Pacific Destination Services has recently taken home two top prizes at the 2018 Association of Destination Management Executives International (ADMEI) Achievement Awards.
The honours for Excellence in Décor and Design and Best Innovative Event Over $500k were presented at the annual ADMEI Achievement Awards ceremony in Chicago, IL, February 10, 2018.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be receiving these awards. It is an honour to be recognized for these events on an international stage. The competition among our peer DMCs from around the globe is at such a high level. These awards demonstrate that we are producing with the best in the world! I am so proud of our team and partners and I sincerely thank our clients for the opportunity to create magic!”
Joanne Burns Millar, President
For Excellence in Décor and Design, PDS transformed a working dude ranch located along Alberta’s famed Cowboy Trail into a small-scale version of the world-famous Calgary Stampede. The event, which coincided with both the Stampede and Canada’s 150th celebrations, featured multiple facets, including extensive venue and infrastructure improvements, custom-built grandstands, furnishings and décor, augmented catering, eight different entertainment acts and two rodeo shows, all in a remote location. Thanks to effective planning, and a team that doesn’t understand the terms “off-the-shelf” or “no, you can’t possibly do that”, PDS delivered an authentically Canadian, out-of-the-box experience for 900 guests, and also left behind a legacy benefit for the community in the process.
In Best Innovative Event Over $500k, PDS staged the largest outdoor event of its kind ever produced in the Canadian Rockies. The event took place over two fairways of the pristine Tunnel 9 Golf Course at the Fairmont Banff Springs in Banff, Alberta. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres served on Tunnel’s 9th fairway kicked off the night, followed by a family-style dinner served under a 40,000 sq. ft. clear-span tent, the largest ever constructed here. Renowned Canadian singer/song-writer, Sarah McLachlan surprised the audience as she stepped onto a revolving stage, located mid-tent, for a private performance under the stars. It was a magical evening in a spectacular setting. A huge nod of appreciation goes to our partners at Dragonfly Meetings & Events for their integral role in the entertainment production for this outstanding event.
Events of this scale and quality are only possible with a shared vision and team collaboration. We thank our clients for their creative challenges, and for giving us the support and flexibility to truly execute their visions. Thanks also to our partners, Boundary Ranch in Kananaskis, and to the Fairmont Banff Springs’ conference services, food and beverage, engineering, and golf course teams; their willingness to come along on our ride, to trust in our judgement, and work with us past every challenge, allowed us the freedom to do what we do best — to produce award-winning events in Western Canada!
