The World Is Our Playground

Even though The V!be Agency is a Miami based event planning company, we work all over the world.  Last week found us in Japan and Arizona.  Yes, the destinations are a world apart, but they both had one thing in common.  They had the V!be Agency at the helm of their events.

 How do we do it?  We have a strategic network of partner suppliers, vendors and event specialists all over the world.  We love to collaborate and team up with other reliable and high quality industry leaders. Being a part of an event community is one of the things that we appreciate about being involved in the MICE industry.  Trust us when we say it never gets boring.  In fact, working all over the world keeps us excited and on the forefront of new trends and emerging technologies.  Another benefit of being so closely aligned with a network of international and domestic event specialists is that it allows us to produce events with affordable pricing and local talent all over the world.  In exchange, our clients have and expert event professional producing their events that they know will provide them with the same quality and expertise they get in their own backyard.  The world really IS our playground!

We love to let you in on the creative events that we produce, so this week, we thought we would start here at home and give you a taste of the Wild, Wild West party that we produced in Arizona for a longtime client.  We met them in Miami and now we go where they go.  This time, they had been at a conference all week, and one of the evenings they wanted to invite their top clients to the Canyon Creek Ranch outside of Phoenix and show them some true western style hospitality.

 

Guests were picked up from their hotels and bussed to the sprawling ranch nestled at the foothills of the Bradshaw Mountains. Canyon Creek Ranch has access to over 400,000 rugged acres of land in the Agua Fria National Monument.

The evening featured authentic cowboy games, private skeet shooting, world famous horseback rides, and a variety of unique experiences.

Guests dined from buffets laden with great western styled BBQ!  It was simply delish!

The best part of the evening was that we delivered exactly what our client was looking for:  A true western experience that allowed them to spend some quality time with their top clients.

Our client trusts us, and we travel with them wherever they go with their event each year.   They said it best after the event when they sent us this thank you note.

“The venue was wonderful. Our 75 guests were thoroughly entertained with good food and good music. It was the exact result we were seeking! Thank you Vibe Agency for putting it all together for us!”

 

Are you looking for a partner that works with you no matter where you go in the world?  We manage destinations all over the United States, Europe, The Dominican Republic and many more.  Please take a moment to check out our website at www.thevibeagency.com and look through some of our other creative events we’ve designed and produced for our clients.  Then reach out to us at valerie@thevibeagency.com and let us know how we can help you plan your events!  Whether you are looking for a business meeting, hospitality event, award show, product launch or just a special evening for some of your best friends or clients, we are here to help you make the planning process easy and provide you with a special event that will show you, and your guests a great time!

*This blog does not accept any form of advertising, sponsorship, or paid insertions. We write for our own purposes. However, we may be influenced by our background, occupation, religion, political affiliation or experience.

**The owner(s) of this blog is not compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider.

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.

VIBE Event Spotlight: Incentive Trip: Monhonk, New York

This year for an incentive trip for a confidential cosmetics company, we designed a trip program that showed off all that the state of New York had to offer.  This trip was a blend of the beautiful countryside skiing mixed with the excitement and glamour of the Big Apple.

On the first day, we stopped in bustling Manhattan for a scavenger hunt complete with a stop to one of their stores.  Lots of photos throughout the city and stops at the landmark sites made this day a lot of fun.  At the end of the day it was time to head to the country and we loaded up the coaches and headed to Mohonk Mountain House.  If you’ve never been there, you’ll want to take a peek at www.mohonk.com  It is a hidden treasure.  Don’t expect televisions in the rooms, it’s all about rest, rejuvenation and relaxation.  It was perfect for our group.

After checking in to their rooms where they found a welcome gift and letter, everyone met for a group dinner in the hotel and a relaxing evening of camaraderie.  It was the lead-in to the next day, when everyone enjoyed a spa day and relaxed.

That evening, after dinner the group went for a human bowling experience on ice (a ton of fun) and then gathered around a campfire with a guitar player to enjoy the evening finished of with S’mores.  It was a true mountain experience.

The next morning, the group headed to Hunter Mountain where in the morning, beginner skiers took some ski classes and the other more experienced skiers took to the mountain for some great time on the slopes.   After lunch all of the guests went tubing on the mountain.

For the final evening, a quiet dinner and then into a private room with a roaring fire for desserts to review photos of their scavenger trip in Manhattan and to award prizes to the winning team.

Bubbles, Branding & Events

Bubbles, Branding & Events Every now and again here at the VIBE Agency, we like to share cool products on our blog. Today is one of those occasions.

