Getting FAM with Miami!

At The VIBE Agency,  we are always grateful to be busy and there’s so much that we’ve missed out on telling you about.  We thought we’d rectify that and are going to catch you up on some of what we’ve been doing lately.

One of the things we’ve been up to is doing quite a few FAM trips for clients looking at Miami as a destination for their meetings, conferences and incentive trips.  A lot of thought and detail goes into each client that comes to consider The VIBE Agency and out wonderful city of Miami!

The VIBE agency put together a FAM trip for agencies arriving from France.  If you are not FAMiliar with the term, the purpose of a FAM trip is for journalists, tour operators or travel agents to discover or rediscover a destination and familiarize themselves with 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 in the summertime and a pleasant respite in the colder months of the year. Our clients got to experience the best this great city has to offer during their four day stay.

Arrival Day:

Upon arrival, guests were greeted by Valerie Bihet, VIBE Director, and Judith Patron 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 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 South Beach brings together sophistication and impeccable service in Miami’s most famous beach community.

The evening began with a cocktail and Mojito demonstration from a bartender of the Ritz South Beach. Clients were then escorted to Espanola Way, a historic Spanish village located in the Art Deco District of South Beach.  With architecture dating back to the 1920s, the area was considered a meeting place for the wealthy.  Today, it is filled with restaurants, music, shops and art.  Dinner was served at Café Nuvo, a restaurant known for its ambiance, perfected Mojitos and great food.

Day Two:

Day two began at sunrise, on the beach with a personal trainer who conducted a cardio/yoga session.  Breakfast was served at the Fontainebleau followed by a site inspection. Afterward, guests also got to experience an amazing Art Deco Tour by our great friend, Charles J. Kropke from Dragon Fly, on Miami Beach.  The tour consisted of visiting several infamous locations including the Art Deco Museum, Casa Casuarina (Gianni Versace’s House), Old City Hall, Miami Beach Post Office and Art Deco Hotels. At the end of the tour, the group visited the W South Beach hotel for lunch a la Carte.  Our clients were welcomed at a penthouse of the hotel for an amazing lunch with impeccable views of Miami.

Following lunch, our clients enjoyed shopping at the Dadeland Mall, a Miami trademark located in Kendall.  The mall includes Florida’s largest Macy’s as well as Macy’s Home Gallery & Kids, J.C. Penney, Saks Fifth Avenue, The Limited, Nordstrom and our European clients favorite store Abercrombie & Fitch.  The main entrance of the mall was featured in the 1985 Chuck Norris film “Invasion USA” and was featured in the 1990 Alec Baldwin film “Miami Blues”.  The mall is easily accessible by Miami Metrorail.

Dinner took place at the Viceroy hotel, a glamor-infused Miami resort and set with-in the ten acre Icon Brickell enclave.  The delicious menu is full of nutritional and organic foods. Guests toured the hotel, and the amazing spas and garden.  The Morgan group then hosted dancing and partying time at the Florida Ballroom at the Delano Hotel.

Day Three:

Day three began with breakfast at the Mondrian South Beach hotel and a site inspection.  Located in Biscayne Bay, its minutes from the hustle and bustle of South Beach with breathtaking view of the ocean.  Features include Asia de Cuba, a five-star restaurant; Agua, our 4000’ spa featuring wet and dry treatment rooms; and a fully-equipped gym over looking the bay.

The day continued with a one-hour ride on a yacht to Bayside courtesy of the Marina of Mandarin’s Biscayne Lady.  Afterward, we sped things up on a sightseeing power boat tour.  Lunch followed with a Mediterranean menu catered by the Mandarin Oriental.  The hotel exhales Asian serenity and is popular for their soothing spa.  The hotel can accommodate large scale events with more than 15,000 sq. ft. (1,394 square meters) of flexible meeting space – a grand ballroom for 600, boardroom, 15 breakout rooms, business center and an oversized terrace it offers great space for events.. The grand ballroom has excellent sound systems which are complimentary and include a podium microphone. The built in projection screens provide a sleek and elegant design plus High Definition TV capabilities.

The Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States.  “It has been designated a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, and Wetland of International Importance, significant to all people of the world,” states the National Park Service.  From alligators to pythons, guests experienced an educated tour with Mother Nature.

As an early surprise, we treated our guests to a Pre-Halloween Spooktacular Tour where each client received a masquerade mask and black rose as a souvenir.  Dinner was served at Wish, notably one of the “50 best restaurants in the world,” as stated by Condé Nast Traveler.

Departure Day:

The last day was sizzled with a The Cuban Heritage Tour, also done by Kropke from Dragon Fly Tours.  Guided through areas such as Little Havana and connecting neighborhoods you can feel and experience the ambiance of the Cuban heritage so prevalent in Miami.

Lunch and a site inspection was held at the Four Seasons Hotel, a 5 five star hotel located in Brickell, Miami.

Filled with the sights, sounds and feel of Miami, guests departed back to Miami International Airports for their flights home.  We’d armed them with a lot of information and exciting ideas for what they could offer their groups coming to Miami.  We can’t wait to welcome them back!

For more information  or a customized FAM trip for YOUR group, please contact valerie@thevibeagency.com

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.