This is the stuff advertising is made of. Don't be put off by it. It's the way the pressure of high-stakes strategizing and creating gets worked off. During your surprise tour, some alert agency person should try to divert your attention to their wall of fame. This is where the best samples of their work and their awards are displayed.
Awards usually come from committees.
Since they judge by appearance and nothing else, don't be impressed by them . . . unless someone can substantiate the effectiveness of the work by showing increases in sales or awareness. Unusual creative approaches are nice, but there are times when they can be counter-productive. Like the funny ads that are so funny the humor gets remembered instead of the message. Evaluating Production Services Ask how production services are bought and how the base costs are marked up. The most valuable bid gets the job if we feel the supplier can do a good job.