Categories for BW EXCEL Awards 2025
A. SPECIALISED AWARDS
Young Consultancy of the Year
To recognize the work done by the PR Consultancy. The Consultancy should be in existence for more than 48 months as on 31st March 2026.
In-House Team of the Year
Open to any in-house team within the private and corporate sector, local government, government agencies, health authorities, trade unions and trade bodies as well within NGOs, charities or other not-for profit organizations.
A. Rising PR Consultancy of the year
An organization whose annual turnover is below INR 9 Cr.
B. Mid-Sized PR Consultancy of the year
An organization whose annual turnover is between INR 9 Cr to 20Cr.
C. Large PR Consultancy of the year
An organization whose annual turnover is between INR 20Cr. to 40 Cr.
D. Giant PR Consultancy of the year
An organization whose annual turnover is between INR 41 – 90 Cr.
E. Superior PR Consultancy of the year
An organization whose annual turnover is above INR 91 -149 Cr.
F. Supreme PR Consultancy of the year
An organization whose annual turnover is above INR 150 Cr.
Best regional PR Consultancy of the year
A regional PR agency whose annual turnover is above 2 Cr.
Fastest Growing agency of the year:
Agencies which can showcase their growth chart, clientele, performance. Can apply in this category
Agency with best in house team of the year
To recognize the outstanding team of an agency in the field of Public relations. Especially agencies which had done exemplary work in creating high efficient work place and teams which had contributed immensely in their organisation growth.
Young PR / Corporate Communications Professional of the Year
To recognize PR / Corporate Communications professional in a consultancy and in-house team who are under the age of 35 years. Nominations sent by self or employers, which showcase the outstanding performance and shown immense growth in last one year.
PR Professional of the Year
To recognize the outstanding professional performance made by an individual and /or contribution to the professional development and standings of the industry as a whole.
Corporate Communications Professional of the year:
To recognize the outstanding and performance made by Corp Comm professional towards the corporate and the industry as a whole
Life time Achievement Award (Nominations only)
This award is established to honor the stalwart who has contributed to the emergence & growth of the PR & Corporate Communications Industry in India.
Marketing Communications Professional of the year
To recognize the outstanding and performance made by Mar Comm professional towards the corporate and the industry as a whole
Public Affairs Professional of the year
To recognize the outstanding professional performance in the field of Public Affairs made by an individual and /or contribution to the professional development and standings of the industry as a whole
CEO of the Year
To recognize the outstanding performance of a CEO of an agency in the field of Public Affairs made by an individual and /or contribution to the growth of the organisation and its professional development and standings of the industry as a whole (@ Rs 5000-/ per entry).
Global PR Professional of the year
To recognize the outstanding contributions of a global-based individual in the field of Public relations and Communications who had done exemplary work in creating a highly efficient workplace and teams which had contributed immensely in their organisations and industry growth.
Best Crisis Management:
The intensity of the crisis and the action taken by the brands to protect the organization business and stakeholder sentiments. The route taken to communicate with all the stakeholders, keep their interest and sentiments high at the time of crisis.The overall time frame of controlling the crisis.
Stakeholder Mitigation
Creative approach to address the interest of the stakeholders of the organisation. Managing the expectation through internal and external communication. Making communication more conducive for the benefit and interest of the organisation, management and stakeholders.
Internal Communications
The best of use of internal communication, messaging, campaigns and discussion using various channels of communication. To ensure strict deadliness and effective communications for reaching out to the employees on a specific theme, impact and desired results
Marketing and Communication
Managing the marketing and communication objective in the most efficient way.
IT & Technology
This category is for the agencies specialised in information and technology sector
Automobile
This category is for the agencies specialised in automobile sector
Startups
This category is for the agencies specialised in startup sector
Healthcare
This category is for the agencies specialised in healthcare sector
Law
This category is for the agencies specialised in law sector
Hospitality
This category is for the agencies specialised in hospitality sector
Retail
This category is for the agencies specialised in Retail sector
Real Estate
This category is for the agencies specialised in real estate sector
Entertainment
This category is for the agencies specialised in entertainment sector
Manufacturing
This category is for the agencies specialised in manufacturing sector
Sports
This category is for the agencies specialised in sports sector
Digital Integration
This category is for the agencies specialised in Digital integration
Finance
This category is for the agencies specialised in Banking and Digital integration
Fashion & Lifestyle
This category is for the agencies specialised in Fashion and Lifestyle
Regional
This category is for the agencies specialised in Regional market.
Public Policy & Political Affair
This category is for the agencies specialised in Public Policy and Political Affairs
Arts and Culture
This category is for the agencies specialised in Arts and culture sector.
B. INDUSTRIAL AWARDS
Issues Management or Crisis Management
To recognize for the most effective management of an issue or crisis by a consultancy or in-house team or a combination of both. The objective, strategy and method deployed should be clearly set out.
Public Affairs
To recognize the most effective use of PR to change or enlist political or public opinion utilizing either lobbying or broader grassroots public affairs tactics is including media and online relations.
Most innovative use of Social
Media To recognize the campaigns where the focus of activity was digital in nature. This includes PR led viral campaigns and social media campaigns on Twitter, facebook, MY Space, YouTube etc.
Integrated Campaign
To recognize campaigns in which Public Relations played a pivotal role and motivator alongside other disciplines such as advertising, promotions, digital, social media, consumer engagement etc. at least 3 of such disciplines or channels should have been used.
Most Innovative use of Digital Media
Entries in this category should focus on the overall digital communications efforts surrounding a product, service or event in the communications arena. Judges will look for PR strategies with a digital-first approach, leveraging online platforms and tools to elevate a message.
