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Planners Get Bright About Lights
FORGET ABOUT FLOWERS. Stop fussing over fabric,
and quit fretting about furniture. As important as
those décor elements are, more and more event
planners are concentrating on another vital tool
for creating an event’s atmosphere: lighting. “It’s
the most important thing in a room in setting the
tone,” Joan Horton, vice president of corporate
events at Revlon, told a crowd of event planners at
a recent BiZBash-sponsored panel.
Once treated as an afterthought, professional
lighting has become a required element for any
event with design aims higher than a few center-
pieces and votive candles. “[Planners] used to say,
‘Lighting’s just an extra,’” says Kurt Nelson, vice
president of Stortz Lighting. “Now more and more
people are saying, ‘No, we have to have it.’”
Style-conscious planners are doing more than
just bathing a room in amber light. They’re
hiring lighting designers to use their techniques
to influence a party’s mood in ways that physical
objects can’t, with moving projections, washes
that change color and patterns throughout the
night, and techniques that highlight a venue’s
strong points—or make it look completely differ- Projections of rippling waves morphed into photos from Entertainment Weekly latest hot florist. There was a time when only
in the entrance to the magazine’s party at the Roxy. Inside, event designer
ent. “You can shove as many flowers in an office Mark Musters used blue lighting and projections to spiff up the roller disco.
event designers or hired-gun producers worked
as possible, but in the end you’ve got an office directly with a lighting company, and their
with flowers,” says Bentley Meeker, one of New different atmospheres at the same event just from clients had no idea where all those gels and poles
York’s leading lighting designers. “If you want to the lights.” Projections of a sky filled with clouds came from. But now even in-house planners are
create a new environment, the way to do that is on the ceiling can morph into a dark, starry night interested in these vendors. Meeker says, “Now
through lighting.” look by the end of a dinner, for example. clients ask, ‘Who’s doing the lighting?’”
As with many trends, the recent popularity of Advances in technology have also expanded —Chad Kaydo
adventurous lighting design may have something what designers can do. During the past few
to do with the bottom line: As many event profes- years, intelligent lighting systems—which can be
CheatSheet
sionals grapple with tinier budgets, ambitious
lighting can be a way for planners to create a
controlled remotely by computers to move and
change colors or patterns—have become less Lighting 101
memorable atmosphere without spending too expensive and less bulky. LED screens, battery- GEL Filter used to change the color or shape of the
much cash. If you’re hiring someone to do some operated fixtures and advanced color mixing light beam.
basic lighting anyway, why not pay a few thou- units have created new options as well. And now GOBO Metal slides cut in the silhouette of a pattern,
sand dollars extra to do something creative instead smart planners are keeping up with these devel- image or logo so light shines through it to project that
of paying more for pricier décor elements like opments. “Event planners are more up on what’s image on a floor or wall. Newer gobos made of glass can
flowers or custom-made furniture? (A typical available out there,” says Van Allen Rice, president use colors and different layers of images.
lighting budget can range from $3,000 for some of Bestek Lighting and Staging. “They’re more likely LEKO Lighting unit that produces a spot or defined
pinspots on centerpieces and a haze over the to ask for things.” circle of light that can be focused and controlled through
whole room, to $35,000 from a more advanced set- That doesn’t mean they’re spouting technical a system of lenses and shutters.
up—maybe a patterned wash over the dance floor, jargon or drawing up equipment plans, but
INTELLIGENT LIGHTING Automated system of lights
gobo lights moving around the ceiling, lights they’re learning how to communicate what they
that can be controlled remotely by computers to move
outside the venue.) want. “They ask for a feeling, a general and change colors or patterns.
In addition to being cheaper, lighting can allow ambiance,” says Bill Mellon, an associate lighting
for last-minute adjustments. “Let’s say you buy a designer at Bernhard-Link Theatrical Productions. PINSPOT Lighting unit that produces a tight beam of
light that can highlight a centerpiece or other décor
lot of fabric, and then it doesn’t look great,” (His suggestion for talking to a lighting designer:
item.
Nelson says. “With lights you can just change the Use as many adjectives as possible. Do you want
gel.” That flexibility also opens up ways to trans- the space to feel warm or cool? Sexy, or homey UPLIGHTING Placing lights below the item to be
form the atmosphere while guests are at the party. and comfortable?) lighted; often used on a column or blank wall to create
“With lighting you can change the room [during The surest sign of lighting’s newly elevated a vertical effect.
the event], with décor you can’t,” says Brian status may be the importance now placed on WASH Bathing an area with light without emphasizing
Winthrop, president of production company Big hiring the right lighting people—something like a focal point; often used to change the color of a wall,
Wave International. “You can have two or three the cachet typically attached to working with the ceiling or dance floor.
