VIBE’S Highlighted Destination Spot: Istanbul, Turkey

The Vibe Agency offers destination management services throughout the world.  From October 1 – 7, Valerie Bihet traveled to Istanbul to assist with all logistic aspects of a major bank convention.  We would like to feature this grand city as a highlighted destination for future clients.  Included are fun facts, “in the know”, where to eat and drink, where to shop, and most importantly a few venue selections.

Fun Facts:

• Istanbul is historically also known as Byzantium and Constantinople.
• Istanbul is the largest city in Europe with a population of 15 million
• It bridges the continents of Europe and Asia, with parts of the city on either side of the Bosporus Strait.
• Turkey is famous for its carpets, baths, textiles, ceramic tiles, tea and coffee, and a visitor will get a generous sampling of all.
• It is illegal to photograph Turkish military installations, hardware or personnel.

In the Know:

• Nazar Boncugu is a round bead in the shape of an eye made from blue glass with a hole in the middle.  Nazar means “evil eye” in Turkish.  Turks believe it will protect them from nazar powers.
• Tipping in restaurants is optional.
• It is impolite to refuse the offer of a drink when in a person’s home or place of work.
• It is impolite to blow your nose in public and do not show the soles of your feet when sitting.

Last Minute Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is in two days and if you are hosting a dinner and have just realized the little time you have to plan, never fear!  The Vibe Agency is here to give you a few quick tips to add to your festive dinner.

Each year on the fourth Thursday of November, Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day.  It is a time for families, friends and relatives to gather for a grand dinner and give thanks for all of their blessings.  

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast which is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies.   

Here are some last minute ideas:

  

Thanksgiving should reflect elegance.  Show off your style by adding arts and crafts to your table.  Print out these place cards and add a rustic touch by cutting slits into wine corks and wedging the place card into place.

For center pieces think autumn colors; orange, yellow, and brown.  Use whatever orange vegetables or fruits you can find; pumpkins, carrots, persimmons, oranges etc. Use a basket to hold fruits and veggies then add pinecones to complete rustic look.  Combine all elements and play with arrangement until you find the perfect fit for your center piece.  Add pumkin colored candles into a clear candle holder and place around your center piece.

         

Fast recipes:

Corn Bread Stuffing with Shrimp and Andouille

 50 Ways to make mashed potatoes!

Best wishes and a Happy Thanksgiving to all of our clients, friends and readers.

How Do You Make Staffers Feel Appreciated—at Little or No Cost?

Following our previous post, ” Holiday Party? Do Not Forget Your Hard Workers This Holiday Season,” we recieved several requests for ideas under $5,000. 

As I researched ideas over the weekend I found a great article to include on our blog full of small incentives and rewards for staff members.

The workforce is usually a second home for many, which also creates a family enviornment.  Remind your staff that your company appreciates their hard work and dedication.  Read on for more ideas in this great article:

ASK BIZBASH   11.16.09 9:00 AM
How Do You Make Staffers Feel Appreciated—at Little or No Cost?

In a year of cutbacks and salary freezes, perhaps now more than ever, hard-working employees need to feel valued, even in small ways. Jennifer Savica, TD Bank’s vice president of event management, rewards her staff with little perks throughout the year, like taking everyone out for ice cream in the summer, treating people to their favorite drinks at Starbucks on a cold day, and occasionally allowing casual Fridays. “I try to show appreciation for my team every day by creating a true democracy—asking their opinions, including them in many of the department decisions, and empowering them to do their job,” she says.

Boston Beer Company has a gift policy that prevents employees from keeping items valued over $10 given to them by clients and event sponsors. “If someone gets something over that amount, we raffle it off to the office as a thank you,” says Kristen Smith, the company’s travel and event planner. Past items have included tickets to charity events the company has sponsored, movie screenings, and Red Sox tickets. “It’s nice to raffle these things off and make them available to anyone—and at no cost to the company,” says Smith.

Miami is Waiting for You

The VIBE agency, in partnership with the Morgan’s Hotel Group, has created a special discount package for your next affair.

Come and experience Miami’s dashing nightlife and trendy accomodations for your upcoming group event.

Interested in an incentive program for your hard workers?

Contact our office for special offers.

Holiday Party? Do Not Forget Your Hard Workers This Holiday Season

As the holidays approach us, the workforce is in a constant tug-of-war about holiday parties.  With the huge layoff population, workers are feeling the pressure of more responsibilities.  Employees are working harder than ever to compensate for the shortage of staff and adjusting to the work overload.

As of today, holiday parties are a concern for major corporations as they decide whether or not to discuss openly  holiday party plans with the general public.  Businesses are also facing decisions as to have a holiday party or not  according to this article at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33841832/ns/business-retail//. 

