Bucharest – Conference & Local Tour

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Exploring the winding streets of Bucharest, Romania

Working with global clients ensures our team are up to date with an enormous range of international locations, including excellent value-for-money cities and venues in Eastern Europe.

This month we brought a diverse group of product users together in Bucharest, Romania. Using the fantastic facilities at the Radisson Blu Hotel and inviting the delegates to experience more of Romania with traditional dinners and evening entertainment alongside an intriguing walking tour around the heart of this vibrant city.

Following productive conference days in the flexible hotel meeting space, we organised a dedicated tour guide, allowing everyone to get involved and taking the ‘corporate’ edge off of the business trip.

A little bit of sunshine and fascinating history alongside successful business development!

First Drinks – Summer Cocktails

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Inviting an array of distinguished media and industry guests, we staged the annual First Drinks Brands, Summer cocktail party in the handsome church setting of One Marylebone, London.

We used authentic props to bring the venue to life: chairs spanning all eras seated the media guests in the upstairs galleries for presentations, then downstairs to a mini french parlour (Cointreau) and classic red carpet leading to a real BAFTA award (Disaronno) as just some of the enticing individual brand areas in the grand hall. Custom building our own feature bar allowed us to take advantage of the awe-inspiring space, whilst ensuring brands such as Glenfiddich and Sailor Jerry’s rum were presented distinctly.

Each brand display showcased notable First Drinks brands whilst the guests mingled amongst these mini experience areas and sampled cocktail creations to suit every palate.

A triumph of a corporate event that proved again to be a ‘must-go’ date in the diary for all guests!

Taste of London 2012

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Welcoming guests in to sample the delectable First Drinks Brand's cocktails

Tens of thousands of passionate foodies descended on London’s Regent’s Park last weekend to celebrate the best of world-class drink and cuisine at Taste of London festival.

First Drinks took a prime position within the festival layout and we built a full bar environment to showcase their portfolio of spirit brands to the hoards of ticket holders who flooded into the event each day.

Building upon the success of the First Drinks stand year by year, for 2012 we provided a dramatic open sided canopy and built a branded entrance ramp up to imposing floral displays to draw in guests to the main bar area. The stand was themed with our artistic take on a classic chateaux interior and showcased each distinct brand along the main wall (alongside an essential Stag’s head of course!)

Our DJ played an incredible feel-good set for each of the evening sessions, which had everyone dancing on the tables and soaking up the buzzing atmosphere so much that they asked where our ‘real’ bar was … lucky for them the First Drinks brands mean they can make all those tasty cocktails at home!

Click here to find out more about this event

Skype – Munich Conference

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Creative conference venue in Munich, Germany

Tasked with finding an inspiring venue alongside strong global flight links, we took the Senior Leadership team to Munich, Germany.

Holding the main conference days in a stunning disused factory, gave presenters a fantastic opportunity to inspire their audience within a relaxed and free environment. Shunning the standard (uncomfortable) conference chairs, we sourced sofas, giant bean bags and cushions to encourage open communication between all employee levels.

Utilising the German traditions on Munich’s doorstep, we introduced the international teams to some true Bavarian thigh-slapping fun in the traditional beer cellars on the first evening.

We took a change of pace with the second evening on the city’s imported summer beach overlooking the Danube, complete with on-brand cocktails and fire performer. Followed by the last evening at a the hi-tech La Baracca Italian restaurant where we privatised half the establishment ordering from electronic tablets within the tables.

Building evening experiences into the week’s schedule of meetings encourages a fully accessible approach between all levels off attending staff and the open nature of discussions builds on the productivity of the meeting content.

Monaco Grand Prix – Incentive Trip

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Colleague motivation doesn’t get better than the tried and tested Incentive Trip, we tailor each incentive to the company and specific team to help drive forward their individual/team results.

The Monaco Grand Prix motor race is held annually on the fast-paced streets here. Run since 1929, it is widely considered to be one of the most important and prestigious automobile races in the world, which probably explains the high sales record of the client’s team who were rewarded with a petrol-fueled weekend this year.

We co-ordinate everything from tickets and local hosts to flights and hotels alongside a carefully put together itinerary for the full experience. Incentive Trips can be tailored to suit any budget, theme or destination.

 

London Team Building – Treasure Hunt

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This spring, we challenged 10 international teams to complete our Treasure Hunt in London. We drafted their routes to include several must-see tourist locations along the way, the groups also had a general knowledge quiz and a scavenger bag for some (free) typically London items like a pigeon feather and a Harrods store guide.

The teams included at least one local (along with travelcards, tube maps and bus routes) and a mixture of other delegate nationalities. Working together they completed their routes around the locations given and also earned bonus points for team photos!

Meeting at an upmarket bar for some rewarding drinks and a sumptuous dinner, the group mingled and compared highlights while we marked their efforts and duly rewarded the winners with champagne and a Harrods teddy to remember the day.

It was so successful we’ve been asked to re-draft the course for another department to enjoy an off-site day next month!

Inaugural EMEA Conference – Portugal

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Successfully co-ordinating the seamless arrival of VIP guests from over 20 different countries, we staged the client’s first EMEA conference event at Portugal’s stunning Hilton Vilamoura hotel – a contemporary Algarve venue, situated within five acres of landscaped gardens.

We crafted a full three day schedule to incorporate productive leadership meetings alongside on-brand experiences which helped reinforce the key messages of the conference days.

The drinks company client was treated to rare whiskey tastings, a branded bar with innovative cocktails (using brand products) influenced by local produce and lastly a typically Portuguese night with the timeless charm and far-reaching views at Casa Velha.

The Effective Event Solutions team already looking forward to working on next year’s!

Cape Town Incentive Trip

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Incentive trips are an excellent way to motivate your team, and this month we ran one of the most effective options: a sunshine escape from the dingy winter weather in the UK!

Lying between the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, Cape Town enjoys mild winters and pleasant summers. With February temperatures in the early 20s, it is a great time to visit this diverse and fascinating destination.

Our clients relaxed at sunset dinners over looking the harbour, got their heartbeat racing on Shark viewing boats (those brave enough even took a dip in a wetsuit and steel cage!), learnt traditional music with a local drumming lesson and of course time for a little shopping …

There is an abundance of culture and thrilling activities to be found in South Africa, so there’s still more for them to see next time!

Mexico Incentive Trip

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The first week back to work after Christmas is a tough one for most, but one hard-working group had a productive first week looking forward to their mid-January incentive!

We took a high-achieving sales team to a luxury Mexican resort for a short week of relaxation and team building ahead of their busiest year yet in 2012.

Their days were filled with fun activities such as deep-sea fishing, yacht trips and a few rounds of beach volleyball for those with the energy! We squeezed in an afternoon or two of sun lounger chill-out time and sampled the local cocktails and delicious seafood suppers of an evening.

Everyone commented that this had been a trip of a lifetime, and went back to work with renewed energy for the year ahead!

 

The Festive Season

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We took the pain out of the annual ‘tinsel decisions’ this year; working with a range of inspiring venues for Christmas parties. Sourcing everything from bona fide antiques to life-size oscar awards and dramatic firework displays, we made sure 2011 was a year to remember for all our clients.

London is a true party city, especially at Christmas and there really was something for all tastes and every budget this year. We also arranged a few extraordinary nights out of the city: a grand medieval ball in Cheshire and seafront dining on the South Coast.

Excuse us while we go home and enjoy (another) delicious turkey dinner with our families now … MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!