Dutch communications consultant Frank van Suchtelen, with a long track record in the floriculture sector, was awarded the Massimo Matteini Award at the Italian garden event Coniolo Fiori on 18 May. The two-day garden event attracted over 12,000 visitors.
In 2023, the Italian garden event Coniolo Fiori, which has existed since 2001, introduced the Massimo Matteini award, in memory of the well-known passionate rose grower from Pistoia, who became an honorary citizen of Coniolo. The prize is awarded annually to an individual who has distinguished himself by propagating the importance of the ornamental horticulture sector. The first year, the prize was awarded to Italian publicist and writer Arturo Croci. Because the organisation wanted to make this award international, it was decided in consultation with experts who would receive the award in 2024. The award was presented to Frank van Suchtelen by the son of Massimo Matteini and Arturo Croci.
In the motivation, the organisers mention Frank van Suchtelen, active in the floriculture sector since the late 1970s, one of the important communication experts in floriculture at an international level, always alert to the growth of the sector, skilful communicator, co-initiator of Plant Publicity Holland's(PPH) 'Plant of the Month' and from his work for PPH also closely involved in the international Green City campaign. Among other things, he was/is responsible for communications for important floriculture trade fairs in the Netherlands and is also active abroad in this field. With his PR agency (now All-Round Communications), he soon became the reference point for the international trade press for green and ornamental horticulture. He was and is a reference for horticultural communication at international level.