The World Education Congress of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) culminated with a closing gala called "Visions of Bleau" at the Fontainebleau Hilton Resort in Miami Beach. It was a long night of dining, dancing, and drinking put together by the resort's Danielle Babilino, vice president of sales; Glenn Medas, vice president of entertainment; and John Thacker, vice president of food and beverage. They hired Kathy Power of Las Vegas-based Power Event Productions, who worked with a slew of vendors and suppliers to create a themed environment that was Vegas glitz mixed with hot Miami style.
As they passed through a tent draped in sheer white by EventSource International, guests were greeted by the sound of Japanese drummers Fushu Daiko. Colorful characters from Cirque Productions directed them to the festivities. The reception area featured two make-your-own crepe stations by Crepe Xpress, a bar, and two large tables lined with sliced meats, cheeses, and crackers. Round tables provided plenty of space to retreat to after the commotion in the main room.
One of the hotel's expansive ballrooms was converted into themed sections that engaged all the senses—especially through visuals, as the prominent color scheme was shades of blue. Along the right of the room, Dan Vazquez and Greg Columbus, event producers for All Over Miami, designed an undersea environment that included two plexiglass bars filled with sand and seashells. A stage behind the bars held a large seashell with sequined mermaids from Parafernalia Productions, as well as exotic foliage and live flamingos. MPI logos were projected onto two water screens on either side of the stage, and Sentinels of Sand constructed a sand castle with MPI's logo on it. Vazquez hired Nuage Designs to provide shimmering turquoise table linens. Styled Ice brought in an elaborate ice sculpture of King Triton riding a seahorse-drawn chariot, which sat upon a raw bar piled high with jumbo shrimp, baby lobster tails, and crab claws. A large square table held several trays of fresh sushi rolls and sashimi—in the center of it all was a mermaid with blue and green body paint lying on multicolored pillows. A perimeter of light blue and navy feather boas dangled from the ceiling, separating the underwater lounge from All Over Miami's next treat: a hot tropical setting.
Continue reading about the closing night gala.
As they passed through a tent draped in sheer white by EventSource International, guests were greeted by the sound of Japanese drummers Fushu Daiko. Colorful characters from Cirque Productions directed them to the festivities. The reception area featured two make-your-own crepe stations by Crepe Xpress, a bar, and two large tables lined with sliced meats, cheeses, and crackers. Round tables provided plenty of space to retreat to after the commotion in the main room.
One of the hotel's expansive ballrooms was converted into themed sections that engaged all the senses—especially through visuals, as the prominent color scheme was shades of blue. Along the right of the room, Dan Vazquez and Greg Columbus, event producers for All Over Miami, designed an undersea environment that included two plexiglass bars filled with sand and seashells. A stage behind the bars held a large seashell with sequined mermaids from Parafernalia Productions, as well as exotic foliage and live flamingos. MPI logos were projected onto two water screens on either side of the stage, and Sentinels of Sand constructed a sand castle with MPI's logo on it. Vazquez hired Nuage Designs to provide shimmering turquoise table linens. Styled Ice brought in an elaborate ice sculpture of King Triton riding a seahorse-drawn chariot, which sat upon a raw bar piled high with jumbo shrimp, baby lobster tails, and crab claws. A large square table held several trays of fresh sushi rolls and sashimi—in the center of it all was a mermaid with blue and green body paint lying on multicolored pillows. A perimeter of light blue and navy feather boas dangled from the ceiling, separating the underwater lounge from All Over Miami's next treat: a hot tropical setting.
Continue reading about the closing night gala.