The Webby's: David and Meg take Manhattan

Every year, the Webby Awards honour the best of the internet.

From podcasts to PR, the awards bring together the biggest movers and shakers from across the internet for one big ceremonial weekend. The new Royal Navy website was crowned People’s Voice Winner for Web and Mobile Sites – Corporate Communications. The work was a mammoth 18-month effort from the Great State and Royal Navy teams and we’re immensely proud of this achievement and its global recognition. Great State’s Joint Managing Director, David Chandler, and Delivery Manager, Megan Williams-Westcott, flew to New York City to celebrate with fellow winners and see the sights and sounds.

Here’s a quick look at what they got up to!

Rolling out the red carpet

No awards ceremony is complete without it. David and Meg struck a pose on the red carpet and got a chance to chat with fellow winners, including design teams from Sweden and San Francisco, and marketing teams from Warner Music. The after-party was no different, with David and Meg comparing notes with other creative innovators, including the teams behind Pokemon Go, Timex, and James & Oliver Phelps (aka, the Weasley twins!).

The room where it happened

Inside the awards ceremony, creators, digital innovators, and celebrities gathered for the first half of the night’s celebrations. Speeches delivered by prominent winners, including entertainers like Keke Palmer and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and the filmmakers of Plan C – documenting the women working to expand access to the abortion pill in the US – highlighted the diverse voices behind some of the most impactful and progressive digital creativity of the year.

Ship shape, remake, Great State

The Webby's are famous for their tradition of the 5-word acceptance speech. A unique challenge, but a chance to stretch those creative muscles without the pressure. Our team at Great State went back and forth on what to say – did we want to be funny, serious, or completely off the wall? In the end, we chose to pay homage to our long-standing collaboration with the Royal Navy and its heritage: “Ship shape, remake, Great State.”

The sights and sounds of NYC

It wasn’t all work. David and Meg made the most of the celebratory weekend and set out to see exactly what the Big Apple had to offer. Pros at planning and delivery, their itinerary was packed with lots to see and do: classic spots, like Times Square, Central Park, and Rockefeller Center; and contemporary attractions like the Highline and the Edge. They even hopped over to Dumbo, Brooklyn and caught The Book of Mormon on Broadway. Not bad for 4 days.

A taste of the city

No trip to New York is complete without a few culinary adventures. While traversing through the city’s most famous sights, the dynamic duo made sure to get a taste of Manhattan’s best bites. From mouth-watering tacos, courtesy of Los Tacos No. 1, to the best pizza in town (note well: this is every pizza joint in the city), there was far too much good food to pass up. If you need Meg, you can find her packing her bags – because NYC’s calling her name again.