Have you seen these cool video balloons? They are so cool! We have many, many possibilities swirling around in our heads of how we can use these in our events. They are easy to install, and show either high quality video or even live event video. You can use either one or two screens. They can be either air inflated or filled with helium. What a great décor and messaging element that can brand an event in unusual way. They require little manpower and support all video formats. They are anti-fire and come in many different colors and sizes. If that’s not enough, you can use them with animated LED’s as well. Wow!!!!

Take a look at a few of the different ways they can be used. We’re betting that you can think of a few different ways to utilize them in your event designs too. We, think we’re in love! For more information and pricing, please give us a call at 305-798-9738 or email valerie@thevibeagency.com.

*This blog does not accept any form of advertising, sponsorship, or paid insertions. We write for our own purposes. However, we may be influenced by our background, occupation, religion, political affiliation or experience. **The owner(s) of this blog is not compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider.

Holiday Wedding

A parking garage might be the last place you would imagine a lifelong memory like a wedding reception taking place – but with some imaginative creativity, the VIBE Agency transformed the 7^th floor of the 1111 Parking Garage into an unforgettable venue for our newlyweds.

 

Guests arriving by elevator to the seventh floor of the parking structure were welcomed to the reception by hostesses with tray-passed champagne and cocktails.

The stunning transformation was created with a modern, chic yet industrial feel. The décor design was simplistic and elegant with all white – modern, long white couches accentuated with mirror box coffee tables throughout the main area where guests could find a place to sit and interact.

The food was delectable, tingling every taste bud from start to finish.   Food was served via eight beautifully adorned stations including: a truffle station, a sushi station, a Mediterranean station, a roasted pig carving station, a ceviche station and the Prince William Dessert station.  Guests could sit anywhere and savored their meals from long white royal baroque styled tables with clear barstools.

Guests also enjoyed two Ice Luge Shot stations, a molecular dessert station with the latest in delicious dessert offerings and a beautiful three-tier wedding cake!

The bride and groom arrived in style to their reception driving up to the seventh floor of the garage on a white classic Vespa.  Arriving to the center of the dance floor they stepped out off the scooter and danced their first dance as husband and wife to The Smiths, “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.” All eyes were on the couple as they shared the precious moment, swaying back and forth on the shining white dance floor before welcoming all the guests onto the dance floor.  A DJ spun the latest hits as guests danced the night away with glow sticks, masks, hats and boas.

As the hour grew later, guests could go to a changing station and check their shoes in for a comfy pair of personalized flip-flops (for tired feet) and collect a lovely pashmina to ward off the cool Miami breezes.  A fun and fancy photo booth provided entertainment where guests could put on silly accessories and take a picture.  If you weren’t in the mood to take pictures, you could track down the magician who was entertaining guest with his amazing magic tricks all night long.

At midnight, a snack service was provided to keep guests satiated and having fun.  The wedding celebration was distinctive and exactly how the bride and groom envisioned spending the first night of the rest of their lives.  All wedding photos by Chris Joriann.

We’d love to help you make your wedding dreams alive.  Please contact us for further information about creating your perfect wedding at Valerie@thevibeagency.com.

Turning 40 with Fabulosity!!!!

Turning 40 is something that we as women look ahead to, sometimes with dread and anxiety and others with an excitement.  While not exactly excited, I decided to embrace 40…I mean after all, 40 IS the new 30!  I believe in celebrating BIG, and my own birthday was no different.  With 20 of my closest friends coming in from France to celebrate with me, I decided to design an exciting stay for them, complete with tours, fabulous evening events and lots of fun packed in. 

Let me share with you what I did to take my 40^th over the top- maybe you’ll even find some inspiration to celebrate in style for one of your milestone moments!   From invitations to entertainment, the events were unique and avant-garde. In addition, it was all a last minute idea (imagine that with me being an event planner). I had a ton of fun planning a week-long celebration that made me feel like the star of the show!  Oh, wait.  I was! 

 I hope that you will find some great ideas to celebrate one of your very own milestones.  And, if you need help, I know this great planner who has lots of contacts and great ideas that will push YOUR party right over the top. 

 

 Night One:  Villa Mayfair

For 20 closest family and friends only, I took them to Villa Mayfair for an exclusive pre-opening experience.  (Yep, I’ve got connections like that!)  Villa Mayfair is a new restaurant in Miami, and let me tell you it’s fabulous.  You will definitely want to check it out.  The décor is to die for and the food…well scrumptiously delicious would be a perfect way to put it!