BiZBashFla Event Style Reporter • www.BiZBash.com/Fla • Nov./Dec. 2003 35
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(not so fresh) FRESH
Rum drinks COCKTAILS Bourbon drinks
Fruit tarts DESSERTS Chocolate bars
Old banks NEW VENUES Big clubs
Queer
Rocco DiSpirito REALITY TV Eye’s DISCOVERYVENUE
GUESTS Fab 5
Bling-bling CHAMPAGNE
Budget-friendly Holiday Parties in the Park
Cristal Korbel Just in time for the corporate holiday party season, the Central Park Conservancy is opening a
new venue—a heated tent in Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield. The conservancy (212.310.6616) is
Swag-filled CELEBRITY Swag-filled lounges managing the tent rentals, which will have exclusive catering from Restaurant Associates and
suitcases AWARDS PERKS sound, lighting and décor by Matthew David. The venue will be available from December 1
through 22 for corporate members—who have to pay a steep $50,000 one-year conservancy
Light-up DRINK Cocktail stirrers membership fee (most of it is tax-deductible)—plus additional costs for catering and décor. The
ice cubes BRANDING
venue will seat 500 for dinner and dancing or hold as many as 1,200 for cocktails. —J.M.
Nuts SNACKS Sesame sticks DISCOVERYBENEFITS
Pebbles and
DECOR ELEMENT Cranberries
Bidding With Barcodes
marbles Sick of struggling with messy signatures on silent auction bid
sheets? Try this high-tech approach: AuctionStar’s (713.665.1231) bar
CANCELLATION code technology replaces bidders’ handwriting with easy-to-read
SARS Blackout
CONCERN barcoded bid labels. And it speeds up checkout with printable
invoices for guests and auctioneers. After the event, the soft-
Fussy bites HORS One-bite ware can produce revenue analysis to help with future auctions. The
that spill D’OEUVRES nibblies
most popular model, the AuctionStar 300, accommodates 300 items and bidder
INVITATION High-quality entities, and costs $1,500 for the initial license fee. —M.R.
Lucite
MATERIAL paper
FreshFace
Pabst Blue Reingold
Ribbon RETRO BEER
“Here’s your END-OF-EVENT “Goodbye!”
Emily Weaver
gift bag.” FAREWELL Chestnuts in the Tuileries
BUZZ: A newcomer to the event scene, Weaver’s flower shop
Chestnuts in the Tuileries created centerpieces—floating multicol-
ored peonies, Queen’s Day roses, spider mums and sterling in blown
Who’s Doing What... glass orbs—for Bulgari’s Allegra jewelry collection launch party in
Chef Key Winstead of caterer the Winstead Group opened a
June. The company expanded into the prop rental business when it
prepared foods shop, Winstead Purveyor of Fine Foods, on the
outfitted Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter’s July 4 party in the Hamptons this summer. “We used bleached
Upper West Side in September…Great Performances is now the
basket-weave rugs, ottomans and oversized pillows in neutral colors to look like a beach,” Weaver says. “It
exclusive caterer for the Brooklyn Academy of Music…Van Vliet &
was very simple, and very natural.”
Trap will provide amber, gold and burgundy floral arrangements
decorated with beading for hedge fund company Caxton HOW SHE STARTED: Weaver’s been surrounded by flowers since child-
Associates’ dinner at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Temple hood—her parents owned a New Hampshire flower business
of Dendur on September 23…Empire Entertainment is producing where she learned the basics of making arrangements.
the Executive Council of New York’s Ten awards at Gotham Hall She went on to run floral design shops in Boston and Paris,
on October 2…Match Catering and Eventstyles will feed adver- and opened her own business in New York three years ago.
tisers and soap stars at a Soap Opera Digest party on October 9 HER STYLE: “Simplistic and elegant, yet with a fashion-
at Show…Ron Wendt is designing the Central Park able touch,” she says. Arrangements stick to one color
Conservancy’s annual Halloween benefit at Rumsey Playfield on palette, and incorporate flowers with different textures,
October 29, with food by Tentation, rentals by Party Rentals and like roses, celosia and hypericum.
music from Hank Lane Music and Productions…Abigail Kirsch
Culinary Productions is catering the Diffa benefit at the new CLIENTS: She’s done events for Gucci and O, The Oprah Magazine.
