In an act that took place at the Municipal Conference Centre in Madrid on 19 June, chaired by T. R. H. the Prince and Princess of Asturias, Leche Pascual, Mapfre and BBVA, companies belonging to the Leading Brands of Spain Association, were awarded Prince Felipe Awards for Business Excellence in the respective categories of Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency, Internationalisation and Leading Brand. The Prince Felipe Awards are the most prestigious Spanish business awards. The prize-giving ceremony was attended by Miguel Sebastián, the Spanish Minister for Industry, Tourism and Trade, junior ministers, representatives of the nominated and winning companies as well as several leading personalities. The Leading Brands of Spain Forum was represented in the event by its General Manager, Miguel Otero.

As in previous editions the Leading Brands of Spain Forum has participated in the panel of judges in the ‘Management of Leading Brands’ category, for which the following companies were nominated: BBVA, Iberdrola, Aceitunas La Española, Marqués de Riscal and Acciona. The Minister for Industry, Tourism and Trade stressed that supporting a culture of risk helps shape a society’s enterprising spirit, adding that the more we push this intangible factor the more we are contributing to our country´s future economic growth. The winning companies received awards for special merit in categories such as Industrial Quality, Design, Technological Innovation, Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency; Internationalisation, Tourism Excellence, the Information Society, Information Technology and Communications, or Management of a Leading Brand.

The fact that three of the nine winners are members of the Leading Brands of Spain Association – one more than last year – bears witness to the strength of its brands.

Leche Pascual received the prize in the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency category for its role in contributing to a more rational use of energy. Mapfre won the Internationalisation prize for its noteworthy leadership in expansion abroad – particularly in the US. For its remarkable strength as a major European bank with extensive international operations, BBVA was awarded the Leading Brand prize.

With regards the other prizes, the Prince Felipe Award for Industrial Quality went to the Andalusian technology-based company, Novasoft Corporación Empresarial S. L. and the Valencian company Viccarbe Habitat received the Prince Felipe Award for Design. The Prince Philip Award for Technological Innovation, in the SME category, went to Suinsa Medical Systems, and Sener Ingenierías y Sistemas, S.A. won in the Large Companies category. The Prince Felipe Award for Tourism Excellence went to Hoteles Turísticos Unidos, S.A. (Hotusa) and Telvent Git, S.A. won the Prince Felipe Award for the Information Society and Information Technology and Communications “for its strong presence in projects of a great social impact.”

The Prince Felipe Awards for Business Excellence have no monetary prize as these awards bestow both winners and nominees with honour. Winners receive a trophy and nominees are presented with a diploma accrediting their nomination.

The process by which the panel of judges is selected and whereby the winners are chosen guarantees impartiality and objectivity, thus ensuring the awards and nominations go to the most effective and competitive Spanish companies. The jurors are all independent internationally-renowned personalities.

Alberto Corazón, founder and Chairman of the Spanish Association of Design Professionals, who was awarded the National Design Award in 1999, created the motif of these awards. This Madrid-born and internationally acclaimed designer is the only European designer to have won a Gold Medal from the American Institute of Graphic Arts – the most prestigious award in the field of visual communications.