When Zaxby's Chicken, a Southern fast food chain, took 250 of its franchise owners to the Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Beach Club for a week of educational sessions and events, the property's 56,000-square-foot meeting complex was the obvious place to conduct business. But an unlikely locale was chosen for a rough ''n' tumble biker-themed employee appreciation cocktail party.
Zaxby's events director Tami Street worked with Maryellen Williamson, the resort's director of event management, event manager Kristin Thompson, and Nicole Hernandez and Eric Karter of Art of the Party to transform the resort's parking garage into a one-of-a-kind biker hangout. "We were looking for a cutting-edge and different kind of space that would add more atmosphere to the event that can't be accomplished in a ballroom," Karter said. The garage was barricaded especially for the event.
A chain-link fence, orange and black metal fuel drums, 8- by 10-foot brick wall fronts, and Harley-Davidsons set up around a 20- by 20-foot mahogany wood bar (backlit with orange lighting) complemented the garage's concrete walls and oil-stained floors.
Guests enjoyed cool drinks to chase the resort's catering staff's zesty array of finger foods, including hot and spicy chicken wings, Italian sausage and peppers on hoagie rolls, fajitas, nachos, and ribs. Root beer floats and deep-dish apple pie were a sweet ending. Guests dined at tables with flame-patterned linens topped with toy motorcycle centerpieces.
A cigar roller created personalized cigars and wrappers for guests throughout the night—no doubt enhancing the Easy Rider ambience.
—Vanessa Goyanes
Zaxby's events director Tami Street worked with Maryellen Williamson, the resort's director of event management, event manager Kristin Thompson, and Nicole Hernandez and Eric Karter of Art of the Party to transform the resort's parking garage into a one-of-a-kind biker hangout. "We were looking for a cutting-edge and different kind of space that would add more atmosphere to the event that can't be accomplished in a ballroom," Karter said. The garage was barricaded especially for the event.
A chain-link fence, orange and black metal fuel drums, 8- by 10-foot brick wall fronts, and Harley-Davidsons set up around a 20- by 20-foot mahogany wood bar (backlit with orange lighting) complemented the garage's concrete walls and oil-stained floors.
Guests enjoyed cool drinks to chase the resort's catering staff's zesty array of finger foods, including hot and spicy chicken wings, Italian sausage and peppers on hoagie rolls, fajitas, nachos, and ribs. Root beer floats and deep-dish apple pie were a sweet ending. Guests dined at tables with flame-patterned linens topped with toy motorcycle centerpieces.
A cigar roller created personalized cigars and wrappers for guests throughout the night—no doubt enhancing the Easy Rider ambience.
—Vanessa Goyanes