Bored of traditional theater- or classroom-style room setups? Designing a arrangement with an assortment of furniture "is an ideal way to provide flexibility and choices for attendees’ different personalities," says Michele Wilde, the resort's director of conference services and event sales.
Comfort is a priority, especially during lengthy meetings, Wilde says. Offering multiple seating options can keep attendees engaged and also suit different personalities.
A threesided set up gives attendees a sense of proximity to the speakers.
Quartz also experimented with seating. In the front of the room there were couches reserved for V.I.P. guests, and in the back of the room there was a row of high-top tables where laptop users could work.
Bags that attendees received at registration had various charts taken from Quartz stories that could serve as conversation starters.
Q&A sessions with speakers continued in a designated space outside of the ballroom. The move allowed more intimate access to speakers.
Quartz encourages its sponsors to bring unusual and engaging activations to its events. One example was a fully functional mini planetarium from Qualcomm.
Not every event wants to meet at a hotel. Variety and WWD chose Smashbox Studios for a different feel.
An unexpected addition to the stage was a DJ booth.
Before lunch and the presentation, guests gathered in a sponsor activation area. Its design had a look consistent with the main room, with the same color palette and furniture rentals.
A boat held Turkish towels, pashminas, natural bug repellent, and buckets of drinks.
At the Canadian Opera Company’s fund-raising gala, Centre Stage, held in November at Toronto’s Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, lights and projections transformed the venue’s ceiling into a cloudy blue sky with 14 suspended orbs draped in white silk orchids that hung above the dining guests. The tabletop floral arrangements consisted of white hydrangeas and white orchids in gold vases.
Dirt, a florist in the Bishop Arts District, in February opened its own event space, House of Dirt, around the corner from its original store. The charmingly funky space includes a 600-square-foot dining room, a 600-square-foot front porch, a 1,100-square-foot enclosed greenhouse, and a 1,750-square-foot backyard with a built in stage. The space accommodates as many as 250 guests for cocktail-style receptions or 40 for seated parties. The unique decor includes hand-painted floors, a custom-built bar, vintage furnishings and—of course—fresh flowers. A sound system runs throughout the entire space, and catering is available from several local restaurants.
Netflix hosted its Golden Globes party on January 7 at the Waldorf Astoria in Los Angeles. The event, which was produced by Swisher Productions, featured a blood-red wall where hands served arriving guests glasses of wine.Â
