For the 3rd consecutive year, Empire served as The Fragrance Foundation’s producer of the Fragrance industry’s premier event, the Fragrance Foundation Awards.

Held at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, the perfect early summer evening began with guest arrivals and a cocktail reception in Alice Tully Hall’s outdoor sunken plaza and soaring glass atrium. Amidst a series of walls artistically printed with striking images of honeybees, guests mingled and sipped champagne while VIPs walked the red carpet and posed for the press photographers in a separate tent on West 65th Street.

Once seated in Alice Tully Hall, the evening’s host, critically-acclaimed actor, producer and comedian, Alec Baldwin, kicked off the star-studded award program with both humor and elegance.

Notable program participants this year included Hall of Fame winner and Group President of The Estée Lauder Companies, John Demsey, as well as Lifetime Achievement Perfumer, Firmenich Master Perfumer, Annie Buzantian.

Rock singer Bryan Adams graced the audience with a performance of “Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman,” and closed with a spectacular rendition of “Summer of 69.” Guests let out exuberant cheers and left in awe of his fantastic vocals and charismatic stage presence.

This year’s celebrity presenters included Johnny Weir, Jasmine Tookes, Taylor Hill, Prabal Gurung, Hilary Rhoda, Russell James, Sophia Bush, Kendall Jenner, Zachary Quinto, Anja Rubik, Sally Hershberger, Alexandra Richards, Danielle Brooks, Victor Cruz, Kellan Lutz and Emma Willis.

The dinner after party was held in the Alice Tully Hall atrium and outdoor plaza, creating the perfect summer night cocktail experience.

The evening ended with a sweets truck provided by Sweetery NYC distributing aromatic coffee and Fragrance Foundation gift bags filled with luxurious cosmetics and perfume.

The Fragrance Foundation Awards brings together virtually every luxury and consumer brand in the fragrance industry including Estée Lauder, Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford, Burberry, Giorgio Armani, Tory Burch, Marc Jacobs, Victoria’s Secret, Michael Kors, Givenchy, Elizabeth Arden, LVMH, Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Hermes, Lancome, Zegna, Clinique and Gucci among others.

Empire is a leading producer of events and programs for the luxury brand industry, as well as a leading producer of award shows.

Empire congratulates all of the 2015 Fragrance Foundation Award winners.

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After several years of hostinga traditional gala, Petra Nemcova and the Happy Hearts Fund team decided to puta spin on their annual event. In June 2015, they called on Empire to producethe first annual Fight for Education martial arts fight night, presented byGlory (an international kickboxing promotional company) benefiting the HappyHearts Fund. This year’s event focused on helping Nepalese children and schools.

The matches, hosted andcurated by Glory, took place in the renowned Hammerstein Ballroom in New YorkCity. A theme of dramatic black and gold was carried out throughout the spacewith VIP lounge suites, complementary screen graphics, and gold boxing gloves placedthroughout.

The action-packed show waskicked off by internationally-acclaimed tenor James Valenti singing theNational Anthem. After the moving performance, Brian Kilmeade, New York Times bestselling author andhost of Fox New’s Channel’s Fox andFriends, welcomed the crowd and invited Petra to the ring.

After Petra graciouslythanked guests for their attendance, it was time to fight!

Announcer Conor Hall andauctioneer Patrick Tully took turns introducing the action: six bouts offighting and six live auction lots, including a meet and greet with fightingchampion Manny Pacquiao. As a compelling finale to the event, the last boutconsisted of lightweight champion Robin van Roosmalen defeating Steve Moxon.

Continuing the elevated “fightnight” experience, over 300 guests were treated to bar snacks of truffleparmesan dusted popcorn and double toasted pretzel rods and heartier offeringsincluding cowboy style ribeye steaks, Dijon roasted chicken, and sweet potatosteak fries, rounded out by passed desserts for a sweet finish, all catered byAbigail Kirsch.

Empire was proud to be apart of this creative fundraising event and is a leading producer ofnot-for-profit events globally.

To learn more about theHappy Hearts Fund, please visit www.happyheartsfund.org.

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When Toshiba America sought to commemorate the milestone of its 50thanniversary in the United States, they turned to Empire to help them design andexecute the perfect celebration.

Held in the R Lounge of the Renaissance Hotel overlooking both TimesSquare and Toshiba’s massive Toshiba Vision LED billboard, which is viewed by millionsduring the annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop, this intimate event hosted VIP customers and senior Toshiba leadership from across America.