 It is important, now more than ever, to show appreciation to those who have committed to your company.  Let us bring your next holiday event to life by creating a memorable party with a meaning of true holiday spirit.  Allow us to remove the stress of detailed planning from your busy hectic schedule.  Our team is ready to deliver satisfactory ideas with special attention to the clients needs.

 Whether working on a large or small budget, let us propose alternatives to tailor your requests.  We focus on sophistication and chic style on any scale to ensure professional service and outcome.

 As our gift, the VIBE agency would like to offer all of our clients, friends, and readers a 10 percent discount on any event $5,000 and up. 

When making memorable and meaningful holiday events, contact Valerie Bihet at 1.305.695.7798 or valerie@thevibeagency.com  and mention this promotion for 10% off any holiday event of $5,000 or more. 

 

Stay tuned for tips  for this holiday season as we post some unforgettable ideas!

96 Hours in Miami

The VIBE agency is grateful to have been very busy during the month of October.   

From Oct. 19 – 22, the VIBE agency put together a familiarization trip for agencies arriving from France.  The purpose of a “Fam trip” is for journalists, tour operators and travel agents to discover or rediscover a destination and everything it has to offer for their future clients. 

 Miami, the “Magic City”, is a popular destination for tourists worldwide.  In a city with a vibrant diverse culture and tropical weather year-round, Miami can be as steamy as a sauna room. Our clients got to experience the best this great city has to offer during a four day stay. 

 DAY 1

 Upon arrival, guests were greeted by Valerie Bihet, VIBE Director, and Judith Patron, Director of Sales from the Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, and were transferred in a Sprinter minibus to the Standard Hotel for a welcome cocktail.  Soon after, our clients checked-in to one of two hotels, the Fontainebleau and the Ritz-Carlton South Beach.  The Fontainebleau recently remodeled its look and expanded with renovations estimating at $1 billion.  With 1,504 rooms and suites, 22 oceanfront acres, 11 restaurants and nightclubs, 40,000-square-foot spa, and 107,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, this hotel has developed a new meaning for indulgence. 

 The Ritz-Carlton South Beach brings together sophistication and impeccable service in Miami’s most famous beach community. “It is the only oceanfront restaurant on South Beach and the newest Happy Hour gathering spot with exotic Hookahs and flavored tobaccos Chef de Cuisine Jeff McInnis procured during travels to Egypt,” as quoted by their website.  The hotel includes 375 rooms and has great spaces for events offering 20,000 square feet of meeting and banquet facilities, an executive boardroom for up to 14 guests, extensive outdoor function space, a business center, audio-visual equipment, high-speed Internet access and themed entertainment.

 The evening began with a cocktail and Mojito demonstration from a bartender of the Ritz-Carlton South Beach. The hotel also offers room service “make-it-yourself” Mojitos as an amenity.  All of the ingredients and recipe are delivered to your room for you to create your very own Mojito. 

20 Costume Theme Ideas for Groups this Halloween

Thinking of a theme for a group of friends this Halloween?  Well, we did some research and found some really cool ideas to share with our readers.  If you are ordering your costumes, make sure to read your delivery options!  Feel free to comment and leave more ideas.

1. The Flintstones

2. The Spice Girls

3. The Adams Family

4. The Sopranos

5. Kate and John Gosslein

6. Harry Potter and cast

7. Star Trek cast

8. The Brady Bunch

9. Playboy Bunnies and Hugh Hefner

10. 300 – Greek Goddesses and Lords

The VIBE in Paris; My Hometown

The VIBE agency visits Paris three times a year to reconnect with previous clients and develop new contacts.  Of course, during my stay I have the pleasure of visiting my family and friends.  Nothing has changed; it’s always an amazing city.    My agenda consists of a very detailed “road show” where I visit agency after agency consecutively to network and promote the VIBE agency.  My stay in Paris is limited and time is always of the essence.  In order to be more efficient, I planned my schedule and opt to take a taxi-moto as transportation.  What an amazing experience to avoid traffic!  It allowed me to plan twice as many meetings during my stay. 

I had the pleasure to meet FranckyLirus, my taxi-moto driver, and I would like to thank him for his professionalism. 

Francky’s company started in 2002 as one of the first in the market.  He is committed to you and your schedule. His bike is the limousine of the moto and is very safe, comfortable, and convenient.  He is a very experienced driver and provides all equipment necessary; helmet, gloves, coat, etc.  Lirus may be contacted at contact@lirus.fr or you can visit his website at www.lirus.fr. 

As an event planner, I thought this was an awesome idea as an option for transportation.  So think about this: a new way to commute in Paris or in other cities.   This is a great idea for special events or for a quick tour of Paris while you choose your itinerary.  It can be an option for a small group up to 10 pax.  

It was a speedy and productive ride!

You can watch my videos at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSkst_hCPeA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pcAdG0GT1E

 

I would also like to send a special thank you to the following people who took time to meet with us.  We appreciate your time.

