The Tampa Bay Area chapter of Meeting Professionals International traditionally hosts a sit-down dinner for its annual awards ceremony and installation of new board members—until this year, when gala committee co-chairwomen Tara Liaschenko of Link Event Professionals Inc. and Danielle Nunez of Grand Events of Florida opted for a dinner reception with plenty of food and networking opportunities, followed by a brief awards ceremony.
Grand Events incorporated the decor of the Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza into the evening's elegant Italian Renaissance theme. The mood was set by the invitation: the multilayered creation was cream cardstock with navy and gold ink, covered with a sheet of frosted vellum, imprinted with gold script held together with ribbon.
At the event, a 12-foot wall of white drapery divided one of the hotel's ballrooms in two. In the main reception area, champagne-colored fabric was draped from the ceiling over tables topped with food including antipasto, seafood salad, and Italian breads; there were also pasta and carving stations, and butler-passed canapés. Along with the open bar, the hotel's signature martini, the Pelagi Blue (served with a blue glowstick in the glass), and its equally famous sangria were available.
Guests mingled and relaxed in a lounge area complete with plush white leather seating and mirrored screen dividers. Leonardo da Vinci and Mona Lisa look-alikes made cameos courtesy of Evention Show Productions. After guests had schmoozed for about an hour and a half, the curtains parted and everyone was led into the next room by performers holding candelabra for the awards ceremony. Connie Duglin Specialty Linen Oldsmar dressed every other table with champagne or cobalt blue linens. Centerpieces consisted of three slender blue vases filled with yellow and ivory roses surrounding a red hurricane vase set upon a painted tile base. Guests sat down for a dessert trio of a white berry grappa panna cotta, two-colored chocolate mousse, and an orange tartlet with lime confit.
Before the awards were distributed, Evention's Cirque du Soleil-style dancers performed to opera music, and two men covered in silver body paint displayed feats of strength with acrobatic poses.
—Vanessa Goyanes
Leonardo da Vinci and Mona Lisa look-alikes mingled with guests at the Tampa Bay Area chapter of Meeting Professionals International's awards banquet and gala.
Guests enjoyed a trio of desserts catered by the Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza.
Grand Events of Florida created a white lounge area complete with plush leather seating and mirrored screen dividers.
Two silver-painted performers from Evention Show Productions entertained guests before the awards ceremony.