Empire’s knowledge and experience serving Japanese clients through both itsNew York and Tokyo headquarters, along with our familiarity with presentingevents to C-level business audiences made us the perfect partner for thislaunch.

Empire’s design team transformed the R Lounge space into a ToshibaAmerica branded environment. Guests were welcomed by a series of hostesses whogreeted guests, checked them in on Toshiba tablets and led them to aphoto receiving line with senior Toshiba America executives.

Inside the reception, the VIP guests enjoyed premium sake, wine andcocktails and passed delicacies while interacting with displays showcasing thebreadth and scope of Toshiba’s products, including a solar-powered hydrogengenerator which creates clean energy to power homes and businesses. Allof the showcases demonstrated Toshiba’s Leading Innovation under the banner of“Human Smart Community”— a concept that speaks to technological advance whilemaintaining commitment to human values and sustainability.

A 60-second countdown played on Toshiba Vision LED billboard and monitorsthroughout the space indicating it was time for guests to move into the R Loungeoverlooking a busy Times Square at sunset. Cyber Illusionist Marco Tempest tookthe stage as the evening’s emcee and welcomed a series of speakersincluding Masaaki Osumi, Chairman & CEO, Toshiba America, TaizoNishimuro, Adviser to the Board Toshiba Corporation, Richard Parsons, SeniorAdvisor Providence Equity, Scott Maccabe, President of Toshiba America BusinessSolutions and His Excellency, Reiichiro Takahashi, Ambassador & ConsulGeneral of Japan to the United States.

At the conclusion of remarks, Marco took the stage and performed aseries of illusions entitled “Anniversary” in which he used augmented realityand other technologies to make magic for the audience. As a finalé to the stageprogram, Marco invited two audience members to join him onstage. Next he calledout to the audience to shout out their own lucky numbers, which he then wroteonto a board for all to see. The audience volunteers then added up the numberson Marco’s board and read the number aloud: 201563. When Marco asked if thatnumber had any special meaning, he then inserted a comma showing that the numberwas actually the day’s date: June 3, 2015 and the date of Toshiba’s 50th Anniversary.The audience was even more amazed when Marco gestured to theToshiba Vision Billboard, displaying the same number in agrand reveal moment.

Following the performance, guests remained in the glass-enclosed RLounge and enjoyed cocktails while watching their candid photos appear on theToshiba Vision billboard overlooking Times Square.

Empire is proud to serve Toshiba America on this occasion of its 50thAnniversary. Empire has had presence in Japan and Asia and for over two decadesand we opened our Tokyo office over 10 years ago, allowing us to serve bothAsia-based clients around the world as well as to support global businesseswith their events and projects throughout Asia.

Empire recently partneredwith Radical Media to produce a sensorial exhibit for a luxury fragrance brand.From May 5-17, the exhibit, located in New York City’s Meatpacking District,brought visitors on a journey through the creation, cultivation, composition,abstraction and revelation of the renowned fragrance.

Throughout its two-weeklong lifespan, the experience hosted over 13,000 visitors and became a trendingtopic across numerous social media channels, press outlets and among fashion,retail and luxury brand industry influencers.

Approaching the venuefrom the street, guests came face-to-face with a massive LED wall that wrappedaround the venue’s busy corner at 10thAvenue& 14thStreet. Once inside, guests were greeted by impeccably dressed hostswho informed them about the brand’s history and the immersive experience ahead.

Guests interacted with aseries of experiences representing five chapters of the fragrance: Creation,Cultivation, Composition, Abstraction and Revelation. These five chapters wererepresented by a series of beautiful mosaics, reflecting pools of water atopLED video surfaces, interactive soundscapes, an anamorphic, touch sensitivelight sculpture and a scent experience.

Upon completing theexperience, guests were ushered into the Social Lounge, where they couldcustomize and mail their own postcards and sample a variety of fragrances.

Empire was responsiblefor managing guest experience and all front of house logistics throughout theevent, ensuring that each and every guest’s experience met the brand’s highstandards. Empire also hired, trained and managed the staff of hosts torepresent the brand for the entirety of the exhibit.

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Screenvision is the nation’s leading seller ofin-theater advertising, providing marketers and brands the opportunity topresent their message on motion picture screens across America. During the 2015Upfront season, Screenvision sought to differentiate its value proposition tokey advertisers with a memorable experience that communicated a simple message:that the ideal atmosphere of movie theaters, coupled with superior audiencedemographics yield maximum impact for advertisers.

