The Darwin Convention Centre has been confirmed as one of 20 finalists in the 2018 edition of the globally recognised AIPC Apex Award competition for “Best Client Rated Convention Centre”. This prestigious Award, which has been maintained by the International Association of Convention Centre (AIPC) for over 20 years, owes its prominence to the fact that competitors are rated entirely on the basis of client ratings as assessed by the global market research company Ipsos.

“The AIPC Apex Award has a long and highly respected history in the meetings market which means the winner gains a great deal of respect from peers and leverage in the market, said AIPC President Aloysius Arlando. “This of course translates into better business prospects – but experience has shown that it doesn’t end there. It is also a source of pride amongst staff and a boost in community appreciation, both of which are also of great benefit to a centre, and that’s why being a finalist is in itself a real accomplishment”.

Arlando noted that for 2018 Ipsos has surveyed over 1843 client references put forward by participating centres – a significant sample that illustrates the comprehensive nature of client polling. “This means that we are talking about a very strong basis for the evaluation of competitors, and again, the reason for the credibility of this award”.

The final determination of the Apex Award winner will be made in advance of its presentation at the 2018 AIPC Annual Conference in London in early July. “The Apex Award is a crowning achievement, which is why it is so intensely contested and comprehensively judged”, said Arlando.

AIPC is an association comprising over 185 international convention centres in some 60 countries world-wide. Its mission is to encourage, support and recognize excellence in convention centre management and to maintain a range of programming that addresses this mission.