Awards for Communications Excellence

Chambers of commerce are recognized each year for outstanding marketing and communications work through ACCE’s Awards for Communications Excellence (ACE) program. 

ACE submissions are reviewed by volunteer judges—peers from the ACCE community—who select a limited number of entries to be named as award winners.

The competition provides winners recognition opportunities within their communities and the chamber industry. Previous winners have presented their work during ACCE webinars, judged subsequent ACE competitions and had their winning entries featured in Chamber Executive magazine and ACCE’s blog.

Entry Category & Type

Each submission is organized and reviewed based on the submitting organization’s total annual revenue range and entry type.

Category

  • Category One: Organizations with a total annual revenue under $1 million (USD)
  • Category Two: Organizations with a total annual revenue of $1 million to $3 million (USD)
  • Category Three: Organizations with a total annual revenue of more than $3 million (USD)

Entry Type

Chambers can submit multiple projects across different categories, as well as multiple entries within a single category. For instance, a chamber can enter its annual report and newsletter within the Print & Electronic Publications category. However, each submission may only be entered once in the competition.                                              

  • Campaigns 
    Includes: advocacy/public policy campaigns, economic development campaigns, branding/rebranding initiatives, membership drives/campaigns, industry recruitment, social media, crisis communication campaigns, special projects, event marketing

  • Print & Electronic Publications
    Includes: annual reports, legislative agendas, community guides, community reports, directories, magazines, relocation guides, sponsorship guides and newsletters

  • Digital Media
    Includes podcasts and single, stand-alone videos* 
    *Promotional or informative videos, no longer than five minutes in length, produced for an event or social media; promotes the chamber or its programs and events; or informs on a particular issue. If the video is part of a series, you may submit one video from the series that you feel best represents your work (your entry responses must then focus solely on that single video and not that of the entire series). Event recordings are not eligible.

  • Websites


Evaluation Criteria

  • Entries will be judged on creativity, design, writing and production quality and clarity. Submissions should be visually engaging and compelling, reflecting a modern approach from a forward-thinking chamber.
  • Submissions will be evaluated on the effectiveness of messaging. Did it meet its intended purpose?
  • Judges will consider whether the entry is one they would use as an inspiration piece for their own organizations. Entries should be the freshest and most innovative marketing and communications work from a chamber of commerce.
  • Judges pay particular attention to the results that the piece generated. These may include media impressions, attendance numbers, monies raised, intended action taken (such as a policy win), etc. Be specific and include metrics that illustrate the entry's success. Do not rely on testimonials alone to prove success.

Judges reserve the right to not present an award within a category if none of the entries reflect award-winning work.



Recognition

Two tiers of Communications Excellence awards are presented: Awards for Communications Excellence Winners and Best in Show.

Awards for Communications Excellence Winners 
Up to twelve winners named and considered finalists for the Best in Show title within their respective entry category (based on total annual revenue range).

  • Category One: Campaigns
  • Category Two: Campaigns
  • Category Three: Campaigns
  • Category One: Print & Electronic Publications
  • Category Two: Print & Electronic Publications
  • Category Three: Print & Electronic Publications
  • Category One: Digital Media
  • Category Two: Digital Media
  • Category Three: Digital Media
  • Category One: Websites
  • Category Two: Websites
  • Category Three: Websites

Awards for Communications Excellence winners are considered finalists for the Best in Show title within their respective entry category (based on total annual revenue range). Winners will receive an award crystal and be recognized during the #AwardsShow at ACCE's Annual Convention. Although Communications Excellence winners are not called to the stage, the winning entries are acknowledged from the podium.

Best in Show 
Three awards presented; selected from the Awards for Communications Excellence winners. 

  • Top entry from Category One
  • Top entry from Category Two
  • Top entry from Category Three

Best in Show winners in each category will be announced at the #AwardsShow during ACCE's Annual Convention in New Orleans (July 20-23, 2026). The winning organization in each category will be called to the stage to receive their award.



2026 Timeline

  • Competition Opens: January 2026
  • Early Bird Submission Deadline: TBA
  • Competition Closes: March 2026
  • Judges Review Entries: April-May 2026
  • Awards for Communications Excellence Winners Announced: June 2026
  • Best in Show Winners Announced: ACCE's Annual Convention in New Orleans (July 20-23, 2026)


Eligibility, Submission Details & Entry Pricing

  • 2026 entries are to be based on work completed between January 1 and December 31, 2025.
  • Competition is open to ACCE member chambers in good standing.
  • Agencies or vendors may not submit an entry on behalf their chamber client.
  • Only submissions completed via the ACCE-provided application will be accepted. Separately designed applications, addressing the required information about the entry, will not be accepted.
  • ACCE reserves the right to share entries (with due attribution) in whole or part, on its news, web and social media channels.
  • Due to the volume of entries received, ACCE is not able to provide individual feedback on submissions.
  • All submissions may only be entered once. Your entry must be uploaded to your website or a file hosting service such as Dropbox or Google Drive. You'll share a link to your entry (hosted on your website or file sharing service site) on the application. Physical entries will not be accepted.
  • Each entry must be submitted separately using this application form
  • Each application must be submitted online with the entry fee 
    • Early bird rate: $150/entry  
    • Standard rate: $200/entry* 
      *The $200 fee is waived for the first entry submitted by Horizon Investors and All ACCEss Pass members. These members receive the early bird rate ($150) throughout entry period. 


Entry Preparation Tips

Here are a few tips to make sure you make the most of your ACE entry.

Keep it simple and focused. Responses have word limits, so use clear and direct language. At the same time, don’t skimp on the details. Make sure you review the evaluation criteria so you know what judges will be looking for.

Tell us all about it. When writing your entry overview, provide a general description of your entry. Think of it as an elevator pitch. Share your project’s goals/objectives, how it aligns to your chamber’s mission, highlight its innovative aspects, what inspired its creation, how it helps tell your chamber’s story, etc. 

Highlight the results. Speaking of criteria, the judges, who are chamber communications professionals, pay particular attention to the results generated by the project. Think impressions, money raised, answered calls to action and so on. Don’t rely only on testimonials or anecdotes. Metrics are where it’s at.

Brag a little. Or a lot. Chambers aren’t always the best when it comes to claiming credit and doing a little bragging. Don’t be shy! Why are you proud of this entry? You’re submitting it for award consideration, so it must be good. Make sure to tell the judges why!

Double-check everything. Proofread your answers and your entry. Check links to make sure they’re not broken. Have a co-worker who is good with grammar look it over before you submit it.

 

Past Winners