CALENDAR AND ASSOCIATION NEWS
Emirates dominates APEX Awards Emirates Airline claimed seven awards, among them the coveted Best Overall Passenger Experience honor during the APEX Awards ceremony September 28 at the start of the APEX/IFSA Expo in Portland. During the evening, hosed by BBC Presenter Rajan Datar, APEX also recognized contributions by industry figures for Lifetime Achievement, and Outstanding Contributions. Also, two Avion Awards were given for Best Achievements in Technology, and Best Achievement in Passenger Experience. Each year, APEX works with the AC Nielsen rating service to survey passengers in airlines around the world on their preferences and likes. Just before the awards ceremony, a panel of judges assessed the offerings for Technology and Passenger Experience to pick two Avion Award winners, which are named after the group’s previous awards program. This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award went to Rick Warren, whose experience dates back to early days in the IFE industry with Sony Trans Com. In a series of heartfelt tributes, APEX President Alfy Veretto and others talked about Warren’s achievements and contributions to both the WAEA, the forerunner of APEX and his professional career. Warren founded Post Modern Edit in 1998. Global Eagle Entertainment acquired the company and Warren served as Vice President of Content. He left the company in March of this year. The two winners of the Outstanding Contribution Awards were Steve Harvey of Global Eagle Entertainment, and Mary Kirby of Runway Girl Network. Harvey is the founder of Inflight Productions (IFP) with his business partner Doug Moffitt. The company grew to become the largest privately owned provider of inflight entertainment and was later sold to Advanced Medien. He later joined PME, which was acquired by Global Eagle. He is now senior account director responsible for Emirates. Kirby has more than 17 years experience as a journalist and editor. She began covering the industry with Flightglobal in 1999, and later became Senior Editor at the publication’s weekly magazine, Flight International. Years at Sony Trans Com and Post She wrote the well-read Modern Edit earned Rick Warren the gratitude of the industry and this year’s Runway Girl blog and, in APEX Lifetime Achievement Award
2013 launched the Runway Girl Network. Winner of the Best Achievement in Technology Award went to Gogo for its 2Ku technology that promises Internet peak speed of 70Mbps. The system is currently in testing, with hardware is installed on two airlines, Aeromexico and Virgin Atlantic. The 2Ku system features a streamlined, dual antenna technology and spot-beam satellites, with enhance spectral efficiency that will decrease costs. The winner of the Outstanding Passenger Experience Award is the Cockpit high-technology innovation hub of El Al Israel Airlines. Cockpit is a digital travel aviation hub for entrepreneurs. Through the hub, startup companies can gain access and funding by developing technologies for El Al and its partners. Winners were picked by category and region. The following are winners of APEX Awards: Best Overall Passenger Experience Emirates Best Ground Experience Emirates John White Award: Best Inflight Publication Norwegian Best Cabin Ambience Emirates Best IFE User Interface Emirates Best Inflight Video Virgin America Best Inflight Connectivity and Communications Emirates Best Food and Beverage In Conjunction with the International Flight Services Association Emirates Best in Region: Africa Ethiopian Airlines Best in Region: Americas Virgin America Best in Region: Asia and Australasia Korean Air Best in Region: Europe Norwegian Best in Region: Middle East Emirates
C A L E N D A R 2015 Aircraft Interiors Expo and World Travel Catering and Onboard Services Expo Americas November 4-5, Seattle. For more information contact Customer Service ataircraftinteriorsus@reedexpo.com or call 203-840-5680 SIAL Middle East Trade Show and Networking Forum and Airline Catering Event, December 7-9, Abu Dhabi. For more information, contact SIAL Middle East FZ LL at info@sialme.com or call +971 (0) 2 401 2949
2016 Aircraft Interiors Middle East and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul, February 3-4, Dubai World Trade Centre. For more information, contact F&E Aerospace Dubai Tel: +971 (0) 4 603 3300 or fill out enquiry form at http:// www.aime.aero/forms/enquiry-form Aircraft Interiors Expo/World Travel Catering and Onboard Services Expo April 5-7, Hamburg, Germany. For general inquiries contact AIX at aixhamburg.helpline@reedexpo.co.uk or call +44 208 271 2174 Marine Hotel Association 31st Anniversary Conference and Trade Show, April 10-12 Hyatt Place/Orlando Convention Center, Orlando, Florida. For more information, contact MHA at mha@mhaweb.org or call 415 332-1903 APEX MultiMedia Market, April 13-15 Istanbul. For more information contact APEX at info@apex.aero or call 212 297–2177
Emirates officials took the stage in Portland to receive the award for Best Overall Passenger Experience presented by APEX CEO Joe Leader (center)
42 | PAX INTERNATIONAL | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015
International Flight Services Association Conference and Exhibition, September 19-21, Chicago. IFSA at ifsa@kellencompany.com or call 404 252-3663 APEX EXPO 2016/Future Travel Experience Asia, October 24-27, Singapore. For more information, APEX at info@apex.aero or call 212 297–2177