Container store on November 20. Let us know what you’re working Plus, she’s the in-house florist for Le Bernardin and the Four
on: Email edit@bizbash.com. Seasons restaurant. —J.M.
36 BiZBashFla Event Style Reporter • www.BiZBash.com/Fla • Nov./Dec. 2003
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Inside the MTV VMA After-Parties
MTV Video Music Awards • Radio City Music Hall • Thursday, 08.28.03, 7 PM to 11 PM
MTV’S VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS might be New York’s equivalent of the Oscars:
There are yards of red carpet, SUV-loads of celebrities, blocks of scream-
ing fans and a who-knows-what-will-happen anticipation surrounding an
event that is broadcast live to millions of viewers. The awards show took
over Radio City Music Hall again this year, and then everyone headed out to
after-parties thrown by record labels, music mags and assorted celebrities.
We, of course, checked them out, too, and here are our reports from all of
the big bashes.
P. Diddy’s Libido-Driven After-Party
WITH DANGLING ACROBATS, pole dancers and a bevy of other seductresses—including a lingerie-clad bar
staff—planned for his much-anticipated VMA after-party, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs didn’t want his
guests overheating. So at 10 AM on the morning of the event, he decided to bring 30 extra tons of air-
conditioning (from Aggreko Event Services) into Show, the burlesque-themed Midtown club that set
the scene for the night’s sexiest extravaganza. An ever-solicitous host, Combs also pumped up the
club’s sound system with 20 additional speakers, ensuring that the stylings of DJ Cassidy and DJ
Clue—and Diddy’s own impromptu turn at the mic—would keep the neighbors up all night long.
Not that the neighbors were invited. An army of Styles security guards locked down the entire
block for hours, keeping would-be gawkers far from the action. Hundreds of red- and gold-toned
balloons (apparently, Diddy’s decoration of choice) added to the club’s ornate, boudoir-inspired
décor. Ultravision projected images of P. Diddy and his initials onto suspended spinning screens.
For a finishing touch, event producer Maneesh Goyal of MKG Productions sent the faithful home at
6 AM with breakfast: Dunkin’ Donuts doled out at the door. And a special mention for best product
placement goes to Motorola, for projecting batwing logos onto every wall, and for lighting up Kim
Cattrall’s Absolut Hunk cocktail with batwing-logoed glowing plastic cubes. —Alison Griffin Aerialists performed at P. Diddy’s party at Show, and the stage was set with velvet couches.
Maverick Plugs In
With PlayStation
THE LANDMARK FOUR SEASONS dining room got a high-tech
makeover courtesy of Maverick Records’ Guy Oseary
and PlayStation 2 for their VMA after-party. Just past
the red carpet and GSS’s Madonna-worthy security—
although she didn’t show—Sony PlayStation pre-
viewed its latest offering, the EyeToy, a virtual reality
concept in which players become characters in their
own sports fantasies. Inside, large flat-screen
Samsung TVs played music videos from artists on
Maverick’s roster of talent. Bragman Nyman Cafarelli
planned the event for PlayStation, and hired Los
Angeles-based Best Events to produce it.
Just in case the celeb-packed room and the
turntable offerings of DJ AM weren’t entertainment
enough, the 400-odd guests including Gisele
Bündchen, Britney Spears and Nicole Kidman were
invited to demonstrate their gaming prowess (or
just their lounging abilities) at eight PlayStation 2
set-ups, where even more flat-screens were sur-
Photo: Patrick McMullan (Four Seasons Pool Room)
rounded by the restaurant’s classic Mies van der
Rohe lounges. Revelers were treated to hors d’oeu-
vres like sushi and spring rolls courtesy of the
restaurant’s kitchen. Chambord’s cocktail-wielding
courtesans worked the floor in bustiers and lace
miniskirts, offering revelers the company’s latest
concoction: the Chambord Disco, a cocktail of
Bronson van Wyck of Van Wyck and Van Wyck illuminated the Four Seasons’ pool with sultry red lighting,
setting the mood for late-night dips, and Maverick put out PlayStation 2 set-ups with Samsung flat-screen mango- and vanilla-infused vodka, Chambord and
TVs and the restaurant’s classic Mies van der Rohe lounges. cranberry juice. —A.G.
