Rooftop View in the Heart of D.C.

Wow.  Palpable energy in D.C. witnessed with an exceptional birds-eye view.  Great day to be in D.C., May 4th.  Just days after the news of Osama Bin Laden was announced there was a heightened energy of positivity and gathering of spirits in Lafayette Square.  A timely visit by Prince Charles just days after the Royal Wedding.  Security on point on the White House rooftop.  A stone’s throw from the White House I was setting up an invitation-only client dinner party on the rooftop terrace of the W Washington Hotel.  What a perfect vantage point to witness the excitement!

- Michele, Account Executive     

I had the opportunity to experience London in April during the all of the excitement as the city prepared for the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton!  You could purchase anything from bookmarks, china, coffee mugs, pillows, throws, and ornaments adorned with the smiling faces of the two lovebirds!  

With the wedding only two weeks away, the city was abuzz with talk of the Royal Wedding and you could feel the excitement in the air.  Security had been increased at Westminster Abbey and crowds were more than usual at Buckingham Palace during the Changing of the Guard.  It was a great time to be in London and the group with whom I was traveling with, was more than excited to be there!

While in London, we took a private ride on the London Eye and enjoyed the amazing views of the city.  In addition to visiting Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, we also made a stop at Windsor Castle and learned that the Queen was there that day since her Royal Standard flag was flying.  

My favorite highlight of the trip was a trip to Victoria Palace Theatre to see Billy Elliot.  We got to see the opening night of the newest Billy Elliot and learned that since the role requires a 12 year old boy, actors are replaced every year and a half.  He did a wonderful job!

We ended our whirlwind week in London with a private viewing of the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London followed by dinner at Trinity House where we were greeted with trumpeters and enjoyed stunning views of the Tower of London during dinner.

In addition to the Royal Wedding excitement, the London Marathon took place Sunday, April 17th, and in 2012, the Olympics will be in London!  I spotted the new logo and mascots for the Olympics, Wenlock and Mandeville.  These crazy one-eyed characters are a cross between Gumby and Muno from Yo Gabba Gabba.  Needless to say, London has a lot of exciting things happening right now!  It's a great time to visit!

- Erin, Account Executive

Wedding Bells Ring During Nissan Sales Incentive to Jamaica

During last week’s Nissan sales incentive, our on-site staff was surprised with another last minute event added to the program itinerary.  One of the trip winners decided the Secrets St. James resort was not only the perfect incentive destination, but also the perfect spot to exchange wedding vows.

On the day of arrival, the Nissan winner and his fiancé exchanged wedding vows in the wedding gazebo perched on the edge of the beach and overlooking the crystal blue Caribbean waters.  This was just one highlight of a thrilling week.  Our guests also enjoyed playing golf at Cinnamon Hill and seeing Johnny Cash’s former Caribbean escape estate, experiencing the exhilarating zip lines in the Jamaica countryside as well as receiving true pampering moments in the spa.

The beachside dinners included surprises as well such as a limbo contest, a fire-eater, lively entertainment from a local steel drum band and a cigar roller who shared with the guests how to make their own cigar for a souvenir.

The incentive trip was filled with beautiful weather, fun, relaxation and celebration.

Alan Mulally's Visit...

It was a doubleheader in Dearborn last week. The Fleet Division of Ford Motor Company hosted back to back meetings, and we had the pleasure of coordinating both. For the most part the meetings were just like any other meeting but with a few exciting elements.

• Alan Mulally, President and CEO of Ford made a surprise appearance to show his support and appreciation for the board's hard work and valuable input they provide for Ford’s evolutionary police car development.

• Attendees test drove the new police interceptors and their feedback will shape the future police car that will be patrolling your neighborhood soon.

Government Dealer Advisory Panel Meeting Highlights:

• The Top 25 Fleet representatives in the nation came together to provide priceless insight to the programs offered by corporate from the dealer perspective. The attendees received a sneak peak at what is to come with Ford in the coming months

Events these days are all about people
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By Joan Wells, co-founder and CEO

Our new website comes complete with this blog. It’s designed to give you some value-added stuff about the events industry. And our Two Cents won’t cost you a dime.

On every single survey our clients tell us that personal attention is what they appreciate and enjoy the most.  That’s what you can expect to find in this blog: Passion and a connection to the world of events through the eyes of people on the front lines.

So let’s talk about what people want from an event. In the 80s it was about glam and in the 90s, it was all about special effects. People used to be just spectators at the event, but when the 00s arrived, events became all about people. Their reactions and individual experiences became the focus.  

So how did we arrive at this people-centric focus? Looking back, people have been through a lot this decade as the event industry took a beating from 9/11, a corporate spending backlash, and a gloomy recession.  Now, what people want is to feel appreciated – not necessarily pampered – but really valued in a way that a fabulous, well-planned event can convey. It seems pretty simple, but making people feel special is what it’s all about. In a future blog, we’ll tell you just what these events look like… from comfy sofas to comfy food, there’s so much to tell.

So, why the new web site when people and relationships are what drive our business?  If we were in your family room, our old web site would be the dusty vase on the mantle that looks nice but hasn’t been touched in a while.  Think of our new web site as the jumbo universal remote that sits on your coffee table.  With this new site, we can support our clients 24/7 on your terms, not ours... you can shop online with our sister company – Wellington Promotions, gain firsthand insight on trendy new Hot Spots destinations, and find some ideas that will spark creative dialogue within your company

When we started this process of web site redesign we went to lots of other web sites in our industry.  Some look like marketing textbooks with words that no one can really describe and some are just lists of services like a menu ready to order.  

So, we hope we made the right choice to connect, to educate, maybe entertain and to journey with you in the fast paced world of events.  Whether we work with you to incentivize, educate, sell, celebrate, fund raise, or something else...we will keep the connections strong—with our clients, with our vendor partners, and with the specific global community that is important to our clients.

In the future we hope to pass on useful, non-biased, weekly updates on event experiences, happenings around the world, creative ideas, and anything else that will be insightful commentary!  It will be all about “How To”, “Problem Solved”, “Think About This” and “Top 10 That”.  If only Dr. Seuss had written a “How to Blog” before his passing!

If you know us, you know we are not pontificators who like to listen to ourselves talk.  We want to hear from you because YOU are why we’re here!  So hop on board with your insight on the world of events.