Working with Empire, Screenvision’s Upfront event, entitled “Lights!Camera! Impact!” took the company’s annual presentation out of theexpected movie theatre setting and into a transformed Skylight at Moynihan Station.

The evening began with guests entering through a movietheater “lobby,” complete with animated movie posters on screens supplied byChristie Digital and a concession stand with branded popcorn boxes and soda. Nextthey were escorted into a re-creation of a movie theater for a presentationgiven on the best advertiser medium available: a large, immersive movie screen. After compelling remarksby Screenvision executives, EVP of National Sales, Katy Loria, and SVP of SalesChristine Martino, Loria closed by telling guests that “now it’s YOUR chance toget into the movies.” At that exact moment, drapes were pulled back by ushersto reveal a full working soundstage behind the screen with three busymovie sets, complete with actors, directors and crew, costumes, props andscripts.

To demonstrate the impact that only cinema advertising can deliver, Screenvision invited audience members to physically become a part of themovies with guests choosing from three sets: the western-themed Perfect Posse, a superhero-themed Maximum Impact and the last representingthe sci-fi genre with Ultimate Atmosphere.The next day, guests were emailed their final “movies” which had been editedovernight to include an opening title sequence and sound effects.

Working closely with Screenvision's marketingand creative team, Empire conceived of this innovative way to tell Screenvision’sstory and to provide an immersive experience. To keep the Upfront messagingcohesive and on brand, the three themes were represented throughout the event,including in the movie trailers, posters, photo booth green screen backdrops, sets,drink menus, food stations, and all supporting graphics.

Empire was responsible for all event details including conceptideation, venue acquisition, layout and set design, staging, sound, lighting, graphics,furnishings, carpet, catering, technical production, casting, costuming, andmovie script development.

Empire is a leading producer of innovative Upfronts,Newfronts, and other mission critical business-to-business events.

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The Cannes Film Festival is considered the most prestigious filmfestival in the world. Held annually in Cannes, France, it celebrates thefinest works of film and has been a catalyst in launching the careers of someof the greatest artists of our generation.

At the Cannes Film Festival 2015, movie fans saw Dheepan takehome the Palme d’Or, but attendees and those watchingat home also caught a glimpse of the Empire produced performance group enraperforming their new piece “FILMS” during the closing ceremony. The Japan-based group created the piece specifically forthe Cannes Film Festival and worked diligently crafting their performance for theevent, which became a muchtalked about attraction at the festival.

Empire was honored to be a part of the Cannes Film Festivalduring its 2015 closingceremony, producing enra’s new piece that was performed infront of some of film’s greatest talents including the Coenbrothers and Guillermo delToro.

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Every other year, the New Museum, Manhattan's museum solely dedicated to contemporary art, celebrates a meeting of the cultural and urban minds with their IDEAS CITY Festival. This year's theme, "The Invisible City", was inspired by the Italo Calvino novel Invisible Cities and included a series of thought-provoking talks, solutions, and unique ideas in the quest to bring light to the otherwise unseen.

On the first day of the festival, the IDEAS CITY Conference included world-renowned visionaries' takes on the theme through a series of keynotes, panels, in-depth discussions, and screenings at Cooper Union's Great Hall. Speakers included political activist Lawrence Lessig, Micah White of Occupy Wall Street fame, and a mayoral panel with Annise Parker (Houston), Carmen Yulín Cruz (San Juan), and Svante Myrick (Ithaca) to name a few. The Conference concluded with a keynote from Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, The Honorable Julián Castro.

Day two utilized NoLIta's Old St. Patrick's Cathedral Basilica and Aula (aka "the old gym"). In the Basilica, the Municipal Art Society, Architizer: Pitching the City presented five original projects representing the next big idea for cities, followed by a late-night screening of The Dent by Basim Magdy. In the Aula, a Performative Conference in Nine Acts ensued with an unforgettable opening by Jordi Enrich Jorba wherein guests entered through a repurposed hot-air balloon. The night commenced with Bob Holman emceeing an evening of spoken word by artists like Penny Arcade, dance battles by Battlefest, and immersive video and sound installations by Ursula Scherrer.

