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WHO: New Zealand Corporate Client
EVENT: Welcome function for annual staff and client incentive programme
HOW MANY: 500 people over three waves
WHERE: Queenstown, New Zealand

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One of our favourite recent events was to create a welcome function for a corporate client who would normally be hosting their multi day incentive internationally.

The concept was to create a Coachella style event in Queenstown.  As the event was taking place in May and temperatures were dropping; the focus of the installations, styling, catering and entertainment was to encourage warmth.

As the events were in three waves with this being the welcome event for all, the venue needed to be an area that we could safely leave the set up in place for 14 days.  Searching through the picturesque Gibbston Valley, we found a large outdoor space set beneath rolling hills,  where we built our festival with large Nordic tipis, staging and food trucks / caravans to create the Coachella festival vibe.

The central area was the stage and dance floor with the back mountains lit up, a huge steam-punk inspired fireplace provided tons of warmth along with lower wood braziers scattered around the seating area with marshmallows and sticks for people to toast.

The tipis had their own “hub” with one housing a large circular bar with mulled wine and especially curated cocktails for the group.  Textured and warm toned lounge furniture was scattered throughout space.  The middle hub was decked out with a large Nordic fireplace, and projection lighting on the top of tipi showing the corporate logo flying across the Remarkables Mountain Range.  This tipi was busy with people wanting to have their face painted showing their “festival personality”.  The final tipi was home to the silent disco – where all sorts of dance moves came out on the floor.  It was just as entertaining for the people watching as for the people taking part!

Throughout the evening interactive entertainment was on offer.  The group arrived to local talent with a folk style duo performing.   Slit walkers kept a “high eye” on the group and served drinks, while our hula hooper got the crowd taking part in their own performance; and as the sun went down the LED lights of the hoops went up.  

A highlight was when the group were welcomed, not only in person by the executive team and MC’s, but also by the talented Sol3 Mio and entertaining Mike Hosking – both beaming in via Hologram.  This part of the event was planned over 5 months and for all involved it was fantastic to finally see it come together on stage.

After the formalities, the evening continued with local DJ’s who gave the evening a Daft Punk vibe, with everyone cutting up the dance floor with their moves.

Throughout the festival guests could enjoy food and beverages from the various food trucks on offer.  From the Champagne Caravan to the beer tasting in the old church along with tucking into fish and chips, the noodle night market, sliders and the caramel filled churros had a constant queue. Working with local vendors enabled us to work together to ensure we created an event with low environmental impact by using biodegradable single use plateware and cutlery, plant based water bottles, glass for all other beverages and composting all food scraps.

Event director, Victoria Wales said “After nine months of planning, it was a proud day to see the vision that was created over a gin and tonic while looking at Pinterest come alive.  To have so many people who I have known for many years say it was the best trip ever fill’s me with joy – as that is what we strive to do each year.”

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