| EVENT REPORT 08.04.06 2:14 PM |
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| Awards Decor Reflects MPI Chapter's Location |
| The South Florida chapter of Meeting Professionals International (SFMPI) inducted its 2006 board of directors with a relaxed, tropical-inspired dinner. |
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| This year, the new president of the South Florida chapter of Meeting Professionals International (SFMPI), Joe Doyle, of Joe Doyle Meetings & Events, wanted to mix things up right off the bat. Instead of a long awards ceremony and installation dinner held in the middle of the week, he suggested a Saturday night evening with good food, entertainment, and a relaxed environment. More than 160 SFMPI members agreed, making this one of the highest attended installations in the chapter's history. |
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PHOTO GALLERY |
 | | For the South Florida chapter of Meeting Professionals International installation dinner, tables featured tropical-patterned linens and centerpieces. |
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 | | Harkey Event Productions arranged one of three centerpieces with lush tropical florals. |
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 | | So Cool Events sculpted the MPI logo out of ice to use as a centerpiece. |
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 | | So Cool Events' ice sculpture centerpiece sat atop an acrylic pedestal adorned with pineapples to match the tropical theme. |
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 | | Furniture vignettes from Event Furnishings & Decor were set up in the corners of the ballroom and adorned with pine and palm trees from Jeren Foliage. |
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 | | R.J. Rewi from Drums of Polynesia Productions performed a fiery routine during cocktails. |
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 | | The new ice bar from So Cool Events featured a lit acrylic base with water fountains and a slab of ice as the bar top. |
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 | | The Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa's catering department served an appetizer of grilled Portobello mushroom with a mozzarella and tomato stack with pesto oil. |
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 | | Guests dined on a dual entr?e of sea bass with citrus beurre blanc and filet mignon with cabernet sauvignon demi-glace paired with potatoes and fresh vegetables. |
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 | | The Gyspy Lane Band performed popular songs from the 70's to today. |
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Doyle worked with Margo Johnson, the chapter's director of publications, and Mark Keller of Event Management Group (EMG) to create a casual tropical theme inside one of the ballrooms at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. "The chapter went on a retreat to the Bahamas the month before, so I wanted to bring back those memories and promote a casual relaxed environment ideal for networking," Doyle said.
BBJ Linen-Miami covered the dining tables in sage green silk with cream-colored overlays with a tropical leaf pattern and rust-colored trim completed the look. BBJ also decked out the chairs (supplied by Panache: An Event Rental Company) with silk cushions. Green silk sashes were tied around the backs of each seat and adorned with a bamboo fan.
Centerpieces varied per table. Harkey Event Productions made eight arrangements of lush tropical flowers and vases wrapped with banana leaves. So Cool Events provided two styles: a tall acrylic pedestal topped with an MPI ice sculpture featuring a mini pineapple plus a smaller version of the same ice sculpture that sat on the table minus the pedestal. So Cool debuted its new ice bar to MPI members as well. Made with an acrylic bottom piece, it has built-in water fountains that can be lit from within using multicolored bulbs. The bar top is made from a solid piece of ice.
In the corners of the ballroom, Event Furnishings & Decor arranged lounging areas with crisp white furniture and low cocktail tables topped with simple florals in clear vases surrounded by white votive candles. Quest Drape Miami used more than 300 feet of white fabric to create a backdrop behind each furniture vignette and around the entire room. Event Technology, Harbor Beach's in-house audiovisual company, provided all the sound and lighting, while Media Lab provided the video presentation during the awards portion.
The event appealed to all the senses, especially taste. The catering department prepared a three-course meal that included an appetizer of grilled Portobello mushroom with a mozzarella and tomato stack with pesto oil. A dual entrée of sea bass with citrus beurre blanc and filet mignon with cabernet sauvignon demi-glace paired with potatoes and fresh vegetables followed. For dessert, a trio of chocolate truffle cake, Key lime pie, and bourbon-glazed pecan tart was complemented with Starbucks coffee or Tazo tea.
Once the 2006-07 board of directors were introduced and the awards presented, everyone was ready to hit the dance floor. The Gypsy Lane Band made it even easier to shimmy the night away with their set of hit songs from the 70's to today.
—Vanessa Goyanes
Read our coverage of the 2005 SFMPI installation dinner
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