inter Miami FC
– Tim Chambers, Managing Director, TJ Chambers Consultancy
– Jacqui Harris, Director of Commercial Operations, AEG Presents
– Mike Bohndiek, Chief Executive Officer, PTI Digital
– Suzanne Verschueren, International PR Manager, Pohoda Festival
– Ian Nuttall, CEO & Founder, TheTicketingBusiness
The Winners and Shortlisted Nominees in each category are as follows:
CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR AWARD
Category winner: The Hundred (ECB/SecuTix)
Shortlisted nominees:
– Hellfest Festival re-engagement (Hellfest Productions/Weezevent)
– T20 World Cup Women’s Final (Cricket Australia/Ticketek)
– London Theatre Week (West End theatres/TodayTix)
– Rebrand, Refresh, Rewards (Vivid Seats)
IMPACT AWARD
Category winner: The Fieldlab Trials – Dutch return to live (Fieldlab Alliance/Overheid Nederlandse/Close)
Shortlisted nominees:
– Disney’s Frozen the Musical in Sydney (Disney Theatrical/Capitol Theatre)
– Ticket Converter Tool (Spektrix)
– Marketing Engagement Engine (TEG)
– Website Redevelopment (London Theatre Direct)
DISRUPTOR AWARD
Category winner: Premium Seat Marketplace White Label (Seat Unique)
Shortlisted nominees:
– Ethical Ticketing Solution (Ticketpass)
– Benelux: New Markets. New Clients (Tix Ticketing)
– Franchising in Mexico (Ticket Box)
GUEST EXPERIENCE AWARD
Category winner: VenueShield (ASM Global)
Shortlisted nominees:
– Premium Ticketing Platform at Hampden Park (Sodexo/Priava)
– A New Approach to Ticketing (Theatre Royal Sydney/TixTrack)
– COVID Safety Hub (Realife Tech)
– FacePass (Vivaticket/Yas Waterworld)
PRODUCT INNOVATION AWARD
Category winner: Bookatent – R&V Live Nation/Moshtix
Shortlisted nominees:
– Ticketek App Clip (TEG)
– PouchPass (PouchNation)
– #MobileTicketsAreLame – Ticket Time Machine™
– Digital Twin (GET Protocol/Yourticketprovider)
INSIGHTS & ANALYTICS AWARD
Category winner: ‘After the Interval’ and beyond (Indigo)
Shortlisted nominees:
– Ovation Customer Analytics – TEG
– COVID-19 Sector Benchmark (TRG Arts/Purple Seven)
– Passport (WRSTBND)
– A Contactless Experience (Miral Asset Management/Vivaticket)
UNSUNG HERO AWARD
Category winner: Manal Smith, Senior Ticket Manager, The Hundred
Shortlisted nominees:
– Bel Bran, Box Office, Group and Retail Senior Manager, SF Jazz
– Jeff Czachowski, Senior Director – Sales, Service & Operations, Eastern Michigan University
– Larissa Kisel, Business Development Manager, Eventim UK
– Rachael Sant, Event Ticketing Manager, Cuffe & Taylor/Live Nation
– Andy Yates, Head of Ticketing, AO Arena
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD
Category winner: Mark Davyd, CEO, Music Venue Trust
Shortlisted nominees:
– Martin Austin MBE, Managing Director, Access Card
– Sindri Már Finnbogason, CEO, Tix Ticketing
– Jack Groetzinger, CEO & Co-Founder, SeatGeek
– Katy Raines, Founder & CEO, Indigo Cultural Consulting
THE TICKETING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD
Category winner: LEIF (Live Entertainment Industry Forum)
Shortlisted nominees:
– CTS Eventim
– Insights Alliance* (Indigo/BakerRichards/OneFurther)
– Satisfi Labs
– SecuTix
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Category winner: Martin Austin MBE, Managing Director, Access Card