Breaking Down the Anatomy of a High-Impact Corporate Event

Recent event industry trends point to the blurring of lines between travel and consumer behavior and the influence on corporate events. Attendee expectations are top of mind when we ideate and draw inspiration for our creative concepts - with the purpose to design one-of-a-kind experiences.

For a recent client's milestone employee event celebrating the company's 25th Anniversary, we turned the traditional corporate celebration on its head and into a summer party to remember - An End of Summer Bash event attendees would want to attend on a Saturday night. The event was designed as a celebration of the company's culture and has turned into an annual celebration.

A Twist On Event Management

Enter the festival concept where everything predictable for corporate event planning is thrown out and we usher in the latest in sought after event experiences.

• A unique or unusual venue - The client selected an outdoor venue, which immediately inspired us for a festival theme. We avoided risks due to weather with tented outdoor space and indoor facility options and activities.
• A concert - A festival 'must have'. Known Canadian bands perform on a mobile truck/stage, complete with built-in truss, lighting and branding options. It rolls in seamlessly to the venue for a high energy show. We work with our audio visual partner Bespoke a/v for the ambitious production. And what's a concert without a t-shirt cannon to build excitement and get the audience involved?
• Entertainment - The band is a priority for the client - with a focus on Canadian talent. For the inaugural event who better to entertain than The Trans-Canada Highwaymen a 'super group' formed with Canadian icons from Sloan, Odds, Barenaked Ladies and Pursuit of Happiness. Last year was a nod to the eighties with Born in the Eighties, a Hamilton dance band. We added celebrity impersonators and an LED dance floor to the party. For this year's event we'll be taking it country and can't wait to share the big surprise!
• Event activations - Micro experiences took place throughout the property inviting attendees to engage, connect and explore. Interactive activities included picnic favourites, grafitti photobooth, and a light-up dance floor.
• Take advantage of the venue: Weaving in Bingemans indoor facilities was part of the event plan with bowling and arcade games.
• A photo opp showcasing the client's brand. We threw out the standard step and repeat and created a custom record wall with each record cover featuring a special design of each team within the company as a different 80's band. A 360 photobooth also encouraged guests to let loose and rock-out together on a mini stage.
• A Food and Beverage Experience that aligns with the theme. Each station was crafted with custom branding and lit up the night with traditional festival favourites: burgers - with the client's logo stamped on the buns, hand-tossed wing station, noodle and poutine bars; and signature drinks with branded drink toppers. All in a marquis style food market. Menu designs mixed in plenty of options for those with dietary restrictions and savvy mocktails. Special shout-out to Bingeman's Chef Jeremy Langemann who just won Chef of the Year at the Catersource + The Special Event International Awards. He brings his special creativity and passionate approach to develop bespoke experiences.
• A Showstopping Finale: From efficiency and experience to the Wow. Ending a festival on a high note with fireworks and a custom drone show to light up the night and impress guests, was the perfect ending.

Event Management Tips

Event flow is always a priority. To make navigating the large outdoor space easy for the audience, we ensured swift movement through check-in with plenty of kiosks to distribute sound activated light-up bracelets and custom ombre lanyards. From efficient registration 'know how' to savvy event management specialists - it took an experienced team to solve challenges for operating outdoors while mapping out power drops, with easy, mobile check-in.

Event runsheet: Taking the business of events into reality. The development of a minute by minute schedule with our event runsheet is critical to success. It captures the schedule and every delivery, arrival, installation and event schedule of performances and activations, from the moment of move-in to the turning out of the lights.

Feedback is fuel for us and to read and hear attendees share their excitement and pride is the ultimate for event planners. Attendees voiced their feedback at how lucky they feel to work for a company that celebrates their employees and achievements.

Read about the rise of internal events as corporate priority: https://www.meetingsnet.com/meeting-planning-toolbox/employee-meetings-more-necessary-ever-different-forms