(All photos are from LV Photo)
By Danelle Dodds, Exhibition City News
The night is ringing in for one of the biggest hospitality networking events of the year. On December 12, nine associations came together for the industry-wide association holiday party at Giada De Laurentiis’ stunning flagship restaurant, Giada’s, at The Cromwell Hotel.
Participating associations include the Las Vegas Hospitality Association (LVHA), National Association of Catering and Events Las Vegas Chapter (NACE), PCMA Southwest and Pacific Chapter, Experience Designers and Producers Association (EDPA), Vegas Wedding Rooms, MPI Southern California Chapter, HSMAI Las Vegas, Skål International Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Territory.
To the surprise of no one, this coveted seasonal event was in high demand, selling out a week before the date. Tickets sold out quickly, which makes perfect sense. Not only is the venue located at one of the hottest restaurants on the Las Vegas Strip, but the attendees are a who’s who of the events and experiences industry. Everyone in the Las Vegas event community was in the best shape for the festival.
The cornerstone of the live events world is the spark of surprise that greets your audience. Association-wide events are no exception. (But when your members are focused on creating an immersive experience, you don’t expect any less.)
Anticipation begins before guests arrive. The morning of the party, each attendee received an email containing a welcome video created by Giada himself. The video shares the celebrity chef’s excitement for the upcoming event and recognizes the incredible philanthropy done by all the associations.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, attendees experienced their next bite. As guests ascended the escalators into the garlic-scented network, costumed models wearing glowing lampshades crossed their path. As living decorations, these models are a visually entertaining snack for the wonderful evenings ahead.
From the moment attendees stepped into the restaurant filled with laughter and jingles, they experienced a night that represented the best in the industry. There was an air of celebration in the room. 2024 is shaping up to be a busy year for event professionals, and this is a night to pay tribute to their hard work and toast to friendship. Bartenders wearing octopuses busied themselves with cocktail shakers and bottles, and attendees exchanged drink coupons for gin and wine. Giada’s staff deftly squeezed through a crowd of back-slapping, shoulder-hugging industry friends to deliver trays filled with Italian-style snacks to hungry guests. The full buffet included Giada’s signature dishes, and there was a long queue at the door of the private room next door. Garlic broccoli rabe, bacon-wrapped dates, charcuterie and cheesy shell pasta served straight from the Parmesan wheel are a siren song for the masses.
The restaurant’s famous retractable windows overlook the endless glow of the Las Vegas Strip. The door stood open, sending a winter breeze into the packed room. This is needed; there is a lot of energy in the restaurant. As the escalator model suggests upon arrival, additional entertainment appears around every corner. Roaming photographers, AI photo booths and mobile roulette games kept attendees engaged. The industry’s most popular tarot card reader, Mystic Mona, revealed the development trends for 2025 on the spot. Even Santa Claus showed up, strolling among the crowd of nice girls and boys and posing for selfies.
Activation isn’t the only form of fun. Several singers gave guests headline-worthy performances. Old school crooners, powerhouse singers, pompadour performers and dazzling DJs keep the music flowing.
But there was more to the night than just bubbles and bites. There is no doubt that these associations do incredible work giving back to the community. Every ticket sold includes funds benefiting each organization’s cause. Live toy drive collects unwrapped gifts for needy children. The largest community push involves LVHA’s Bags Full of Joy campaign, which donates shoes, coats and gifts to 450 children at Walter Long STEAM Academy.
This group of people likes to gather. After the event, the audience lingered and enjoyed each other’s company. When they finally walked through the twinkling Christmas tree, everyone received a sweet parting gift from Giada, including an autographed photo and her signature lemon ricotta cookies. It’s the perfect dessert ending for an industry that knows how to leave no crumbs.
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.