The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) honored nine companies with Crystal Awards Tuesday evening during the association’s Global Conference, which is currently underway in Istanbul, Turkey.

The association reports that this year’s awards program attracted a record number of entries.

“I’m so proud at the growth and success on display tonight,” said Annette Gregg, CEO, SITE. “This is truly a chance to celebrate the very top of our profession, with leaders here who set the stage and prove the amazing power and potential incentive travel uniquely delivers.”

Reflecting a range of geographies, clients, and program features, their collective accomplishments signal a strong, confident future in the continued use of incentive travel as a highly effective and inspirational reward and motivation strategy.

“This is always an immensely special evening to be part of,” said Carina Bauer, CEO, IMEX Group, the sponsor of the Crystal Awards. “The bar truly is raised higher and higher each year, with nominees pushing themselves and their teams to create impactful programs and long-lasting memories that will drive performance for months and years to come. It’s always a thrill to be part of recognizing these efforts alongside industry friends and colleagues.”

Crystal Awards Committee chair Ellie MacPherson was also recognized during the ceremony for re-imagining the Crystal Awards program as the incentive travel industry’s Oscars, indisputable validation for excellence in incentive travel design, programming and delivery.

“I pass the baton to my friend and fellow Canadian, Cate Banfield, following four years as chair of this extraordinary program,” said MacPherson. “Throughout my career as an incentive travel professional I’ve always strived for excellence in designing and delivering incentive travel experiences. I passionately believe that travel experiences, more than any other corporate reward or recognition, truly transform individuals, companies and the destinations they choose. SITE’s Crystal Awards program recognizes that, and honors it appropriately.”

This year’s Crystal Award winners are:

• Arabian Adventures Meetings, Incentives & Events, for Excellence in Incentive Travel: Africa & Middle East
• Haute, for Excellence in Incentive Travel: North America
• MFactor Meetings, for Excellence in Incentive Travel: Europe
• Next Level Performance, for Most Impactful Effort Toward Corporate Social Responsibility as Part of an Incentive Travel Program
• PHP Event Services, for Excellence in Incentive Travel: Asia-Pacific
• Portugal Travel Team, for Best Destination-Based Experiential Incentive Travel Program 
• Spectra DMC, for Most Creative Solution Deployed to Overcome Adversity
• streamlinevents, for Excellence in Incentive Travel: Latin America and the Caribbean
• Synergy Effect, for Excellence in Incentive Travel: Asia-Pacific

Special congratulations were extended to MFactor Meetings again as the inaugural recipient of the “Par Excellence” award, a new prize introduced at this year’s ceremony that recognizes outstanding overall incentive travel accomplishments.

More information about all winning entries will be available soon on the SITE website, and applications for the next Crystal Awards program will open in June 202