Located in the heart of Coconut Grove, Villa Mayfair is South Miami’s most intimate and sophisticated restaurant and lounge.  In a warm atmosphere designed by Francois Frossard, at the crossroad between antique and burlesque, Villa Mayfair offers the best of excellence and elegance.  With a diverse menu of Mediterranean delicacies, the quality of ingredients always takes center stage. Villa Mayfair offers after-dinner bottle service for some of the most exquisite Champagnes and under the sexy beats of renown local DJ’s.

 And, to think, I was just getting started.  I told you, 40 is meant to be over the top, fabulous!

Night Two:  Vita

As you can see by the invite, this evening was going to be sophisticated and sexy and brilliantly artsy (with a touch of elegant risque’).  OH, and did we mention sans husbands?  Yep, just 40 girls out on the town!  Whoohoo!

 The restaurant was unbelievable with a striking and lovely ambience. Modeled after the highly successful Baoli located in Cannes, France.  Vita by Baoli Miami is an upscale restaurant and entertainment establishment with an amazingly exotic atmosphere. The original gastronomic cuisine revealed unforgettable savors that sent us to the moon!

 The entertainment for the evening was deliciously fun.  Check out these pictures of the artist we had onsite painting live – a beautiful canvas, a live model…and my stomach.  Yes, you read right my stomach.  We will welcome a new bébé to our family early next year – and we made sure to include the little one in the party!

 Modeled after the highly successful Baoli located in Cannes, France.  Vita by Baoli Miami is an upscale restaurant and entertainment establishment set in an exotic atmosphere.  It has a unique décor and original gastronomic cuisine that will reveal unforgettable savors for all those seeking to step into another world. 

Night Three:  The Ultimate Beach Party!

A week of fun and celebration HAS to end with a finale and did I ever have one planned for ninety of my friends and family.  We all met at a parking lot in a park where they were greeted by a beautiful table girl in costume and offered a mojito….and then we asked them to sign a waiver (he he).  The adrenaline started to build as they agreed and then were handed a flashlight and a life jacket.  All they knew was that they were going on an adventure… we were going Night Kayaking.

 What a beautiful sight with all the flickering flashlights, people laughing and playing like kids…some even flipped over in their kayaks.  I did it myself (and at 7 months pregnant, it was the fun I was looking for).  After an hour of frolicking and playing, we headed to a beach.  There we had two bonfires set up, along with a dj booth, a dance floor and plenty of food and fun and tables set up for dinner under the beautiful Miami stars. Buffets were laden with barbecue, pastas and salads…light and delicious fare. 

 After dinner, guests were invited to the dance floor by fire dancer performers and they launched the dance party — the DJ was smokin and everybody was dancing under the stars…but we weren’t done yet…  we had a capoeira show with two guys that were even jumping over me  – it was just WOW!

 What would a birthday be without a marvelous cake  – and we had one.  It matched the cake on the invitation. At the end of the evening, we walked back to the parking lot.  Guests were stunned as they didn’t realize that we were really back right where we had started. 

 It really was a night full of adventure and surprise and we even had a party crasher  –  a guy arriving in a zodiac to the party…we invited him right along to celebrate with us!  Guests were raving…even the next morning when we had Hangover Miami – but that’s a story for another time!  We’ll just leave it as – THE MOST ULTIMATE BEACH PARTY EVER!

 Saying Farewell!

 

The morning after the beach party, it was time for all my wonderful friends from France to head home, but before they did, we headed to La Piaggia Beach Club for a private brunch.  And, the food wasn’t the only thing that was delicious there. 

 La Piaggia Beach is a stunning place to sit back and catch a glimpse of beautifully tanned bodies parading in the sun. It is the perfect spot to have an afternoon French-Italian brunch and attracts Miami Beach’s jet set crowd. Our guests relaxed near the water’s edge and took in the bold colors and saltwater swimming pool.

 It was the perfect spot to enjoy some quiet time and relive the fun times of the past week. 

 So HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME…40 only comes once!  I suggest you party like there won’t be a 41.  That’s the way I do everything in life though…with joie de vivre!

VERSATA at The Gartner Symposium/IT Expo 2011

The Gartner Symposium is the industry’s largest and most important annual gathering of CIOs and senior IT leaders. It delivers independent and objective content with the authority and weight of the world’s leading IT research and advisory organization.

 Working with Versata, one of the exhibitors of the convention, we were part of a great event for 2500 guests in Orlando at the House of Blues featuring none other than Bon Jovi.  What a rush! 

 During the convention, the end client, an IT applications company, had a tradeshow exhibit booth.  We kept the concept very simple and only word of mouth was used to let it be known that the client was going to be putting on a huge party at the House of Blues.  They were pulling out all the stops with Cover Girls, Super Diamond and then a Private Concert with John Bon Jovi!  People went absolutely nuts to get their hands on tickets.  There were no invitations sent out, only the word of mouth and it was that word of mouth that gave the client, their most valuable visibility at the conference.

