In March 2014, the Montage Beverly Hills Marquesa Ballroom and foyer were transformed into a tropical rainforest to celebrate the 18th annual Los Angeles Dinner for Conservation International (CI).
CI partnered with Destination Concepts Inc. (DCi), a southern California-based event production firm for this gala. Through its innovative and creative event design, DCi was able to effectively convey CI's message of conservation, using beautiful yet sustainable, impactful elements. The collaborative effort between the CI and DCi teams resulted in a visually stunning event and created a festive yet focused atmosphere, which renewed guests’ commitment to the organization’s cause.
To create the mood and drive home CI’s mission, DCi used reclaimed wood as the stage surround, repurposed tropical foliage rentals, and linens and fabrics from water-saving laundry services. The reception area featured lush displays of tropical foliage to disguise a series of four sound systems each playing recordings of rainforest sounds such as frogs and running water.
Inside the ballroom, tables were designed to mimic the rainforest floor with copper- and chocolate-toned bark taffeta linen resembling the ground and green glass chargers. Tables featured four different textured tablescapes, including wood containers, reclaimed driftwood branches, glass vessels with stylized arrangements of mosses and succulents, which were replanted for future use, and minimal pockets of orchids. Gobo projections of vines and foliage illuminated the walls and ceiling to create a rainforest canopy effect in the ballroom.
DCi installed a 40- by 15-foot LED wall to display a video of rainforests during the walk-in, slide content during the presentation, and show footage of the new public awareness campaign that will launch in the coming months. An animated flying bird was projected from two moving head projectors that were rigged overhead. This resulted in a truly custom and stimulating flying bird that maneuvered around the room throughout the evening.
A custom podium built from a single reclaimed tree stump served as the focal point for CI members Harrison Ford, vice chair of CI, Jeffrey Katzenberg, chairman of the board, and C.E.O. Peter Seligmann. The gala was held to honor the contributions of board member Skip Brittenham as well as raise funds to further CI’s mission to empower societies to act as responsible stewards of the environment, to expand sustainability programs, and to protect global biodiversity. The event raised more than $875,000.