Founded by cancer survivor Dan Schorr, Vice Cream features tasty mix-ins in eight different flavors such as Choc of Shame (chocolate ice cream with brownie dough and dark chocolate shavings), Toffee Wife (peanut butter ice cream with chopped toffee bars, peanut butter cookie dough, and a toffee ripple), and Breakfast in Bed (sweet maple ice cream, sticky bun dough, pecan praline, and a touch of cream cheese). Through its “Nice Vice” program, the brand partners with national cancer institutes, donating a portion of sales to support patients, doctors, nurses, and organizations that care for patients and their families. The ice cream ($5.99 per pint) is available throughout the U.S. at retail stores.
Photo: Courtesy of Vice Cream
Instead of plastic straws, set out Kikkerland Design’s eco-friendly, wax-coated paper straws, which are printed with soy-based inks and are biodegradable and compostable. A pack of 144 straws costs $9.
Photo: Courtesy of Kikkerland Design
Hyatt Regency Austin, located on the shores of Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin, recently introduced its “Keep Your Meeting Weird” experiential menu for meetings and groups. Planners can now organize Austin-theme experiences for attendees, including goat yoga, build-a-guitar teambuilding, an interactive graffiti wall, and more. Also, inside the pop-up PeaceBox, a mobile venue for meeting attendees to relax and recharge, instructors work with groups to provide wellness training and guided meditation during an event.
Photo: Courtesy of Hyatt Regency Austin
Ancolie, located in New York’s Greenwich Village, creates meals prepared in reusable glass jars including salads, desserts, and breakfast items like oatmeal. The fast-casual eatery also offers catering options. Pricing for a typical lunch with a large salad jar and chocolate bite starts at $16 (plus tax and delivery) per person. Items are served in reusable vessels or with compostable utensils, and all food scraps are sent to a community garden in the East Village.
Photo: Courtesy of Ancolie
Charity gift card-giving site Donors Unite allows users to purchase a tax-deductible gift card, which recipients can then redeem and donate to one of more than 1.5 million registered and IRS-approved charities listed on the site. Gift card amounts start at $10. Donors Unite also lets users buy an unlimited number of gift claim codes that can be printed on their own correspondence or on pre-printed personalized cards.
Photo: Courtesy of Donors Unite
Best New Event Product/Service
Winner: Mediasite Connect
Submitted by Sonic Foundry
Mediasite Connect aims to be a one-stop-shop for event management needs, including commerce tools, live chat, registration, and live streaming. The platform drives engagement during the event by providing chat boxes where attendees can comment and ask questions; organizers can also add quizzes, polls, or other annotations to live-streamed videos. Other features allow for flexible online registration for remote attendees, the ability for videos to stream to Facebook and YouTube in real-time, and a dedicated team of project managers who can provide support before, during, and after the event.
Submitted by Sonic Foundry
Mediasite Connect aims to be a one-stop-shop for event management needs, including commerce tools, live chat, registration, and live streaming. The platform drives engagement during the event by providing chat boxes where attendees can comment and ask questions; organizers can also add quizzes, polls, or other annotations to live-streamed videos. Other features allow for flexible online registration for remote attendees, the ability for videos to stream to Facebook and YouTube in real-time, and a dedicated team of project managers who can provide support before, during, and after the event.
Photo: Courtesy of Sonic Foundry
Best Social Event
Winner: Fifty & Fabulous
Submitted by Silhouette Group
For this weekend-long 50th-birthday celebration, guests first went “glamping” with luxe private tents and fire pits on the client’s Sonoma property. The itinerary included an intimate dinner with late-night karaoke and a morning campfire breakfast, along with activities such as yoga, archery, spa services, rosé pong, and more. Following the campout, the party continued with a celebration in the backyard of the family home with custom food stations and specialty cocktails.
