With the unofficial end of summer now behind us (that would be Labor Day), event professionals are looking to the fall—a traditionally busy time—to see how the economic recovery will help the industry rebound from what has so far been a pretty slow year. We asked a group of local planners and vendors what they have in the works for the coming months. Here are some highlights.
“Coming up October 20 we’re doing the University of South Florida’s capital campaign kickoff, which is going to be huge, at [the school's] new Marshall [University] Center. It’s completely custom and there are two elements to the event: the showcase of the [university] departments and the V.I.P. cocktail reception. We also have some [events] out of town, one is Tech Data Technology Solutions Tour in St. Louis in September; this will be the ninth tour we’ve done with them.”
—Stefanie Berry, owner, Showorks Inc.
“We’re working with the Women's Council of Realtors of Daytona Beach to make their eighth annual Casino Night a success. This is the eighth year I have worked with this group. Last year was the first year they moved their event to the Daytona 500 Club at the Daytona International Speedway. They added a Texas hold 'em tournament for the first time last year, with an added ticket price, and it sold out. This year they’re still expecting just over 200 people.”
—Lori Denton, president, Galaxy Fun Raising Inc.
“We have quite a bit of business booked for fall. We’ve got a really big series of events in October.… There are still people who are spending money, like the hospitals, medical companies, and education [institutions]. We have a great client, Full Sail [University], that we do parties for all the time.”
—Lisa Bruttell Grant, owner and event designer, Arthur’s Creative Events and Catering
“I’m working on the 30th anniversary of the Park Plaza Gardens restaurant. It’s going to be a full year roll out with special menus, programs, entertainment, cocktail parties, fashion shows, and more. Some of [the events] are going to really be major blow-out productions starting in September.”
—J. Michael Hicks, owner/producer, A Spectacular Event
“The good news is that people are poking their head out and the last-minute business that is coming in shows that companies are realizing there was a value to what we do and that meetings do have value. Once we get over the perception issue, [the companies are] still faced with having an event and what to do with it. Whether it’s last second or not, they are coming back. It’s just slow and deliberate and they’re being much more careful.”
—Paul Creighton, executive vice president, T. Skorman Productions
“I am doing a fall celebration for Financial Harvest, a financial investment group, November 5. It’s not so much about how beautiful it will look, but I want to make it profit driven and relationship focused; that’s the strategy I’m working with. The whole event is going to be very fall-like, with bright oranges and sages, but the theme of the night is luminaries so we’ll bring light into the room in different aspects with candles, hanging lighting fixtures of paper, etc. We’re doing a luminary ending to the event so as [the guests] come in they’ll sign their names to the luminaries and [my client is] going to talk about the importance of having a good leader and that everyone’s a light and beacon for everyone else guiding them [along]. As people leave we’ll have a walkway with everyone’s name on the bags.”
—Eddie Diaz, C.E.O. and business event producer, Encore Creations Inc.
