To welcome its 2005 board of directors, the South Florida chapter of Meeting Professionals International (SFMPI) planned an installation dinner at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club. Rachelle Stone of Advantage DMS served as chairwoman of the installation committee, and with several event industry companies as sponsors, she created an elegant evening with a surprising choice of entertainment—the Three Waiters, a trio of opera singers who pretend to be servers.
Two men, one pretending to be the Italian headwaiter and the other a French server, got onstage to belt out opera tunes, and then began a singing competition. A third waiter jumped on one of the seats and joined them, and then quipped he'd bring some American flavor to the European duet. Guests, at first puzzled, were delighted by the banter.
The evening began on a much quieter note, though. Prior to dinner, guests chatted during cocktail hour, enjoying passed hors d'oeuvres such as jumbo fried shrimp and pork chunks with plantains. Beth and Command Performance played jazz songs.
Inside the ballroom, tables were dressed in three distinct themes. EventSource International covered two long rectangular tables on either end of the room with gold tablecloths overlapped with sparkling sheer linens. Centerpieces consisted of a narrow golden base filled with deep red roses and a long row of lamps made from red and green flowers and red beads. Each plate was topped with a cluster of flowers. DECO Productions created tables with royal purple linens and chairs wrapped with gold satin sashes. Vases of various sizes held clear stones and orchids, hydrangeas, and lilies. Harkey Productions set up the remaining tables with red linens and centerpieces. The common thread among all was a retro Viewmaster created by Advantage DMS specifically for the dinner. Guests clicked through the childhood toy to view the evening's agenda and menu.
Current SFMPI president Suzanne Moore of Moore Meetings & Incentives began the evening by recognizing several members of the industry. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino was awarded Venue of the Year; Trina Pulliam of Trainnovations won the Rising Star award; and Kathi Beale of Media Stage Inc. was honored with two: the Above & Beyond award and the President's award. Lauren Halpern, program manager for Office Depot, was introduced as SFMPI's new president.
Turnberry catered the four-course meal, which included rainbow fettuccine with crab pernod sauce and mixed greens with Everglade hearts of palm with passion fruit vinaigrette. The entrée included pan-seared Florida grouper with key lime beurre blanc, fire-roasted beef tenderloin with morrel jus, seasonal vegetables, and sun-dried tomato risotto. A dessert sample plate included a mango puff tart with coconut sorbet, rum savarin with berries and lemon curd, and a homemade Kit Kat with hazelnut anglaise. Guests also enjoyed fresh cappuccino service provided by Cafe Ala Carte .
—Vanessa Goyanes
Two men, one pretending to be the Italian headwaiter and the other a French server, got onstage to belt out opera tunes, and then began a singing competition. A third waiter jumped on one of the seats and joined them, and then quipped he'd bring some American flavor to the European duet. Guests, at first puzzled, were delighted by the banter.
The evening began on a much quieter note, though. Prior to dinner, guests chatted during cocktail hour, enjoying passed hors d'oeuvres such as jumbo fried shrimp and pork chunks with plantains. Beth and Command Performance played jazz songs.
Inside the ballroom, tables were dressed in three distinct themes. EventSource International covered two long rectangular tables on either end of the room with gold tablecloths overlapped with sparkling sheer linens. Centerpieces consisted of a narrow golden base filled with deep red roses and a long row of lamps made from red and green flowers and red beads. Each plate was topped with a cluster of flowers. DECO Productions created tables with royal purple linens and chairs wrapped with gold satin sashes. Vases of various sizes held clear stones and orchids, hydrangeas, and lilies. Harkey Productions set up the remaining tables with red linens and centerpieces. The common thread among all was a retro Viewmaster created by Advantage DMS specifically for the dinner. Guests clicked through the childhood toy to view the evening's agenda and menu.
Current SFMPI president Suzanne Moore of Moore Meetings & Incentives began the evening by recognizing several members of the industry. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino was awarded Venue of the Year; Trina Pulliam of Trainnovations won the Rising Star award; and Kathi Beale of Media Stage Inc. was honored with two: the Above & Beyond award and the President's award. Lauren Halpern, program manager for Office Depot, was introduced as SFMPI's new president.
Turnberry catered the four-course meal, which included rainbow fettuccine with crab pernod sauce and mixed greens with Everglade hearts of palm with passion fruit vinaigrette. The entrée included pan-seared Florida grouper with key lime beurre blanc, fire-roasted beef tenderloin with morrel jus, seasonal vegetables, and sun-dried tomato risotto. A dessert sample plate included a mango puff tart with coconut sorbet, rum savarin with berries and lemon curd, and a homemade Kit Kat with hazelnut anglaise. Guests also enjoyed fresh cappuccino service provided by Cafe Ala Carte .
—Vanessa Goyanes