A Fortune 500 Company Retreat in Banff
InJuly 2017, Empire was called upon to recommend and contract some of the mostinteresting keynote speakers in the world for a Fortune 500 company’s annualincentive and retreat program in spectacular Banff, Canada. The client collaboratedwith Empire to arrange a lineup that would wow their leading employees. Day one of the conference featured a moderatedconversation and debate with David Axelrod (the Chief Strategist for PresidentObama’s campaigns) and conservative commentator and syndicated columnist, Dr.Charles Krauthammer. The two men sharedtheir views on the current political and economic climate, with both providingtremendous insight and humor throughout the discussion.
The second day kicked off with asurprisingly emotional keynote from Dr. Robert Gates, whoserved as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011. Dr. Gates teared up when talking about howdifficult it was for him to send young American soldiers into battle in Iraqand Afghanistan, and allowed the attendees a look inside his thinking while heserved under Presidents George W. Bush and Obama.
Immediately following Dr. Gates, Empire presented BrianMuirhead, the current Chief Engineer for the NASA Engineering and SafetyCenter. Brian’s discussion of the Marsmissions he has been involved with fascinated the attendees before they headedout for their afternoon activities.
The final speaker was J.R.Martinez, the wounded U.S. Army Veteran best known for winning season 13 ofABC’s “Dancing With The Stars”. Martinez’s message of never letting obstacles stand in your way andalways looking for new peaks to climb left the audience on a high note on theirfinal day in Banff.
For the evening events, the client asked Empire to suggestthe ideal concert performer for a beautiful outdoor amphitheater surrounded bythe Canadian Rockies. After muchdiscussion, it was agreed that Grammy-winners Train would fit the bill, andthey didn’t disappoint. Performing showson two consecutive evenings, the band played hits including 2001’s Grammywinner for Best Song, “Drops of Jupiter” as well as their most recent smash“Play That Song” (and all of their hits in between such as “Hey Soul Sister”,“Drive By” “Meet Virginia”, “Marry Me”, “50 Ways to Say Goodbye”, and “Save MeSan Francisco”). And the crowd also wasthrilled with the band’s choice of covers which included “Ramble On”, “UnderPressure”, and especially “Don’t Stop Believing”, during which lead singer PatMonahan invited a couple of attendees onstage to sing along.
Empire is proud of our track record in securing many of theworld’s leading speakers and performing artists for special events in Canadaand other international destinations.
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
