This category recognises agencies that have demonstrated an innovative approach to client needs, for example, the use of new technology, media, marketing, creative, social, communities, and consumer intelligence. Judges will look at the groundbreaking ideas that have set new standards in the industry. Entries should highlight the agency’s ability to think outside the box and drive impactful results.

This category recognises agencies which have successfully used integrated marketing solutions on three or more marketing channels for their clients. Judges will look at how effectively they combined multiple channels and tactics to deliver cohesive solutions. Entries should show the conceptualisation and management of an integrated campaign across a range of verticals.

This category celebrates agencies that have delivered outstanding marketing technology strategies which leveraged tools, platforms, and AI-driven solutions to develop, deploy, and refine integrated MarTech stacks for their clients. It will also recognise agencies that used technology to transform a marketing performance and created smarter, data-driven outcomes.

Judges will look for how effectively the agency applied technology and AI to enhance marketing effectiveness, optimise processes, and deliver measurable results.

This category recognises outstanding agencies in the areas of media planning, buying, and strategy. It recognises teams that have optimised media investments to achieve maximum reach, impact, and engagement across both traditional and digital channels, including emerging areas such as programmatic and real-time bidding.

Judges will look for innovative, data-driven approaches that delivered measurable results and tangible business outcomes.

This category celebrates agencies that have excelled in performance-driven marketing, delivering measurable and results-oriented campaigns. It will recognise agencies that have optimised strategy, data, and creativity to achieve their clients’ business objectives effectively. Judges will look for evidence of strong results, innovation, and continuous optimisation that led to improved performance outcomes.

This category recognises agencies that have provided excellent pre or post-production work for marketing campaigns which includes event, audio, video productions, and more. Judges will look at the effectiveness of their visual and audio content in communicating brand messages. Entries should showcase the agency’s production expertise and creativity.

This category recognises agencies that have demonstrated excellence in leveraging programmatic technology to deliver smarter, data-driven advertising campaigns. It celebrates agencies that have made the most effective use of omni-channel buying capabilities from display and video to mobile and connected TV to reach audiences with precision and efficiency. Judges will look for how effectively data, automation, and technology were used to optimise performance and deliver measurable results.

This category recognises agencies that have provided strategy and execution for clients in the areas of corporate communications, public affairs, B2B, investor relations or crisis management. Judges will look at how effectively they managed brand reputation and drove positive media coverage. Entries should illustrate the successful PR campaigns that enhanced client visibility and their impact on brand perception.

This category celebrates agencies that have excelled in delivering outstanding social media strategies and campaigns as a core part of their offering. It recognises agencies that have creatively used social platforms to build brand communities, spark conversations, and drive meaningful engagement. Judges will look for how effectively the agency planned and executed social content, storytelling, and activations across multiple platforms.

This category celebrates agencies that have built a positive, inclusive, and people-first workplace culture. It recognises those that truly care for their teams by creating an environment where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to do their best work.

Judges will look for how the agency’s culture encourages collaboration, wellbeing, growth, and belonging. Entries should highlight initiatives or practices that strengthened team spirit, supported personal and professional development, and made the agency a great place to work.

This category celebrates the exceptional collaboration between an agency and its client that delivered outstanding results. It recognises partnerships built on mutual trust, open communication, and a shared commitment to success.

Entries should focus on one client relationship and show how the teamwork, goal alignment, and creative problem-solving led to measurable achievements and meaningful long-term impact.

This category honours an exceptional agency leader who has demonstrated vision, integrity, and transformative leadership. It recognises individuals who have not only guided their teams to success, but have also made a lasting impact on their agency’s growth and the wider industry.

Judges will look for clear evidence of business impact, including achievements in commercial performance, strategic direction, team development, and operational excellence within the eligibility period.

Open to CEO or MD-level leaders, this category accepts both self-nominations and peer nominations. Entries are encouraged to include testimonials that reflect the nominee’s leadership style, influence, and contributions to their agency’s success. Testimonials for this category are encouraged.

This category recognises outstanding work from an agency team which made a significant impact on their clients’ overall marketing campaigns, executions, and results. Entrants can use one particular campaign as a case study of evidence to form their entry or can use aspects from various projects, but all work must have taken place within the eligibility period.

Judges will look for clear evidence of the team’s scope of work, innovation, problem-solving, and results achieved against objectives or KPIs. Testimonials that reflect teamwork, client satisfaction, and exceptional outcomes are encouraged.

This category recognises an outstanding performance from an agency talent under the age of 30, who has demonstrated their ability in generating a significant impact to their clients’ overall marketing campaigns, executions, and results. To qualify, the entrant must have been 29 at any point during the eligibility period. 

Entrants can use one particular campaign as a case study of evidence to form their entry or can use aspects from various projects, but all work must have taken place within the eligibility period.

They must show evidence of their outstanding achievements in the campaign/s, their creativity, their out-of-the box thinking, excellent executions, successful results against objectives, and any other exceptional achievements or works, etc. Testimonials for this category are encouraged.

This category will recognise the most successful performing agencies across all categories. The top five performing agencies will be shortlisted, and the winner will be revealed in the big finale at the AOTY gala dinner celebration.

The winner is decided based on the following weightage. The entrant who scores the highest points will be crowned the overall winner:

Points system: 

• Gold: 4 points
• Silver: 2 points
• Bronze: 1 point

Tie-breakers:

• Most gold: If total points are tied, the agency with the highest number of gold awards wins.
• Most silver: If the gold awards are also tied, the agency with the highest number of silver awards wins.
• Highest average score: If a tie still persists, the agency with the highest average score percentage (as assigned by the judges across all their winning entries) will win.

This category will recognise the most successful performing Local Hero agency across all categories. Only independent agencies that were founded in Hong Kong are eligible for consideration. Multiple offices in other countries are permitted as long as the agency was founded in Hong Kong, with no ownership by parent agencies or holding companies.

The winner is decided based on the following weightage. The entrant who scores the highest points will be crowned the overall winner:

Points system: 

Local Hero: 1 point

Tie-breakers:

• Most gold: If total points are tied, the agency with the highest number of gold awards wins.
• Most silver: If the gold awards are also tied, the agency with the highest number of silver awards wins.
• Highest average score: If a tie still persists, the agency with the highest average score percentage (as assigned by the judges across all their winning entries) will win.