Luxury hotels are perhaps the paragon of first-class hospitality. So when brands such as the Peninsula and Mandarin Oriental host their own events to mark openings, anniversaries, and other occasions, they go all out. From a New Year's Eve Jay Z concert in Las Vegas to massive 3-D projections in Hong Kong, here's a look at 17 inspiring ideas from over-the-top hotel bashes.
The evening also included a dramatic "Dance of the Golden Fans," performed by the City Contemporary Dance Company.
On October 17, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong celebrated its 50th anniversary with an 800-guest bash. A 3-D projection on the building's façade told the story of the hotel's history, starting with its 1963 opening and detailing its development as a global luxury brand.
At the 2004 opening in New York, body-painted performers perched on a sculpture in the lobby. Playing off the property's name, the whole evening had a dreamy, surreal vibe.
On September 30, the New York property celebrated its milestone anniversary with a party for 600 guests (including Oscar de la Renta and Naomi Campbell.) David Beahm Design handled production, giving the event a Chinese-carnival vibe. On the red carpet, a traditional Lion Dance accompanied by drums honored the hotel's Asian heritage.
The hotel's pool area was transformed into a space called "Studio 55." Guests danced to DJ Ray Jarell on a plexiglass floor that covered the pool.
In 2007, to mark 100 years—to the day—since the Plaza first opened, the property's owners, El Ad Group, had cake maker Ron Ben-Israel build a 12-foot-tall edible replica of the iconic building. The cake included intricate details such as planters out front and the bricks on the sides, and it took three days to build on site.
A fireworks display—reportedly the largest ever launched from a building's rooftop—drew thousands of onlookers in addition to the event's 2,000 guests. More fireworks spelled out "100" on the building's façade.
The 2011 bash had a Windy City theme and included dancers from one of Chicago's iconic institutions: the Joffrey Ballet. The company's dancers performed throughout the evening—but with a modern twist. Done up in rock-star-inspired makeup and dressed in dip-dyed tutus, the dancers improvised instead of using traditional choreography to the likes of Lady Gaga.
In 2012, Studio HS produced a lavish, dream-inspired opening bash for the Miami property. Video projections showcased surreal images of monkeys in colorful suits climbing the walls of the property, and there were also life-size holograms throughout the space, including one of a giant clock.
Las Vegas is known for its blowout New Year's Eve bashes. In 2011 the hottest ticket—and some might also say the death knell of the recession—was a multiday program to open the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, topped off with a Jay Z and Coldplay concert.
New Year's Eve began with a luxe 7:30 p.m. caviar and Dom PĂ©rignon black-tied reception, which progressed into a dinner for 1,300 guests. Planner Colin Cowie wanted the event, however large, to feel like an intimate dinner party, and he dressed the tables accordingly. Peonies and dark purple calla lilies filled the space.
In September, the Langham Chicago opened with a splash. The property's bash included endless pink (the brand's signature hue) champagne, raw bars, and tables laden with pink sweets. The evening included an intimate performance from Lang Lang, a world-renowned pianist who's an ambassador for the brand.
The October bash celebrating the hotel's first anniversary offered rustic, farm-fresh fare. One station included cheese and charcuterie.
A bar offered "farm-to-bar" cocktails that incorporated fare from the hotel's rooftop garden.
The dress code for the Peninsula Chicago's 10th anniversary party, held in 2011, may well have been “prerecession chic.” The sprawling soiree, which occupied the lobby level, bar, two restaurants, ballroom, and terrace, and included elements such as flowing champagne, caviar bars, ice sculptures, and a ratio of one server to every four guests, harked back to economically flush times.
The country was in the midst of a deep economic recession, but it hardly looked that way at the SLS Hotel Beverly Hills opening-night party in 2008, a lavish fete for 1,000 well-heeled invitees. One luxurious touch: Servers passed cocktails and poured endless Dom PĂ©rignon.
On their way into the Roosevelt Hotel's 80th anniversary party in 2004, guests were invited to pick up a fedora or a strand of pearls and experience the flavor of the New York hotel's opening days in the 1920s. To give the event an era-appropriate look, Design Fusion created a black, white, and silver Art Deco look accented with magenta lighting.