 During the evening, the client gave guests a preview of what was to come in the following year from their company and then the night rocked on.  For the next three days of the tradeshow, people were clamoring at the booth to get more information about the teaser information the night before and pick up a souvenir of the concert, which were goodie bags filled with things like t-shirts, CD’s, House of Blues items, raffle prizes and even shirts that were signed by the artist themselves.  Good thing we had seven beautiful hostesses to help manage the crowd!  It was a super cool tradeshow and an off-the-hook event that left customers talking and excited about the new applications the company would be launching.

 We love working with companies to find strategic and relevant ways to move their products forward, achieve their goals and build a loyal following.

 For information on custom programs for your group, conference, meetings or events, please contact valerie@thevibeagency.com

The YAMAHA PARTS CONVERENCE 2011

For the second year in row, The VIBE Agency provided the event design, event management and production for Yamaha’s 2011 Latin American Distributors Meeting.  This annual conference brought together 70 representatives from most of its 54 markets in Latin, South and Central America and the Caribbean.  (read more)  

 The three-day, two-night conference was a balanced mixture of best-practice sessions, networking, new product presentations and breakout workshops.  It was a time for Yamaha to share what had been happening with the company, future focuses as well as interact with their distributor’s to find out how the parent company could be more efficient and understand distributor needs and barriers they face in their marketplace.

 One of the biggest challenges we had for this meeting this year was planning time.  With a very short lead-time, we had to move fast and create a program that would present an array of options for the group. 

Another challenge was to blend all of the cultures together in one design that worked for the varied cultures in attendance.  Since Yamaha is a Japanese company, we had to do the research to make sure the dos and don’ts are respected for their executives.  One of the many things we did to ensure cultural protocol was to create a separate V.I.P. table in the presentation room, as Japanese culture dictates that executives sit separately. 

 In addition to the business meetings, there were evening events as well.  On arrival at the Doral Marriott, guests enjoyed some free time to settle in.  The next morning, it was time to get down to business followed by a dinner in Miami Beach in a garden with a very South Beach feel.  Lots of red décor touches, motorcycles on the tables and a DJ to dance the night away.  The next day was meeting and we ended the conference with a putting contest for the group with cocktails and passed hors d’ oeuvres. It was a simplistic and fun program and the client loved it!

 One of the things that I feel we did very successfully for this group was to understand their objectives and then ensure that every element of the conference worked interchangeably to meet those goals. In addition, we are so proud that we got more people coming to the event this year than last and our client shared how pleased they were in a thank you note that sent us to the moon. 

 A very special thanks to Ricardo & his team (Ruben, Eric and Caleb) for trusting us and allowing us the opportunity to work with them to create a very successful 2011 Latin America Distributors Conference for Yamaha!

Luxurious Creativity

At The VIBE Agency, we love it when we get to be a part of creating an unexpected solution for a very traditional project.  And, for one of our luxury brand clients, we got to do just that.

The Location: Miami, Florida

The Conference: International Association of Duty Free Stores

Number of Guests:  50-75 invited guests per day for three days

Our Objectives:

• To provide an experience that is very different from the usual approach to the conference.
• To provide a venue that supports the brand and allows for showcasing of product in a “natural environment” that underscores the presenting brand.
• A single space which could be used for business meetings and marketing presentations by day, and casual upscale cocktail events in the evening.

Normally these events all take place in a convention center/convention hotel/tradeshow floor setting and the client didn’t want to do that this year.  They needed to really focus their money where they would get the most bang for their buck.  They also wanted the solution to be discreet and exclusive yet a captivating statement of their brand presence at the conference.

The VIBE Solution:

As event planners we know that solutions are not always found in transforming an ordinary space like a ballroom or sound stage.  Unique venues are readily available that can be utilized to creatively meet the needs of a client. (No, that’s not an epiphany).   These might be an art gallery, a boat, a penthouse, a museum or in this case a mansion.  Put a little effort and creativity into it and there is something more exciting that will underscore the brand style of the client.  We found a beautiful and exclusive mansion that was the perfect vehicle in design both  in interior and exterior architecture that gave us a solid starting point from which to brand the property

We took over the mansion and thoughtfully branded it with high visibility placement of logos and even brand statements that blended with the environment making it seem as if the house were the client’s own.

The décor additions were elegant, understated and minimalistic while accentuating the existing interior design and underscoring the client’s brand.    At VIBE we believe that you can be as powerful with accenting speaks louder than transformation and that was the case in this circumstance.

