Ellen Hudek, vice president of Sterling Payment Technologies, approached Cheers! Events Inc. of St. Petersburg with a wild idea: a biker theme for the company's annual appreciation event for its top sales reps from across the nation.
Cheers! event planner Ronnie Lee indulged Hudek, transforming the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club's classically elegant Sunset Ballroom into a rough-and-tumble biker joint, complete with tough-looking drink stations, roasting pigs, and Harley-Davidsons.
To get the party started, the nearly 150 sales reps received bandannas and faux leather accessories to wear, and they arrived at the ballroom to the blaring sounds of Steppenwolf's biker classic "Born to be Wild."
DJ Grant Hemond maintained the tone with a raucous set of classic rock ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Guns 'N' Roses. To further foster the Easy Rider spirit, Lee laid out an assortment of biker accessories-including bandannas, chokers, chaps, and wristbands-on a banquet table for denim-clad guests to try on and take home as gifts. Guests also received customized T-shirts with Sterling corporate logos made by Embroider Me of St. Petersburg.
If there was any doubt about the theme, four tattooed biker dudes clad in leather and denim were on hand to show off their customized Harleys. Two actresses portrayed biker girls, and decorated guests with temporary tattoos. Lee cast the actresses and found the bikers in local motorcycle clubs.
The night flamed on, with fiery orange, flame-patterned tablecloths adorning the cocktail and banquet tables supplied by Kirby Rental Service of Orlando. The Vinoy's in-house catering service contributed to the theme by serving two whole roasted pigs at separate carving stations, served with with rice pilaf and vegetables. Lee worked with Bay Stage Lighting Systems to create tough-looking bars made of diamond-shaped metallic plates, iron rods, and faux flaming urns.
—Juan Carlos Rodriguez
Cheers! event planner Ronnie Lee indulged Hudek, transforming the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club's classically elegant Sunset Ballroom into a rough-and-tumble biker joint, complete with tough-looking drink stations, roasting pigs, and Harley-Davidsons.
To get the party started, the nearly 150 sales reps received bandannas and faux leather accessories to wear, and they arrived at the ballroom to the blaring sounds of Steppenwolf's biker classic "Born to be Wild."
DJ Grant Hemond maintained the tone with a raucous set of classic rock ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Guns 'N' Roses. To further foster the Easy Rider spirit, Lee laid out an assortment of biker accessories-including bandannas, chokers, chaps, and wristbands-on a banquet table for denim-clad guests to try on and take home as gifts. Guests also received customized T-shirts with Sterling corporate logos made by Embroider Me of St. Petersburg.
If there was any doubt about the theme, four tattooed biker dudes clad in leather and denim were on hand to show off their customized Harleys. Two actresses portrayed biker girls, and decorated guests with temporary tattoos. Lee cast the actresses and found the bikers in local motorcycle clubs.
The night flamed on, with fiery orange, flame-patterned tablecloths adorning the cocktail and banquet tables supplied by Kirby Rental Service of Orlando. The Vinoy's in-house catering service contributed to the theme by serving two whole roasted pigs at separate carving stations, served with with rice pilaf and vegetables. Lee worked with Bay Stage Lighting Systems to create tough-looking bars made of diamond-shaped metallic plates, iron rods, and faux flaming urns.
—Juan Carlos Rodriguez
For Sterling Payment Technologies' biker-themed appreciation event, the Vinoy's in-house catering service served roasted pork in separate carving stations.
Cheers! Events Inc. created a rough-and-tumble environment with metallic drinking stations.
Biker girls cast by Cheers! Events Inc. kept the Sterling Payment Technologies sales reps in a rock 'n' roll spirit.
Tricked-out Harley-Davidsons screamed the biker theme.