BiZBashFla Event Style Reporter • www.BiZBash.com/Fla • Nov./Dec. 2003 37
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Bubbly Angels
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle premiere
party • Eyebeam • Wednesday, 06.25.03,
10 PM onward
Fans of the first Charlie’s Angels film waited two
and a half years for the sequel, and guests of the
film’s premiere party found themselves waiting
outside Eyebeam for a half hour or so before they
could get into the party. A few days earlier at the
larger Los Angeles premiere party, guests mobbed
the cast as they entered, and planners didn't want
that to happen again. So after everyone arrived in
buses from the screening at Loews Lincoln Square,
security kept them waiting outside on a hot,
muggy night until Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and
Lucy Liu arrived.
After guests got inside, they found a loungey
atmosphere inspired by the Angels themselves. Benarroch Productions and Roy Braeger created a lounge atmosphere for the
Charlie’s Angels premiere party with pink and yellow washes of light (above). The
“The girls wanted to walk into a hip,
main bar was decorated with tall, bubbling water towers (right).
underground, club-like venue,” said event
producer Chris Benarroch of Los Angeles-based warehouse space with bed seating decorated with
Benarroch Productions. (Not the most original idea, gold and silver lamé pillows, and he used water as
but they're starring in a movie sequel based on a a recurring décor theme. Tall bubbling water
TV show after all.) Benarroch was hired to plan towers decorated the main bar and seating areas— For food, Sonnier & Castle put out a buffet of
the premiere by Kim Carey, vice president of event Demi Moore almost knocked one over—and Lux Asian food with noodles in paper takeout
planning for the Columbia Tri-Star marketing group. Lighting’s textured pink and amber washes added to containers, chicken and beef satay, and assorted
Event designer Roy Braeger lined the large the bubbling feeling in the room. dumplings. —Chad Kaydo
Legally Mod
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde
premiere party • Christie's Rockefeller
Center • Monday, 06.30.03, 9 PM onward
Elle Woods: You could say she went from her
sorority house to her fiancé’s house to the auction
house. The premiere party for Legally Blonde 2: Red,
For the Legally Blonde 2 premiere party, Wendy
White and Blonde made Creed transformed the James Christie Room into a
over Christie’s Rockefeller bilevel VIP room (left). Two rows of lounge furniture
faced each other in another room (far left), and an
Center with a fun, girly Andy Warhol-esque painting of Bruiser, the canine
look inspired by the star of the film, was the backdrop for a lounge area
that overlooked the dance floor (above).
film heroine’s retro
wardrobe (with hints of pillows in a variety of (identical to the one in Elle’s D.C. apartment).
Jackie O and lots of configurations, Creed created The James Christie Room was transformed
Chanel and Pucci prints) open spaces conducive to into a bilevel VIP room. The lower level featured
and the updated mod mingling as well as more white walls with circular cutouts backlit with
look of her Washington, intimate seating arrangements pastel lights, and tables covered with purple
D.C., apartment. that encouraged one-on-one dupioni silk cloths and small pink floral
Produced by MGM’s Adam Keen and event planner conversations. One gallery featured two rows of arrangements filled the center of the room. A few
Wendy Creed of Los Angeles-based Wendy Creed white seats with low mahogany tables, and steps up, white lounge furniture, illuminated bars
Productions, the evening gave 1,200 guests a taste of scrolling images from the film were projected onto and buffet tables dotted an elevated platform. In
the fabulous blonde’s lifestyle. the walls. Pink and blue illuminated bars and another room, an Andy Warhol-esque painting of
“The design was a combination of a retro, 60’s buffets offered drinks and fare from DM Cuisine, Bruiser, the canine star of the film, was the
Op Art style mixed with the contemporary including grilled filet of beef, seared tuna and backdrop for a small lounge area that overlooked
influences of Philippe Starck,” Creed said. Using blondies for dessert. In an adjacent gallery, another an illuminated dance floor surrounded by floor
modular lounge furniture and custom-made living room setup featured a white shag carpet cushions and low benches. —Suzanne Ito
38 BiZBashFla Event Style Reporter • www.BiZBash.com/Fla • Nov./Dec. 2003
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Breast Cancer Run’s Girly Gift Bag
In keeping with the feminine nature of the Ellen’s Run cocktail party and
auction to raise funds for breast cancer programs, Snap Public Relations
(212.644.5020) created a girly gift bag for attendees. Guests got pink
Dylan’s Candy Bar bags filled with feminine-friendly goodies like an Only
Hearts purple tank top, Bumble and Bumble and Terax hair products, M.A.C.
