Submission Questions

Each award applied will need to answer these three questions

• Key Objective for Event (Bullet Format Preferred) What did you do? (Description of products and/or services)
• How did you overcome any challenges?
• How did your event best reflect the category being submitted? What were the results or outcomes? How were the key objectives achieved?

Additionally, each submission will be required to provide at least 5, but no more than 10 photos, video or other collateral. 

Entry Rules

• Each entry must be submitted via the Evessio platform. Entries must be submitted by event originators.
• The company submitting must have a place of business in the Chicagoland area (100 miles from 60601) or the event must have taken place in the Chicagoland area.
• Event must have taken place between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024.
• Entry must be submitted, and payment must be received no later than 11:59 pm CT on February 14th, 2025.
• Entry Fee: $150 (ILEA Member) / $175 (Non-Member)
• Incomplete entries or non-compliance will result in disqualification with no refund. 
• Spark Awards Committee reserves the right to re-categorize entries if incorrectly classified.
• All submissions will be notified if they are a finalist or if they are disqualified.
• Company name and/or logo may appear on your submission. 

Judging

• Qualified entries become finalists based on a point-scoring judging system, which will remain confidential and the property of the Spark Awards Planning Committee.
• The number of finalists per category will not exceed 3.
• Our anonymous judges are ILEA Members and Industry Professionals.
• Judges’ decisions will be final.
• Entries will be judged on: How well the event met its objectives. Originality and creativity of the event, product or services. Integration of elements and execution of the event. Inclusion of support collateral materials. Any challenges that were presented and overcome.
• Disqualified entrants will be notified and given a chance to correct the submission if done so by the end of the submission period. Fees for disqualified entries are non-refundable.
• Finalists in each category will be notified via e-mail and/or phone by March 9, 2025.
• Winners will be announced at the Spark Awards Event.
• Transportation and tickets to the ceremony are the responsibility of the finalist(s).
• Refer questions to Spark Awards Committee: ileachicagosparkawards@gmail.com