V!BE Destination of the Month: London Cont’…..

With London taking the world stage for the Olympics this summer, we can help but think about what else there might be to do in London while you’re there.  There is a plethora of history and interesting tours and attractions to visit that are off the beaten path.  In fact, working with our travel partner in Europe, we’ve developed quite a portfolio of different sites that may interest you or your group.  Take a peek here, we’ve highlighted three that might tickle your fancy.  If these don’t, take a moment and reach out to us at valerie@thevibeagency.com  We have many, many more.

Also, if you’re still dying to take your group to London this summer but can’t find a hotel, have you considered Paris?  It’s only 2.5 hours away from London by Eurostar and would expand your trip to two amazing cities.  Don’t hesitate to contact us; we have itineraries, the network and the right properties that might be just perfect for you and your group.

TOWER OF LONDON AND CROWN JEWELS

 

A keep, a prison and still a fortress, the Tower has served as a palace, place of execution and in its time has housed the Royal Mint, the Royal Observatory, the Royal Menagerie and the Public Records. Now it is famous for the Bloody Tower, Traitors Gate, the Ravens, the Yeoman Warders and of course the Crown Jewels including the First Star of Africa, one of the biggest diamonds in the world.

Although they have been displayed in a number of different locations within the  Tower,  in  1994  the Jewels were rehoused in a magnificent new treasury within the Waterloo Barracks.   Guests enter the Jewel House through the impressive Hall of Monarchs.   This room displays a royal crest, representing every British monarch dating back to that of William the Conqueror.

EXCLUSIVE  BACKSTAGE  TOUR  OF  THE  ROYAL  OPERA  HOUSE

 

The Royal Opera House is the third theatre on the Covent Garden site. Its history began in 1728 when John Rich, actor/manager at  Lincoln’s  Inn  Fields, commissioned  The  Beggar’s  Opera  from  John  Gay. The success of  the  venture  provided  the  capital  for  the  first  Theatre  Royal  at  Covent  Garden, designed by Edward Shepherd. The first serious musical works to be heard at Covent Garden were the operas of Handel.

Covent Garden  (as it is popularly known) is  now  the  home  of  the  Royal  Ballet  and  Royal  Opera,  both considered  to  be  among  the  very  top  companies  in  the  world.     After a more than £250 million refurbishment with the rebuilding of  the  Floral  Hall,  it  finally  reopened  after  two  and  a  half  years closure in December of 1999.

The private tour will include an introduction to the history of the opera house and a look at aspects of current productions.   There will also be, schedule permitting, an opportunity to see The Royal Ballet in class. Unlike other tours and by special arrangement, one will be able to see the magnificent backstage technology in operation and view the Royal Box.

WESTMINSTER ABBEY

 

An architectural masterpiece of the 13th to 16th centuries, Westminster Abbey also presents a unique pageant of British history  – the shrine of St Edward the Confessor, the tombs of kings and queens, and countless memorials to the famous and the great. It has been the setting for every Coronation since 1066 and for numerous other royal occasions.  Today it is still a church dedicated to regular worship and to the celebration of great events in the life of the nation.  Neither a cathedral nor a parish church, Westminster Abbey is a “Royal Peculiar” under the jurisdiction of a Dean and Chapter, subject only to the Sovereign.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VIBE Event Spotlight: The Fragrance, The Food & The Fun

Recently, one of our clients, a distribution company in the luxury goods market, was looking to entertain a small group of their clients during a duty free convention in Orlando. They wanted to do something different and more interactive, something that was unusual.  We delivered a food and beverage event that was uniquely branded which provided an experience and connected and engaged the guests during the evening.  The interaction level has never been higher and guests had a great time.

We designed and implemented an interactive cocktail event at the Waldorf Astoria.  Held in one of the hotel’s private bars, we organized the guests into teams and created a mixology contest to entertain the guests.  Each team was assigned a fragrance tied to the client’s brand, and each of the teams had to create a drink that linked back to the specific fragrance and also the overall brand.

The enthusiasm ran at a high level since this was something the guests had not experienced before for a reception AND they got to create their own drinks.  At the end, (with lots of taste testing while creating), the guests voted on the best cocktail that represented their product.

Now clever drinks wasn’t all there was to the event.  Every hors d’ oeuvre was result of the creative mind of Francis Metais, Director of Food and Beverage at the Waldorf Astoria (an old friend and colleague from my Disneyland Paris days) around specific fragrances and the ingredients that make up the fragrance and served as accompaniments for the various drinks.  Guests could sample all or stay with their favorites.  Sample delicacies included Iced eggshells with tomatoes and spices for Giorgio Armani or for Diesel, Mandarin Lemon Chicken poached in butter and finished with Cedar Flour and Lemon Polenta. For Viktor Rolf it was Buttered Caramels with Bergamot and Cinnamon with Pink Pepper Flakes.   The combinations were all extraordinary and delicious and directly representative of the different fragrances they were paired with.

The client wanted an extraordinary experience that spoke directly to their brands and created an interactive setting for their guests.  We gave them exactly what they asked for.