make-up, Henri Bendel-branded mints and a change purse from designer
Yukiko Sato. There was also a gift certificate for a dermatologist, Mario
Badescu bath products and pink Essie nail polish. —Meryl Rothstein
Olay Vitamin’s Functional Gift Basket
Instead of standard paper bags at the Olay Vitamins press preview for health
and beauty editors, guests got useful wicker magazine baskets from Crate &
Barrel to carry their vitamin samples. CarryOn Communication (323.848.4300)
coordinated the baskets, which came with a sterling silver Tiffany bracelet and
a martini glass. —Jill Musguire
Cool Cocktail Beans
Give guests the taste of a cocktail without the
nasty hangover. Cool Bean’s (800.959.7670) jelly beans
come in cocktail-inspired flavors like sangria, bellini,
mojito and cosmpolitan. And you can brand your
company’s logo on each tin—so guests will still remem-
ber your company’s name in the morning. Tins with
Photo: Egon Douglas Photography (Vosges Haut-Chocolat)
custom labels cost $2.19 for orders less than 500. —M.R.
Chic Chocolate
These are not your typical truffles. Chicago-based Vosges Haut-
Chocolat (773.772.5349) sells unique flavor combinations—like
wasabi and ginger-flavored Black Pearl truffle and coconut and
curry-infused Naga—in miniature Chinese take-out containers.
Or get them packaged in purple Bijoux boxes with a customized
fortune cookie. Prices start at $4.50 per box, and packages can be
branded for an extra fee. —Amanda Trimble
BiZBashFla Event Style Reporter • www.BiZBash.com/Fla • Nov./Dec. 2003 39
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BashBuzz Advertorial
Event Industry Parrot Jungle Island Meeting Spaces
Schmooze & News 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami, FL 33132
305-2-JUNGLE • www.parrotjungle.com
South Florida Jams At Spotlight Awards At Parrot Jungle Island, we are able to create exceptionally beautiful and lavish
FLORIDA MADE GREAT strides at the seventh annual Event Solutions Spotlight events regardless of size. Our Treetop Ballroom has a highly skilled staff dedicated
Awards recently held in San Diego, Calif. The winners included: to quality service and attention to detail. We can do elaborate fun themed functions
• Caterer of the Year: Joy Wallace, A Joy Wallace Catering Production and spectacular seven course meals in our very own kitchen.
• Rental Company of the Year: Panache Party Rentals Whether a few or a few thousand guests, it is our goal to ensure that each
• Technical Supplier of the Year: ASI Production Service person feels part of an intimate affair. Our catering and banquet staff are experts at
• Entertainer of the Year: New Century Dance Company this. From weddings to corporate meetings to bar mitzvahs, we help people design
• Event Industry Hall of Fame Inductee: Patti Coons, Patti Coons & Associates their dream event.
• Designer of the Year: Sean DeFreitas, Designs by Sean Inc. Whether it's a wedding, a gold anniversary or a family reunion, we take care of
• Event Planner of the Year: Mona Meretsky, COMCOR Event and Meeting all the arrangements, from preparing a tasty menu to every minor logistical touch.
Production Inc. Your only worry will be how to ensure it's even better next year. Parties can also be
• Event Producer of the Year: Chad Everett, Galaxy Productions Inc. hosted at our tropical Garden Outpost, scenic Lakeside Café and a number of other
jungle hideaways.
There have been rumblings that Liz Neumark’s New York City-based catering Birthday parties are a snap at Parrot Jungle Island. Let us do all of the work.
firm, Great Expectations, may be eyeing an expansion to Miami in the not-too- Birthday parties include:
distant future. No definite plans or dates have been set as of yet…ME Productions • Party invitations
was named the official event producer for the Miami Heat’s Charitable Fund. • Private party pavilion by the children's playground for one and a
half hours of fun
• Delicious freshly-prepared choice of hot dogs or chicken fingers, served with
unlimited chips and sodas during your meal
• Party paper goods
• Parrot Jungle Island birthday cake exclusively designed by Cakes by Edda
• Customized 8x10 Digital Kodak group photo of the party child and guests Parrot
Jungle Island t-shirt for the birthday child
• And, recognition of child's celebration at all three daily shows
Advertorial
AVS Entertainment
10905 NW 9 Court, Plantation, FL 33324
954-472-5544 • www.avs-entertainment.com
Introducing personal view tm (Pv)—advanced media apparatus with a personal
touch. As a part of decoration, as a means for delivering content, as an interactive
setting or for close-circuit broadcasting, Pv offers you an original and extraordinary
approach to focused exposure—even for events with hundreds of guests.