Submitted by Silhouette Group
For this weekend-long 50th-birthday celebration, guests first went “glamping” with luxe private tents and fire pits on the client’s Sonoma property. The itinerary included an intimate dinner with late-night karaoke and a morning campfire breakfast, along with activities such as yoga, archery, spa services, rosé pong, and more. Following the campout, the party continued with a celebration in the backyard of the family home with custom food stations and specialty cocktails.
Photo: Courtesy of Silhouette Group
Best Trade Show Booth
Winner: Oculus from Facebook—Campus Oculus at GDC 2018
Submitted by FG/PG
For the Game Developer Conference in San Francisco in March, Oculus by Facebook worked with FG/PG to create a stylish, inviting booth that showcased hands-on demos of the Oculus GO standalone VR headset. The two-story space was designed like a tech campus, with trees, communal seating, and open-air balconies. The second floor housed private meeting rooms, while the first floor had a stage devoted to deep dives into industry topics. Eye-catching LED walls on the outside of the booth promoted new game releases.
Submitted by FG/PG
For the Game Developer Conference in San Francisco in March, Oculus by Facebook worked with FG/PG to create a stylish, inviting booth that showcased hands-on demos of the Oculus GO standalone VR headset. The two-story space was designed like a tech campus, with trees, communal seating, and open-air balconies. The second floor housed private meeting rooms, while the first floor had a stage devoted to deep dives into industry topics. Eye-catching LED walls on the outside of the booth promoted new game releases.
Photo: Courtesy of FG|PG
Best Trade or Consumer Show
Winner: New York International Auto Show
Submitted by New York International Auto Show
The annual automotive industry trade show celebrated its 118th edition in April 2018, featuring more than 40 of the world’s major auto manufacturers and a record 61 vehicle debuts. The theme of the event was “Forward > Fast,” alluding to the fast-paced automotive industry, the development of electric and hybrid vehicles, and the pace of New York and its citizens. The show partnered with manufacturer Koenigsegg by including its hybrid super car Regera on the poster and also showcased the vehicle in the show’s exotics booth. More than 1,000 vehicles were on display during the 12-day event.
Submitted by New York International Auto Show
The annual automotive industry trade show celebrated its 118th edition in April 2018, featuring more than 40 of the world’s major auto manufacturers and a record 61 vehicle debuts. The theme of the event was “Forward > Fast,” alluding to the fast-paced automotive industry, the development of electric and hybrid vehicles, and the pace of New York and its citizens. The show partnered with manufacturer Koenigsegg by including its hybrid super car Regera on the poster and also showcased the vehicle in the show’s exotics booth. More than 1,000 vehicles were on display during the 12-day event.
Photo: Courtesy of New York International Auto Show
Best Use of Event Technology
Winner: Marriott Marquis Chicago Hotel Opening
Submitted by BMF Media
BMF Media produced the opening of the Marriott Marquis Chicago hotel in November 2017, combining standard event elements with innovative technologies such as cocktails that were created and delivered by drones and a mobile Hypno Eye photo booth that traveled to guests. To make the check-in area more exciting for guests, BMF created a visual entry wall that had a light projection of a Chicago streetscape map. The event also featured an interactive installation of LED stacked cubes that projected and mimicked the silhouettes of guests as they danced. The event resulted in 1.35 million social media impressions for Marriott.
Submitted by BMF Media
BMF Media produced the opening of the Marriott Marquis Chicago hotel in November 2017, combining standard event elements with innovative technologies such as cocktails that were created and delivered by drones and a mobile Hypno Eye photo booth that traveled to guests. To make the check-in area more exciting for guests, BMF created a visual entry wall that had a light projection of a Chicago streetscape map. The event also featured an interactive installation of LED stacked cubes that projected and mimicked the silhouettes of guests as they danced. The event resulted in 1.35 million social media impressions for Marriott.
