Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner
Questions? Please contact Jana McDonald at (703) 953-3524 or Matt Alion at (301) 718-9334
General Questions
What is GALA?
GALA (Great American Living Awards) program is the most prestigious residential design, sales and marketing competition in the metropolitan Washington market. Builders, developers, architects, sales, marketing, merchandising and advertising professionals have judged these awards for more than 50 years, and to win a GALA is considered the "Best of the Best."
Why would we want to enter?
To be a GALA winner signifies excellence and the finest the industry has to offer. It translates into true value for the consumer and signifies acknowledgment of excellence by peers. GALA is a true mark of distinction — assurance that your home, community and the sales and marketing efforts that support it meet the highest standards. In recent years, consumer awareness and acceptance of the awards have increased, adding value to entrants.
Who can enter GALA?
The Northern Virginia Building Industry Association, Washington Metropolitan Sales and Marketing Council and Maryland Building Industry Association invite any member who is developing, building, marketing or selling housing and communities in the Washington area to enter. The entrant must be a member. Only members are allowed to display the GALA logo or use it as a marketing tool. Architects, Ad Agencies, Merchandisers, and any others who submit on behalf of builders/developers must also be members. Entries must be a new home, community, or rental apartment community located in one of the following areas: District of Columbia; Maryland Counties: Anne Arundel, Baltimore County/City, Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, and Wicomico, and St Mary’s; Virginia Counties: Alexandria, Arlington, Caroline, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, Loudoun, Prince William, Spotsylvania, and Stafford; West Virginia Counties: Berkeley and Jefferson; Delaware Counties: Kent and Sussex. All entries must have been available for sale, rental, sold, or viewed by 3/31/23. Entries in Marketing Categories 21-30 must have been available to the public between 4/1/22-3/31/23. Sales Achievement Entries in Categories 5-15 are for the period 4/1/21-3/31/22.
Entry Questions
How do I enter GALA?
To get started, simply visit the Enter Page. Select from the Award Groups on that page to access categories and subcategories to add to your cart. Once in your cart, select the quantity to reflect the number of entries you would like to submit in that category and subcategory. Complete the checkout process, which allows payment via credit card or select "Offline Payment" if you will be mailing a check to NVBIA. Once the online form is submitted, fill out the appropriate form documentation per entry. Please ensure that the online entry form and the supporting documents use the same entry name. The entry name should reflect what is being entered, such as the name of the individual, model, community and/or project name. Prepare all imagery assets and implement the following naming convention for all entry materials. Upload your entry materials to a file-sharing platform (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.), saving all materials for each unique entry in a folder that reflects the entry name, the category and the subcategory. Email a public link to access the folder containing your entry materials to GALA@NVBIA.com.
What information is required for Marketing category submissions?
Entries in Marketing Categories 21-30 must have been available to the public between 4/1/22-3/31/23.
What are Grand Awards?
Home of the Year honors the best in Design & Architecture and Interior Design/ Merchandising for a Model. The winners in each Home of the Year subcategory represent the best overall entry in their class for a given year. The winners in categories 29-45 are eligible to win Home of the Year, provided they are nominated by at least one judge in the panel of judges assigned to that category. The winner(s) of Home of the Year will then be selected by a subcommittee of GALA following the onsite judging. Community of the Year must be entered. Hall of Fame and Sales Person of the Year are based on selections made by the judges.
Is there an entry fee?
Yes, for the Million Dollar Club, there is an entry fee of $140; for all Sales Achievement Categories, there is an entry fee of $175 per entry. All other categories will have an entry fee of $460 per entry submitted and paid by May 19; $490 per entry submitted and paid after May 20. Deadlines: All completed entry forms and fees (including custom category entries) must be received at NVBIA by: Early Bird—5:00pm on Friday, May 19, 2023; Regular—5:00pm on Friday, June 2, 2023. Note: Categories 1, 3, 4 do not require an entry fee and winners are determined based on a panel of judges. Please refer to the eligibility requirements.
Are the entry fees refundable?
Entry fees are non-refundable.
How many entries can I submit?
You can enter as many entries as you would like as long as each meets the criteria. View the Enter Page for categories and eligibility. You may also enter multiple categories with the same product.
How do I submit my entry forms?
Once the online form is submitted, fill out the appropriate form documentation per entry. Please ensure that the online entry form and the supporting documents use the same entry name. The entry name should reflect what is being entered, such as the name of the individual, model, community and/or project name. Prepare all imagery assets and implement the following naming convention for all entry materials. Upload your entry materials to a file-sharing platform (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.), saving all materials for each unique entry in a folder that reflects the entry name, the category and subcategory. Email a public link to access the folder containing your entry materials to GALA@nvbia.com. View the Enter Page for more information.
Category 36 Clubhouse Merchandising: How do I determine the subcategory size of the clubhouse or club area?
For purposes of determining the appropriate subcategory, clubhouse size is the interior square footage of free-standing structure.
What about EHO logos or statements?
Entries in categories 17-29 must display the Equal Housing Opportunity logo or statement.
Judging Questions
Who are the Judges?
A distinguished panel of Building Industry Professionals selected for their expertise in New Home and Community Design, Building, Interior Design and Merchandising, Marketing and Sales.
When will the judging process begin?
Judging Periods:
June 13 - August 4, 2023: In-Field Judging
August 2 & 3, 2023: Sales Achievement Interviews
August 8 - 14, 2023: Home & Community of the Year Judging
What are the judging criteria?
The major criterion for Design & Architecture and Interior Design/Merchandising is the best combination of design excellence, value and overall quality of living for its target market. For Sales Achievement, the judges are looking for the best examples of individual face-to-face sales professionalism at the community level, and not the highest volume. The winners in each of these categories will embody the highest standards that represent the best qualities of our industry.
What are Judges looking for in the category of Innovative Land Planning?
Judges look at the special features, street network, landscaping, lighting, home/building orientation to streets, amenities and open space. The land planner, as opposed to the architect, should be included in the entry information.
What are Judges looking for in the category of Community of the Year?
Judges look for the relationship among different land uses, special features, street network, landscaping, home/building orientation to streets, amenities and open space. If applicable, judges look at website design, advertising, merchandising and marketing for the community.
My Community of the Year entry is still in land development during the Judging Period.
Judges encourage entries to be in at least an active land development stage during judging. Entries may be submitted as long as the entry form is complete for the judges.
My Home Design entry is still in drywall stage during the Judging Period.
Judges encourage entries to be in at least the drywall stage during judging. Judges are looking for the balance of design, value and curb appeal, and of course, consumer acceptance. Entries are not based on interior decorating.
My Land Plan entry is still in the marketing stage during the Judging Period.
Land Plans may also be submitted as long as the entry form is complete for the Judges.
Event Questions
How do we purchase tickets?
Tickets will be available for purchase online via this link until the supply is gone. There is limited seating!
Do we receive complimentary tickets with our entries?
No complimentary tickets are given to those who have entered GALA. However, sponsors receive complimentary tickets depending on their level of support. View the Sponsor section on the website for more details.
Are there discounted hotel rooms available at the event venue?
Yes, there will be discounted hotel rooms available at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner. Information about discounted rooms will be shown here once it is available.
How do I order a duplicate award?
A link will be added here in October 2023 after the awards ceremony to order a duplicate award from our partner, Award Crafters.
