OBJECTIVE
Produce 4 epic corporate events for an official sponsor of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Our client wanted their event to be the buzz of the city and the competition between sponsors was fierce! Event design, catering quality, service levels and entertainment had to meet gold medal standards.
CHALLENGES
- Sourcing a new venue in a sold-out city within 30 days of the first event and completely redesigning the events. The final design was confirmed just 14 days prior, leaving us only 2 weeks to order and ship custom furniture and décor.
- Install, tear down and reinstall the event 4 times, often during other events’ load in/out schedules.
- An electrical transformer blew 45 minutes prior to doors opening, leaving the entire city block in darkness. We mobilized quickly to move the event to the hotel. Just 10 minutes before start time the power came back on – crisis averted!
- Vehicle access to the venue was closed during the day so all load-in/out had to be planned in the middle of the night.
Strategy
- During the Olympic Games in any city, the Sponsors run the show. Building a trusting relationship with our client made all the difference in creating successful events. We remain friends today, 10+ years later.
- We worked closely with the venue’s other event clients to share lighting and audio set-ups to ensure our design would be installed and ready in time for each of our events.
- Securing quick approval for our solid design and staging plan as a result of the venue switch.
- Devising a meticulous construction and load-in/out schedule helped alleviate pressure on our suppliers and vendors while mitigating after-hour deliveries and pick-ups.
- Sourcing and shipping décor and furniture from the USA.
- Teamwork makes the dream work! Investing in our relationships with the venue and our vendor team was incredible.
The Result
We jumped through Olympic rings to make it happen: an impressive series of 4 lounge and dance party events thrilled our client and their guests. We made lifelong friendships and felt the team spirit throughout. We had fun, gave it our all and were able to celebrate the magic of the Olympic Games.
