Are nominations free?
Yes. You don’t have to pay anything to nominate yourself or your client. There is absolutely no fee required to take part in the Awards, which is run as a CSR project to recognise and salute excellence in the insurance industry.
Organising the Awards costs about US$250,000. Funding comes from table sales for the Awards Presentation Dinner, as well as sponsors who support the cause to boost standards and professionalism.
Nominated candidates are invited to attend the Presentation Dinner on a complimentary basis. While they are encouraged to buy tables to host their staff for a night of celebration and recognition, there is no obligation to do so.
Why take part in the Awards? What is unique about the Awards?
The Middle East Insurance Industry Awards are unique because the entire process is fully transparent. It is fully audited, with a defined criteria, and it is served by a Panel of Judges who represent leading lights in the industry. No other Awards in the market can boast of such an open criteria.
A win in the Awards is a real victory with you being judged by your peers as the winner for that year. It is an Award that is highly coveted and respected.
We are better than the winner and yet we were not chosen. Why?
The first question is: Was your company nominated? You cannot expect your competitors to nominate your company. That is why we allow self-nomination and it is your duty to ensure that your company is nominated and is part of the judging process. It is part of marketing and there should be no shame attached to self-nomination for your company.
Nominations are free and open to all. You don’t have to be a subscriber, an advertiser, a sponsor or a client of MEIR to be nominated or to win.
The winner is chosen by a Panel of Judges who represent a cross section of the industry including market leaders, association heads, and regulators regionally and internationally. The entire process is audited. But the first step is to get nominated.
Why did we not win? How did Company X win?
Judging is not a science but a perception of the views of the Judging Panel. So if you don’t win, do not take it personally. It was a majority view of the peers in your industry. Do take part next year with a different write up and a different focus. As there are 16 judges in the Panel, you can be assured there is no prejudice against any one company. The Judges vote according to their convictions and there is no rule against the big or small, or even that the prizes must be rotated within the countries in the region.
The winners each year are chosen based on the driving concerns of the day and the majority view of the Panel of Judges based on the write ups. As Judges are drawn from all over the region and internationally, their market intelligence will serve as the litmus test of the claims made in the write-ups.
Are the entries strictly confidential?
Yes, the entries are confidential. Other than sharing the material with the Judges who are required to destroy the write ups after the process, we do not publish them. The write-ups will also not be used in our editorials.
Why are only finalists announced?
To allow everyone to take part without fear of embarrassment, we adopt a positive approach where we will only announce the finalists. The other nominations that don’t make it to the finals are never named. Nonetheless, the nominee is free to do his own marketing should he want to.
Why are the “nominators” not announced?
This is to prevent horse trading among the nominators and nominees.
Some nominations even come from regulators, past winners, or even enlightened competitors, as well from staff, clients or suppliers of the nominees. Some get nominated by the dozens. But once received, all nominations are treated on an equal plane by the Judges. Hence, the nominators or the number of nominations are not announced. Everything depends on the write ups on Judging day.
Why are self-nominations allowed?
This is to make the system as fair as possible and to allow everyone who thinks his company is doing something exemplary to get a chance to be recognised. It is not limited to the more popular or the big players etc. It is open to all - small and big.
It is naïve to expect competitors to nominate worthy candidates. Self-nomination is neutral.
What happens when there is a conflict of interest with the judges?
All judges are involved in rating and ranking the entries, except in categories where there is a conflict of interest, such as if their company is taking part in that category or if there is some cross holding between the Judge’s company and the candidate in that category.
We allow companies employing the Judges to take part as otherwise it will be penalising the Judges. But the “conflicts” rule ensures that Judges don’t vote in the categories their companies are taking part in.
It is the integrity of the Judges that underpin the Awards system. Judging is not based on consensus but on the Judges’ scoring of the write-ups in the first instance, and then ranking the finalists after the face-to-face meeting of each finalists on Judging Day.The Judges contribute their time and effort to this grueling process as their social service to the industry.
Did Award winners pay or sponsor to win?
No. The process is transparent and audited. Everything depends on the Judges’ selection and we have 16 judges to represent a cross section of views.
All companies can do is to influence the judges by an excellent and verifiable write up.
Can I take part in more than one category?
Yes, you can only if you are a composite company. Otherwise one company can only take part in one category.
As an example, a composite company can take part in both the "Life Insurance Company of the Year" and "General Insurance Company of the Year" but you cannot take part in say "Life Insurance Company of the Year" and "Employer of the Year".
Why are the results kept secret till the day of the Gala Dinner?
This is to add excitement and to ensure that all the finalists will attend the Dinner. And most Awards that are genuine do not announce the Winners until the very night of the presentation, like the Academy Awards.
When is the deadline for entries?
The deadlines for submission of third-party nominations and self-nominations are 15 May and 31 May 2017, respectively.
Does the entry need to be in English?
Yes.
When and where will the results be announced?
The results will be announced at a Gala Dinner on 22 November 2017, held in Dubai in conjunction with the Dubai Rendezvous.
What will it cost to attend the awards dinner?
Nominated candidates are invited to attend the dinner on a complimentary basis. While they are encouraged to buy tables to host their staff for a night of celebration and recognition, there is no obligation to do so. Each table costs US$2,900.