CMS "Get-Together" Reception at the IBA
TheInternational Bar Association held its annual conference in Washington, D.C.this year. CMS, a law firm located in Frankfurt, Germany, contracted Empire’sNew York City office to produce the reception they host each year on the firstday of IBA conference. CMS had engaged Empire’s Tokyo office to produce thissame event for them in Tokyo the prior year.
Empire’s WashingtonDC-based Senior Producer toured the city with CMS to find a perfect venue, a classicvenue representing both Washington D.C. and the United States. We chose theOrganization of the American States, one of the oldest and most beautiful buildingsin Washington right off the National Mall with views to the Ellipse and the WhiteHouse front Lawn. Typically this is invitation-only, stand up reception hosts 500guests. This year’s rolling reception counted nearly 800 throughout the eveningwith guests from all over the world.
Producinglarge scale events in historic venues in Washington DC bring a host ofchallenges including care for the landmarked facilities, scrupulous observanceof rules and high levels of security. Empire successfully navigated thesechallenges including implementing a staged arrival of busses to facilitate asmooth and efficient electronic check-in and security sweep.
Guestswere directed upstairs to the ballroom where a local jazz band played as guestsenjoyed bountiful buffets a huge center bar. An outside bar under the lights allowedguests to view the historic courtyard at OAS.
Empireworked with CMS to carefully choose the menu offering classic American foodwith many flavors from the Mid-Atlantic region. All food was served in elegant,bite sizes so the international crowd had the opportunity to taste severaloptions of American cuisine. We also featured local beer and Californian wine,serving American flavors.
Empire’sworldwide network of offices and producers facilitate our providing seamlessservice to top tier clients throughout the world including cultural financialand political capitals like New York, Tokyo and Washington DC.
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
