To honor the powerful role promotions play in exhibit effectiveness and provide readers with proven concepts, EXHIBITOR hosts the annual Sizzle Awards. Now in its 23rd year, the competition recognizes exhibit-promotion strategies that don't merely look cool; they also produce red-hot results.

This year, thanks to the effects of COVID-19 on our industry, our panel of judges scored entries in what was for the first – and likely last – time a free competition. Throughout the judging process, jurors kept two criteria top of mind. Winning entries needed to rival Maya Angelou in terms of creative genius; plus, they required sufficient measurable results to prove the promotions delivered dividends.

Based on their scores, however, jurors also seemed to enjoy fresh ideas that fostered increased face time. Take the "Guac Experience," a multifaceted and multisensory activation from Avocados From Mexico that engaged booth visitors for an average of 20 minutes. Or consider the VIP promotion crafted by GE Appliances, a Haier company. To generate awareness for a new product, GE hosted a savory and educational progressive breakfast event that captivated attendees for an average of 75 minutes.

So please join us in congratulating the 2020 Sizzle Awards winners. Often, the best way to light our own creative fires is to spark them with clever, results-driven examples from others. Here are five incendiary embers to get your blaze burning.

THE WINNERS Bravocado Avocados From Mexico Show and Sell Federal Signal Corp. The Breakfast Club GE Appliances Down and Dirty K-Tec Earthmovers Inc. Vets' Best Friend Zoetis Inc. JUDGES Bill Bissmeyer, vice president, operations and business development, Performance Marketing Group, Noblesville, IN Lorelei K. Harloe, principal, LKH Communication LLC, Oakton, VA Frank Jones, director of creative services and events, RentPath LLC, Atlanta Joelle McCaslin, medical congress excellence lead, Biogen Inc., Cambridge, MA Carrie Schultz, vice president, strategy and client service, CSG Creative, Alexandria, VA Vanessa Schultz, community architect, Illumina Inc., San Diego Jason Vickers, CTSM, manager of trade shows and events, Verizon Enterprise Solutions, Madison, AL