Photo: Courtesy of BMF Media
Best Use of Social Media for an Event or Meeting
Winner: Michelob Ultra—NYC Marathon
Submitted by Fusion Marketing
Last year, Michelob Ultra awarded 95 runners with entries to the 2017 TCS New York City Marathon to create #TeamUltra. In the lead-up to the marathon, consumers were able to learn about #TeamUltra and follow the runners on their training journeys via Facebook and Instagram. Plus, #TeamUltra runners were given access to a private Facebook group to share marathon prep tips and to get to know each other, fostering a community among the team.
Submitted by Fusion Marketing
Last year, Michelob Ultra awarded 95 runners with entries to the 2017 TCS New York City Marathon to create #TeamUltra. In the lead-up to the marathon, consumers were able to learn about #TeamUltra and follow the runners on their training journeys via Facebook and Instagram. Plus, #TeamUltra runners were given access to a private Facebook group to share marathon prep tips and to get to know each other, fostering a community among the team.
Photo: Courtesy of Fusion Marketing
Best Use of Video at an Event
Winner: I.B.M. Think Gallery
Submitted by Drury Design
The I.B.M. Think Gallery in Las Vegas in March showcased six of the company’s current projects using 18-foot-high digitally mapped video screens that surrounded visitors and allowed them to sit and think about what they were watching. The videos featured topics such as I.B.M.’s work to cut down on ocean pollution, how the human mind can help prevent disease, how the brand can cut down on gas leaks, and more. More than 15,000 people visited the gallery, which was produced by Drury Design.
Submitted by Drury Design
The I.B.M. Think Gallery in Las Vegas in March showcased six of the company’s current projects using 18-foot-high digitally mapped video screens that surrounded visitors and allowed them to sit and think about what they were watching. The videos featured topics such as I.B.M.’s work to cut down on ocean pollution, how the human mind can help prevent disease, how the brand can cut down on gas leaks, and more. More than 15,000 people visited the gallery, which was produced by Drury Design.
Photo: Matthew Calkins
Best Video Capture of an Event
Winner: Shogyo Mujo: A Gem on the Burning Man Playa
Submitted by BartKresa Studio
BartKresa studio asked Manuel Reta III to document its Shogyo Mujo installation at Burning Man in Black Rock City, Nevada, in 2017. Reta’s videos captured both the creative and technical processes of the project’s projection mapping, as well as the execution of the concept. His documentary chronicles every facet of the event, from the texture of the dust to the energy of the audience to the glow of the projections.
Submitted by BartKresa Studio
BartKresa studio asked Manuel Reta III to document its Shogyo Mujo installation at Burning Man in Black Rock City, Nevada, in 2017. Reta’s videos captured both the creative and technical processes of the project’s projection mapping, as well as the execution of the concept. His documentary chronicles every facet of the event, from the texture of the dust to the energy of the audience to the glow of the projections.
Photo: Manuel Reta
Best Catering at an Event
Winner: CNN Political Hangover Brunch 2018
Submitted by Advoc8 & Occasions Caterers
Held every year on the morning following the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, CNN’s Political Hangover Brunch celebrates the news network’s talent, shows, and teams involved in White House reporting. This year’s event featured an Alice in Wonderland theme with traditional tea sandwiches, a tater tot bar, and bite-size breakfast pastries, plus the “Mad Hatter’s Rabbit Hole” crudite display, which stood five feet tall and featured dangling vegetables and playing cards.
Submitted by Advoc8 & Occasions Caterers
Held every year on the morning following the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, CNN’s Political Hangover Brunch celebrates the news network’s talent, shows, and teams involved in White House reporting. This year’s event featured an Alice in Wonderland theme with traditional tea sandwiches, a tater tot bar, and bite-size breakfast pastries, plus the “Mad Hatter’s Rabbit Hole” crudite display, which stood five feet tall and featured dangling vegetables and playing cards.