Justine, Christine, Patricia, Carole, Herve, Alexandra, Xavier, Catherine, Pauline, Aziz, Audrey, Jennifer, Delphine, Christian, Anouska, Mattheu, Chantal, Nathalie, Sebastien, Clara, Thierry, Brigitte, Isabelle, Nelly, Melanie, Charlotte, Yvan, Pauline, Michel, Bruce, Camille, Solene, Muriel, Sabine, Noelle, Valerie, Judith, Sophie, Blandine, Auriane, Jean Francois, Laetitia, Anne, Laurent, Lie-Wan, Catherine,  Adrienne, Edwige, Veronique, Kathia, Nicole, Patricia, Jennifer, Laure, Corinne, Marie-Pierre, Dominique, Sylvie, Pascale,  and Augustina.

National Boss’s Day

Here is a holiday that workers love to celebrate; National Boss’s Day!  This day is reserved on Oct. 16 of every year to show appreciation to a boss, manager or supervisor.  Most people do not realize the challenges a boss faces on a day-to-day bases.  Sure boss’s can be pushy, dominating, controlling, anal and so on, but a boss can also be inspirational and encouraging.  

The VIBE agency would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to our amazing boss, Valerie Bihet.  Bihet can only be described as a blast of energy with the brightest ideas and amazing talent.  Always on the go and an agenda full of commitments, she always manages to smile and get the job done graciously.  We admire her pledge to her clients, family and co-workers.

This is a great day to treat your boss to a special lunch, a gift basket, flowers, or just give them a note of thanks.  If you really want to show your boss how much you appreciate them, be sure to pay attention to what they enjoy and incorporate it into your gift.  The staff can also take the boss out to lunch or have an office luncheon.  This day allows for team building and enhancement of the boss and staff.

To all great boss’s out there, we hope you enjoy your day!

How to Throw a Chocolate Themed Party

For your next gathering why not plan a theme around chocolate?  To get started you will need to decide what type of invitation you will use.  Depending on your budget, you can opt for personalized chocolate wrapper invites or you can pick an invitation with a color scheme including brown.  Spray your invitations lightly with a chocolate scented perfume such as Demeter’s Brownie. If you enjoy arts and crafts, why not create your own invitation using chocolate themed stickers,stamps, or pictures?  Or you can bake some goodies to be delivered and attach a note including all details of the gathering and some fun facts about chocolate. 

Some interesting facts about chocolate include:

• Chocolate melts just below your body temperature, so it melts in your mouth.
• When eaten in moderation, chocolate promotes healthy cardio functions, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
• Chocolate provides skin benefits and is a natural sexual stimulant!

Decorate with chocolate scented candles to create an arousing atmosphere.  Use napkins, plates, and cups with color schemes such as chocolate with pink, aqua, green or pale blue; or any color of the rainbow. 

There are so many recipes available for this chocolate occasion.  I recommend looking online for different ideas.  Some favorites include brownies, chocolate mousse, chocolate pudding, chocolate cake or cupcakes, chocolate cheesecake, chocolate fondue with fresh fruit, chocolate covered strawberries, and chocolate sorbet with fresh berries.

 

As always, I recommend a signature drink for the occasion.  There are tons of great chocolate martinis but my favorite is the Lady Godiva Chocolate Martini, you can find the recipe at martiniart.com.

Rent a chocolate fountain for an elegant touch, (not recommended if children will be present.) 

Important note:  If you spill chocolate on clothing, simply use rubbing alcohol to remove the spot.

Activities can include a chocolate fondue tasting with fruits, bread, candy, and marshmallows.  Be sure to try milk chocolate, dark chocolate and white choclate during you’re your fondue session.  Also, you can fill a jar with chocolate candies (i.e. m & m’s, Hersey’s kisses) and allow the guests to guess how many there are.   If there is time, you can include one of these top chocolate cinemas:

• Lezioni Di Cioccolato (Chocolate Lessons, 2007, Luca Argentero. Hassani Shapi)
• Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971 original with Gene Wilder)
• Como Agua Para Chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate, 1992, Marco Leonardi, Lumi Cavazos)
• Chocolat (2000 version, Juliette Binoche, Alfred Molina, Judy Dench, Johnny Depp)
• Milton Hershey: The Chocolate King (2004 A&E documentary)
• Merci Pour le Chocolat (Thanks for the Chocolate, 2000, Isabelle Huppert)
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005 remake with Johnny Depp)
• Or my personal favorite : “Chocolate Factory” episode of “I Love Lucy”. It’s available on the season 2 DVD with the official title of “Job Switching”.

Do not forget party favors!  My favorites are:

• Sweet Beauty Organic Chocolate Spa Treatment by Lisa Françoise

• Chocolate Cookbook
• Hot Cocoa Gift Bag .