Empire was honored to partner in the Museum's third year of the Conference and first-ever Performative Conference. Empire's support included technical and stage management of both the Cooper Union's Great Hall and St. Patrick's Cathedral, oversight of set design and construction, sound, lighting, video playback and technical direction. Empire also managed talent logistics for Friday's event and creative support.

IDEAS CITY is a showcase example of Empire's capability to act as a partner on all types and sizes of programs, including multiple-day festivals.

For more information on IDEAS CITY, visit www.ideas-city.org.

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Empire produced the Architizer A+Awards at Highline Stages in NYC on Thursday, May 14, 2015. Now in its third year, The Architizer A+Awards are the definitive global architectural award program with more than 90 categories and over 300 judges. The gala event in New York City is the signature architectural event during the city’s design week, NYCxDesign, and right before the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF). Comprising diverse and innovative global projects from starchitects to emerging firms, this year’s winners represent the best new architecture, interiors, and products. A highly-esteemed jury of industry leaders including Yves Béhar, Paola Antonelli, Liz Diller, Joseph Altuzarra, David Rockwell, Rem D. Koolhaas, and Ian Schrager selected the five finalists in each category.

The ceremony was hosted with charisma and charm by John Gidding from HGTV's "Curb Appeal: The Block", and kicked off with a phenomenal and impassioned speech about the Architecture industry by Architizer CEO Marc Kushner. This year's biggest winner was Reiulf Ramstad Arkiitekter, which was named Firm of the Year, and other special achievement awards were presented to SsD, LEGO, 14+ Foundation, and August, among others. Guests entered the spectacular, industrial-style space to a red carpet and step & repeat welcome, where event sponsor Cadillac showed off one of its spectacular new models, the 2016 CT6. Once inside the main space, guests enjoyed cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres while enjoying the ambient music played by DJ Javier Peral. Prior to the awards ceremony, attendees also enjoyed watching an extraordinary demonstration of the superb artistry and technical mastery of a watchmaker from Audemars Piguet Luxury Watches.

Empire is a premier producer of some of the world's most prestigious award ceremonies, including The Webby Awards, The Gotham Awards, The Fragrance Foundation Awards, and was honored to be chosen as Architizer's production partner for the 2015 Architizer A+Awards.

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Empire produced 19th Annual Webby Awards on May 18, 2015. This marked the 11th consecutive year Empire has partnered with Recognition Media on the annual event, which celebrates excellence on the Internet and famously limits winners to acceptance speeches of just five words.

"This is the only awards show where the descriptions of the awards are longer than the speeches," said comedian and host Hannibal Buress.

As usual, the show included some funny and irreverent moments, such as when Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt's Ellie Kemper accepted for Best Actress and used her five words to say, "So excited. Live-streaming my pants." Or when Chelsea Peretti, accepting for Outsanding Comedic Performance quipped, "The Internet must be stopped."

The ceremony had its more serious touches as well. "Create change, like a girl," said account executive Shaina Holtz, accepting the Agency of the Year award on behalf of Leo Burnett Toronto. And in a heartfelt tribute to the late New York Times media columnist David Carr, CNN's Brian Stelter closed with: "David, thank you for the spice."

But the standing ovation on this evening was reserved for Pat Quinn, ALS patient and co-founder of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Quinn, who was introduced by Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, accepted the Special Achievement Award and proved once again that five words can be enough to bring the house down when he said: "Every August until a cure."

Empire is honored to be the production partner for The Webby Awards for more than a decade running, and enjoys producing other award ceremonies including the Fragrance Foundation Awards and The Architizer A+ Awards.

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Empire had the honor of producing the 8th annual Internet Week New York Festival once again, which featured an array of events around New York City from May 18-21, 2015. Event headquarters was positioned at the Metropolitan Pavilion for the third consecutive year.

With more than 10,000 visitors over the week and dozens of companies represented, the space was organized to create separate, yet still cohesive, spaces in which to provide concurrent content. Two stages were sponsored by yp.com and USA Today / Gannett, a classroom was sponsored by The Trade Desk, and a lounge was furnished by official design partner, Design Within Reach.

Empire oversaw the Festival headquarters from conception to completion, coordinating registration for the thousands of guests, stage management and producing all of the presentations in the theater and on both HQ stages, and managing all event sponsors from the design of their spaces to all of their needs from load in to load out.

Empire is a leading producer of trade events, expos and event marketing / presence marketing installations with extensive experience in the technology industry.

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