Most Innovative story telling in PR in Digital Age
At the age of best expression, brands are now more focused on putting up an emotional connect to the consumer through their story telling. We are looking for that story telling which has engaged and created a mass buzz in a short span. The story could be monetized on creativity, platform chosen, story line, concept & ROI.
Influencer Impact: Social Media / PR Influencer
Recognizes success at identifying influencers for a particular campaign or ongoing initiativeand mobilizing them to connect positively with a brand or organization.
IPO and it’s launch
Entries in this category involves the consistent communications of a brand using various channels of communications, sources and programmes to ensure optimum result for an IPO
Most Innovative use of Content Marketing
This award will be given for the most effective use of content. The objectives, strategy and method deployed should be clearly set out. Entry should include methods of how content was distributed, used to attract and retain audience and how the content is enhancing audience behavior. Judges will also be looking for the creativeness and innovativeness of the distribution along with specific evaluation discussing engagement and customer retention.
F&B and Hospitality
PR campaign that stood out in the crowded F&B and Hospitality sector.
PR campaign that stood out in the crowded F&B and Hospitality sector
This award recognizes a successful public relations campaign or project undertaken by, or on behalf of, a company operating specifically in the arts, Music or culture sectors, as well as those that promote an arts, Music or culture service, product or initiative in any sector.
A. Continuous Campaign (Metro Only)
A campaign which is running from last (3yrs).
B. Continuous Campaign (Beyond Metro)
A campaign which is running from last (3yrs).
Automotive & Transport Marketing Communications Campaign
This award will recognise successful campaigns covering motor vehicles, services, in-car entertainment, fuel, tyres, dealers, distributors etc., as well as campaigns covering all forms of transportation.
Healthcare Marketing Campaign
This award will recognise successful PR and marketing campaigns done by brand and agencies on healthcare sector covering every aspect of healthcare in every form
Fintech Marketing Campaign
This award will recognise successful PR and marketing campaigns done by brand and agencies on Fintech sector covering every aspect of fintech in every form.
Best Advocacy Campaign
This award will recognise successful advocacy campaigns done by brand and agencies across sector
Social responsibility campaign
Campaign done by brands to spread social responsibility and social causes.
Media Engagement
To recognise those brands who have adapted to the changing social media landscape and are successfully ensuring uniform messaging through the right media mix for optimum outreach.
Thought Leadership Merits
To recognise the most competent PR agency who have succeeded in guiding brands and CXOs to establish a strong voice and standing out.
Best Use of Analytics
To recognise the most competent campaign, which has achieved superior results using measurement, analytics and evaluation.
Entertainment and lifestyle sector
This category is open to specialist campaigns including Education, fashion, sports, f&b, arts, music PR recognizing the huge growth in this area of PR.
Education & Science
The greatest communications campaigns or projects from the Education, sport and Science industry will be recognised in this category.
Event & Experiential Marketing
Sophisticated technological tools mean that events and experiential marketing can be more immersive than ever before. Whether offline or online, events and experiences are becoming more sophisticated, and appeal to diverse array of brands and industries. The most memorable will be highlighted in this category.
Real State Sector
Judges will be looking at the role and contribution of PR / communications in the campaign strategies that contributed to the property and business objectives. Entrants should be able to outline creative and innovative elements, successful execution, and be able to evidence the ability of the campaign to increase share of voice, generate buzz and public awareness about the property in the media, and show how ROI was measured and how the campaign and / or business goals were achieved or exceeded.
Travel & Tourism Sector
This award recognises a successful public relations campaign or project undertaken by, or on behalf of, a company operating specifically in the travel, leisure or tourism sectors, as well as those that promote a travel, leisure or tourism service, product or initiative in any sector.
Healthcare/Healthcare Providers
To recognize the work or one-off projects undertaken by or on behalf of Healthcare\ Healthcare Providers such as pharmaceutical company, hospitals, insurance companies, health related providers.
Financial Services Sector
To recognize the most effective ongoing business or consumer campaign or one-off project undertaken by or on behalf of company operating in the financial services.(banking, mortgages, insurance, life insurance etc).
Technology
To recognize the most effective ongoing business or consumer campaign or on-off project taken by or on behalf of a company operating specifically in technology sector (eg. Telecom, computers, dotcom)
A. Best use of PR by a Brand (Metro Only)
To recognize the public relations work that has played in a central role in brand strategy, positioning and messaging.
B. Best use of PR by a Brand (Beyond Metro)
To recognize the public relations work that has played in a central role in brand strategy, positioning and messaging.
Best Celebrity PR or PR used for individual image perception
To recognize the public relations work that has played in a celebrity PR and promotion.
Sports Sector
This category is open to specialist campaigns on sports including gaming.
Consumer Product
This category is open to consumer product campaigns
CSR and Not for Profit
This category is open to CSR and not for profit campaigns.
Esport / Gaming
This category is open for campaign and promotions for Esport and gaming.
Public Sector
To recognize the most effective campaign or communications programme carried out by government departments, local authorities, and public sector agencies and bodies.
A. CSR & Not-for-profit (Metro Only)
To recognize the most effective campaign or work for or by charity, voluntary, not for profit organization or a most effective CSR campaign/Social responsibility campaign
B. CSR & Not-for-profit (Beyond Metro)
To recognize the most effective campaign or work for or by charity, voluntary, not for profit organization or a most effective CSR campaign/Social responsibility campaign.
Internal Communications
To recognize how an ongoing strategic communication or a significant project have engaged internal stakeholders such as managers, employees and trade unions.
Best use of PR by a corporate
To recognize the best ongoing or one-off campaign on behalf of a corporate brand or organization which can include both B2b and B2C
Specialised consultancy of the year