Photo: Andy DelGiudice
Best Corporate Event Concept—Budget Over $250,000
Winner: TNT The Alienist Premiere Experience
Submitted by Civic Entertainment Group
For the red-carpet premiere of TNT’s The Alienist, held in Los Angeles in January, Civic Entertainment Group transformed the New York City set at Paramount Pictures with hand-built decor elements, lounge furniture, and props inspired by the show’s 1896 setting. Vaudeville acts performed, food served from wagons created a vintage night market-like setting, and the cast was transported to the event in a horse-drawn carriage. A 20-minute video by Little Cinema featured scenes from the show and was highlighted by a live orchestra, an opera singer, dancers, and falling snow.
Submitted by Civic Entertainment Group
For the red-carpet premiere of TNT’s The Alienist, held in Los Angeles in January, Civic Entertainment Group transformed the New York City set at Paramount Pictures with hand-built decor elements, lounge furniture, and props inspired by the show’s 1896 setting. Vaudeville acts performed, food served from wagons created a vintage night market-like setting, and the cast was transported to the event in a horse-drawn carriage. A 20-minute video by Little Cinema featured scenes from the show and was highlighted by a live orchestra, an opera singer, dancers, and falling snow.
Photo: Tod Seelie
Best Corporate Event Concept—Budget Under $250,000
Winner: Axios One-Year Anniversary Party
Submitted by Advoc8
One year after the launch of its new media company, Axios hosted a celebration for influencers, political insiders, and media in Washington in January 2018. Inspired by the event sponsor Boeing, the event featured an aviation theme that included an airport gate sign outside of the venue; an airport “lounge” with smart suitcases that charged phones; a party space behind a door that mimicked the side of an airplane; and aviation-inspired gin cocktails. Advoc8, Hargrove, and Axios’s event team produced the event.
Submitted by Advoc8
One year after the launch of its new media company, Axios hosted a celebration for influencers, political insiders, and media in Washington in January 2018. Inspired by the event sponsor Boeing, the event featured an aviation theme that included an airport gate sign outside of the venue; an airport “lounge” with smart suitcases that charged phones; a party space behind a door that mimicked the side of an airplane; and aviation-inspired gin cocktails. Advoc8, Hargrove, and Axios’s event team produced the event.
Photo: Chuck Kennedy
Best Event Decor—Budget Over $250,000
Winner: New York Interconnect Upfront
Submitted by Twenty Three Layers
The upfront event for New York Interconnect introduced the greater New York area to brand advertisers and content creators, and boasted a “Greater Together” concept to represent the teaming up of the three large companies (Altice, Charter, and Comcast) to create NYI. To play off the theme, clever vinyl branding that highlighted things that are “greater together,” such as Oprah and Gayle and peanut butter and jelly, lined the venue. Also, custom flooring with converging lines was used to create directional pathways for the check-in lines.
Submitted by Twenty Three Layers
The upfront event for New York Interconnect introduced the greater New York area to brand advertisers and content creators, and boasted a “Greater Together” concept to represent the teaming up of the three large companies (Altice, Charter, and Comcast) to create NYI. To play off the theme, clever vinyl branding that highlighted things that are “greater together,” such as Oprah and Gayle and peanut butter and jelly, lined the venue. Also, custom flooring with converging lines was used to create directional pathways for the check-in lines.
Photo: Courtesy of Twenty Three Layers
Best Event Lighting Design
Winner: San Francisco MoMA Directors Circle Dinner
Submitted by Got Light
For the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s Directors Circle Dinner in March, Got Light used lighting to create a surreal underwater effect inspired by artist Vija Celmins. Custom-made drape created an illusion of rippling waves, and LED uplighting slowly shifted through shades of blue. The goal was to transport guests, most of whom were the museum’s top donors, into a “soft, ethereal world,” according to organizers.
Submitted by Got Light
For the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s Directors Circle Dinner in March, Got Light used lighting to create a surreal underwater effect inspired by artist Vija Celmins. Custom-made drape created an illusion of rippling waves, and LED uplighting slowly shifted through shades of blue. The goal was to transport guests, most of whom were the museum’s top donors, into a “soft, ethereal world,” according to organizers.
Photo: Irja Elisa for Show Ready
