The Grand Opening of The Cove at Atlantis, Bahamas
When Kerzner International sought to open their new upscale property, The Cove, at The Atlantis Resort in Paradise Island, Bahamas, they turned to Colin Cowie Lifestyle to ensure that the weekend worth of events were designed and run to perfection. Colin Cowie turned to Empire Entertainment to ensure that all of the talent was presented to their high standards of excellence! The extended weekend's festivities included a birthday party for Stevie Wonder on Thursday night, a Kai Milla poolside fashion show on Friday, a party featuring a concert performance by Janet Jackson (complete with Grucci fireworks spectacular) poolside on Friday night, and a seventies-themed finale bash in the Atlantis's newly built Ballroom on Saturday night. Empire was responsible for overseeing all aspects of talent coordination, logistics and audio sound production / stage management for all of the events.
Thursday nights' concert honoring Stevie Wonder's birthday involved coordinating many incredible artists, designing the production, running the show, and ensuring that sound was absolutely perfect in the newly-opened Mesa Grill. Plenty of artists were on hand to serenade and perform with Stevie Wonder for his birthday. The Rickey Minor Band from American Idol backed several artists including Joss Stone, John Legend, Nancy Wilson, Mos Def, India.Arie, and many others.
The Friday night party event was set around the new Aquaventure poolside at the foot of the Cove. Guests were greeted with Tequila shots being poured by The Screaming Queens from inside tables where they were costumed as lavish nautical creatures. Members of Body Cast posed as additional aquatic themed, body painted eye candy, as guests listened to the musical stylings of the very glamorous DJ, Donna D'Cruz. The event built up to when a fireworks cue drew everyone's attention to the enormous main stage set in the pool and the surprise reveal of Janet Jackson who came out and delivered an amazing 25 minute concert of her greatest hits. On cue, at the completion of her set, an impressive fireworks display by Grucci began and wowed everyone on Paradise Island!
Empire was responsible for advancing all of Janet Jackson's production and two-week-long rehearsal, cuing all talent throughout the event, coordinating the sound and the commencing of the fireworks display, and running all of the sound and entertainment for the party.Saturday night's finalé was an over-the-top, 1970's themed party complete with afro wigs, platform shoes, and even Saturday Night Fever's John Travolta on the dance floor! Following a walk-in and dinner music set by DJ Ravi Drums, the 2000 guests were treated to a truly seventies line-up of entertainment that kicked off with Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and his band performing several Aerosmith and classic rock hits. They were followed by The Village People performing their three well-known seventies hits, Macho Man, In The Navy and YMCA. Earth, Wind & Fire performed next and had everyone dancing and were joined onstage by guest musicians including Stevie Wonder. DJ Donna D'Cruz closed the night keeping the seventies hits coming from her custom DJ booth. Empire was responsible for all of talent coordination & logistics, audio production and stage management of the show.
The celebrity attendees at the weekend of events included Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, John Travolta, Steven Tyler, Lindsay Lohan, Jeremy Piven, Tyra Banks, Kanye West, Ashanti, Bo Derek, Chrius Tucker, Quincy Jones, Janet Jackson, Spike Lee, Usher, Liv Tyler, and many, many others. For this challenging International project, Empire was honored to join the Colin Cowie team and to provide all talent and logistical coordination, stage production management, stage management and onsite calling of the shows.
Empire Entertainment is a world leader in the quality management and precision execution of entertainment events throughout the world and is well versed in catering to high
Guests received their first taste of technological innovation at registration, where they were welcomed by name on a reactive LED screen installation covering the full width of the entry wall. A large lunch café was created with a décor scheme that incorporated custom-built, ceiling-high steel LED frames draped with foliage to create smaller, intimate restaurant-style spaces that displayed both technology and nature.
A series of breakout sessions presented content targeted to attendees’ varied interests, while imagery displayed throughout the venue showcased real-life applications of how products designed to empower developers help to unleash the power of data and reimagine possibilities that will improve our world.
Every element of Microsoft Connect(); from registration, breakfast and keynote, to lunch and evening cocktails, were custom-designed to communicate exacting brand messaging and to deliver a high-touch guest experience to this important audience. The keynote and breakout sessions were livestreamed through an onsite studio built for this purpose and content was watched online by millions around the world.
Empire is proud to collaborate with Microsoft on this annual, top-tier business communication event.
To view excerpts of Connect(); 2017, please visit https://www.microsoft.com/connectevent