Along with being able to provide for all their venue objectives, the house had a full media room where the client was able to do high-end marketing presentations.

The evenings hours meant casual cocktail hours around the natural wood decked pool with a beautiful Florida sunset  and a stunning view as the backdrop.

We presented a stellar solution by providing an exclusive property for a very discriminating client.  It was then thoughtfully designed to create a space that spoke strongly to the company’s brand and culture while providing unique opportunities to present their product in an experiential way.

We’d love to hear from you!  If we can be of any assistance to you in helping you design an that fits YOUR brand perfectly,  please contact valerie@thevibeagency.com.

Miami – Don’t Stop Til You Drop!

We’ve busy with a myriad of events the past few weeks.  Today we thought we’d share one of the programs with you!

For a custom program for a  client who invited fifteen of their top international clients to the Winter Music Conference in Miami we put together a trip of fun, memorable experiences, great food and relaxation.   Their main objective was to highlight Miami and all that it has to offer within the winter months.  In addition, the guests were large nightclub owners, so you can imagine their excitement at being in Miami during the Winter Music Conference.

We know designing a winter program in Miami while everyone else is buried knee deep in chilly winter weather is a tough job…but someone’s gotta do it.  *smile* We designed a program filled with more fun than should be legal.  The object was to showcase the best of the best in Miami while providing unexpected and memorable experiences.

Guest arrival and check in at the beautiful Delano Hotel started off the trip.   This urban treat is located in the heart of South Beach and directly on the ocean.  Delano is the ultimate world-class urban resort hotel and self-contained destination. In a completely original manipulation of space that blurs all “normal” distinctions, Delano boasts the first indoor/outdoor lobby, offering a seamless flow between a series of unique environments. Philippe Starck has assembled a stunning international collection of furniture and objects, including works from such renowned artists as Antonio Gaudi, Man Ray, Charles and Ray Eames, Salvador Dali and Mark Newson.  It’s a stunning hotel and a must see when you are in Miami!

Why not start off a fun filled trip with a dine around at some of the most upscale restaurants in Miami.  The Blue Door…Asia d Cuba, Prime 112, and the VITA.  Can you say delicious?  Trust us, it was. And, more importantly the guests thought so too!

The next day we took them off for a few days in Key West in a convoy of convertible cars.  We dropped the tops, let our hair down and enjoyed the beautiful drive down to the Keys.

When the convertible convoy arrived in Key West, we checked them into the Casa Marina hotel.  Built in 1920, Casa Marina, is a flawless merging of old Key West ambiance and contemporary luxury. Immerse yourself in a restful haven where emerald lawns meet a blue Atlantic – welcoming stunning sunrises each day.

It is the “house by the sea” enveloped in breezy elegance and shaded by graceful palms.  Again, if you haven’t been there, it’s a bucket list experience.

That evening, it was off for a sail and then dinner on the beach.   Guests were soaking up every moment of the warm weather and beautiful views.

The next day it was back to Miami for a night of club crawling at some of Miami’s hottest night clubs – Mansion, Mynt, Mokai, Set…all of them.   During the Winter Music Conference there’s a party on every corner and since they were night club owners themselves, they were in their element.  Every year in March, Miami becomes the global platform of electronica music. Any artist or DJ Electro, beginner or advanced, must be in Miami for this explosion of festivals.  And this, to the delight of fans of Electro House, Ambient, Trance and Techno, and our clients were!  It’s a busy time in Miami as nearly 2,000 artists and DJs are invited to perform, approximately 500 journalists from around the world present to cover the event, industry professionals descend upon the city from all over the world.  Professionals are discovering new talent, DJs are trying to make themselves known and the public enjoys.  And, enjoy our guests did!

We’d shown the guests Miami by car, by hotel, by food and entertainment as well as the history and rich Art Deco  District architecture …what better way to add a wow than to showcase the city by air.  And, we did…with a 30 minute helicopter tour of the city.

And, of course what trip to the United States would be complete without some free time to shop…and shop they did.  With a quick trip to the Aventura Mall in Miami Beach!

The next day was departure day, and guests headed to the beach for some rest and relaxation before leaving for Miami International Airport to catch their flights home.

With all the fun that we had, we think we FINALLY wore them out.  Let it not be said that these guests wouldn’t keep going until they dropped.  We barely outlasted them, but we were still standing at the end of this whirlwind, jam packed trip!

Sound fun?  Why not let the VIBE Agency put together a custom program for your next trip to Miami.  Come on…come and party in the sand and the sun.  For more information, please contact valerie@thevibeagency.com.