Pv is a wireless self-contained multiple screen unit that has been designed for
modular setting—be it on a table or stand in any venue or event hall.
The unit is based on four
6.4-inch TFT-LCD wireless
Award winners at last week's ISES meeting included: Alexandra Silva (New Century Dance Company), Sean
DeFreitas (Designs by Sean Inc.), Ruddy Sanchez (New Century Dance Company), Mona Meretsky (COMCOR screens and a receiver.
Event and Meeting Production Inc.), Chad Everett (Galaxy Productions Inc.), Kelly Murphy (Panache Party Every unit is operated with a
Rentals), Bob DeFriest (Panache Party Rentals) and Joy Wallace (A Joy Wallace Catering Production).
battery that provides power
for six straight hours. It even
includes a Power Saver
While they’ve been working with the Heat for the past five years, this is the first system for self shut down
year that a contract was granted…Harriet Kaplan joined Orlando-based Graphic when there is no broad-
Globe, a company that provides information display systems. She’ll be working casting.To create an
on dealer development and growth for rentals, floral and catering atmosphere, to direct
professionals…Towne Park Ltd. recently opened at the Walt Disney World Swan and attention or to strengthen
Dolphin Hotel. The combined hotels offer 2,200 hotel rooms and a convention the message. Pv—the
center…Ira Mitchell-Steiman left ME Productions to work with Galaxy Productions communication channel that
Inc. as its head floral designer...Anita Cerana joined the Jacksonville and the turns every event to a
Beaches Convention and Visitor’s Bureau as its director of eastern region private meeting.
convention sales. A resident of Northern Virginia, she will cover the
Washington D.C. area, which is an important market...
BiZBashFla Event Style Reporter • www.BiZBash.com/Fla • Nov./Dec. 2003 41
AroundFlorida
Southwest Florida’s Top Meeting Spaces
What Where Details Holiday Season Blows In
Total capacity: 7,800 EVENT DESIGNERS Lynn McGhee and Frank Clemente of conceptBAIT inc. created
Lee Civic Center Fort Myers
107,500 feet of meeting space what many thought to be impossible. With a little help from colleagues Ken
and Clover Ryan of Ken Ryan Productions, Chris Jones of Bay Stage Lighting and,
Mary O’Conner of Pink, Inc., the ultimate special effects storm came to the
Total capacity: 965
Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa Sanibel Tampa Convention Center and Universal Studios Sound Stage 23 for client Caroline
78,455 feet of meeting space
Van Der Poel of Premier Beverage Company. Every year, Premier puts on Holiday
Spirits, Packaging & Fine Wine Show to usher in the holiday season’s new pack-
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Total capacity: 1,200 aging designs and promotions for its various brands. This year’s special
Bonita Springs
Resort & Spa 73,000 feet of meeting space theme: to usher in the holiday season on the tail end of hurricane season.
Along with appetizers by Aramark in Tampa and Puff ‘n’ Stuff Special Event
Catering in Orlando, guests were treated to a simulated hurricane inside the
Naples Total capacity: 8,200
TECO Arena venues. “I had no idea what they were doing,” said Van Der Poel. “All they
70,000 feet of meeting space
would tell me was prepare your guests to be blown away.”
Marco Island Marriott Marco Island Total capacity: 2,300
Resort, Golf Club & Spa 50,000 feet of meeting space
Total capacity: 1,200
The Ritz-Carlton Naples
50,000 feet of meeting space
Total capacity: 1,600
The Registry Resort Naples
45,000 feet of meeting space
Naples Total capacity: 744
Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club
34,000 feet of meeting space
Harborside Convention Complex Fort Myers Total capacity: 3,000
30,000 feet of meeting space
Total capacity: 500
South Seas Resort Captiva Island
28,000 feet of meeting space
Lights! Camera! Action!
FULL SAIL REAL World Education just completed work on its 7,500-
square-foot location sound stage. Enlisting the versatile
design skills of production designer/event producer/caterer
Jerry Abercrombie with Entertaining Concepts in Winter Park, the
empty black box became three city blocks of Anywhere,
USA! Complete with theater, neighborhood bar and brown-
stone townhouses, the sound stage provides both interior and
exterior locations for the 300 film students of Full Sail’s film
department. On opening day, more than 1,500 invited guests
and potential students brought the colorful neighborhood to
life when they were entertained with a behind-the-scenes
tour of the new facility.
42 BiZBashFla Event Style Reporter • www.BiZBash.com/Fla • Nov./Dec. 2003
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