My co-founder Daniel Malins and I’ve some traces of wrestle from our 12 years working collectively since we launched WatchPro collectively in 2012, however on a heat September day in New York Metropolis final 12 months, because the doorways have been simply opening, the whole lot appeared to have settled down worthy of the first-ever WatchPro Awards in the USA.
As I sat within the late summer time solar outdoors Cipriani, arguably New York’s most spectacular venue within the coronary heart of Manhattan’s monetary district, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction at how far we have include WatchPro.
Cipriani’s venue is in a historic constructing that after served as Cunard’s headquarters and reserving workplace (no Titanic jokes, please). It is only a stone’s throw from Wall Road, the epicenter of worldwide capitalism.
Inside, Cipriani is sort of a temple with 60-foot-high vaulted ceilings, which we illuminated with a spectacular laser present earlier than the awards ceremony started.
Lots of of visitors spent hundreds of {dollars} touring from all around the United States, together with retailers from California, Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, Washington, Texas, Georgia, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
They have been happy to assemble for a night with U.S. executives from the world’s largest manufacturers to mirror on the American watch market’s most profitable 12 months ever.
As has all the time been the case within the UK, the finalists and winners of the awards have been chosen by the trade itself, with retailers voting for the manufacturers they most admired that 12 months and model executives voting for the retailers who had most impressed.
However the competitors was deserted on this spectacular night as a result of the extraordinarily spectacular crowd simply wished to rejoice collectively.
I used to be reminded of that night final week when Daniel and I traveled to our ITP Media Group headquarters in Dubai for our annual kick-off assembly, which included inner awards recognizing finest practices throughout the group.
The WatchPro USA Awards gained the trophy for Finest Occasion of the 12 months. Provided that ITP employs over 400 folks and held over 250 occasions in 2023, some with seven-figure budgets, we have been more than happy to obtain the award.
We’ll be again in 2024 with larger and higher WatchPro Awards on either side of the Atlantic and I sit up for welcoming the sensible individuals who make our trade tick.
Dates to recollect are the WatchPro Awards 2024 in London on October thirty first and in New York on September 4th.
