CMS "Get-Together" Reception at the IBA
The International Bar Association held its annual conference in Washington, D.C. this year. CMS, a law firm located in Frankfurt, Germany, contracted Empire’s New York City office to produce the reception they host each year on the first day of IBA conference. CMS had engaged Empire’s Tokyo office to produce this same event for them in Tokyo the prior year.
Empire’s Washington DC-based Senior Producer toured the city with CMS to find a perfect venue, a classic venue representing both Washington D.C. and the United States. We chose the Organization of the American States, one of the oldest and most beautiful buildings in Washington right off the National Mall with views to the Ellipse and the White House front Lawn. Typically this is invitation-only, stand up reception hosts 500 guests. This year’s rolling reception counted nearly 800 throughout the evening with guests from all over the world.
Producing large-scale events in historic venues in Washington D.C. brings a host of challenges, including care for the landmarked facilities, scrupulous observance of rules, and high levels of security. Empire successfully navigated these challenges including implementing a staged arrival of busses to facilitate a smooth and efficient electronic check-in and security sweep.
Guests were directed upstairs to the ballroom where a local jazz band played as guests enjoyed bountiful buffets a huge center bar. An outside bar under the lights allowed guests to view the historic courtyard at OAS.
Empire worked with CMS to carefully choose the menu offering classic American food with many flavors from the Mid-Atlantic region. All food was served in elegant, bite sizes so the international crowd had the opportunity to taste several options of American cuisine. We also featured local beer and Californian wine, serving American flavors.
Empire’s worldwide network of offices and producers facilitate our providing seamless service to top tier clients throughout the world including cultural financial and political capitals like New York, Tokyo, and Washington D.C..
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
