WHAT YOU DID: The opening cocktail party is a traditionally well attended event that signposts the beginning of IFSA’s annual conference. It is an important networking event and has been sponsored for the last five years by a major international law firm. The event must facilitate some formalities and the all-important networking opportunities. IFSA has an established tradition of holding this function off-site, in an interesting and desirable location. In the past, venues such as the beach at Palm Cove (Cairns) and the Queensland Maritime Museum (Brisbane) have been used for this function. This year the conference was at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre and the poolside area at Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast Resort and Spa was chosen for the opening cocktail party. IFSA’s conference team, in association with PCO’s Carillon Conference Management Pty Limited (Brisbane) and theme production company Staging Dimensions (Brisbane) created the event around a “Fire on Water” visual theme. The area at Sheraton Mirage is particularly stunning, so the main production effort was concentrated on lighting, construction of a stage and branding for the sponsor and IFSA itself. Appropriate light jazz music and entertainment was also organised.
SPECIAL TOUCHES: The “fire-on-water” visual theme was addressed using open flame lights mounted on towers which were set into the lagoons – these were concentrated near the entrance and created an excellent arrival feature. Staging Dimensions created a superb, highly elevated stage with sand dunes as the back drop. The stage backing and fabric sails erected either side provided excellent branding opportunities for the sponsor and IFSA, and the logos could be clearly seen from the entire area. Of particular note, the stage and sponsor name/logo were clearly visible as soon as delegates got off buses at the Sheraton Mirage’s main entrance. Sheraton Mirage’s high staff ratio was greatly appreciated, ensuring the hors de oeuvres and beverages flowed freely!
CHALLENGES: What is an event without challenges? For this event good weather, transporting over 800 persons into and out of the venue in a two hour period and ensuring good branding for host organisation and sponsor were particularly important. Greatest challenge of all of course was to ensure the function was enjoyable for delegates and fully accommodated its networking brief.
CLIENT’S COMMENT: The Sheraton Mirage proved to be an excellent location with fantastic facilities which all contributed greatly to the success of the event. Our challenge now is to top that next year!
Ashley C. Gordon, director, Carillon Conference Management
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