Designed for event planners of every type—from corporate to non-profit to wedding planners—The Special Event Show is the annual industry gathering for all the latest in entertainment, décor, trends in food, technology and more… but the prevalent themes at this year’s event were innovative uses of color and light. As many of you know, Carol and Susan feverishly tweeted their experiences and discoveries at the show, held in January in Phoenix. According to experts there…

• The hot color of the year is honeysuckle… an eye-catching reddish pink. (For those of you who know your Pantone libraries well, it’s Pantone 18-2120 – see the color here.) You’ll see this color, a lot, used in clothing, table wear, and even cosmetics and appliances. It adds a lively, energetic flair to any décor or theme. An interesting note – in tougher times, color trends tend to become brighter or richer.

• LED lighting is quickly becoming the technology of choice for creating room ambience ranging from the subtle to the spectacular. The simple and cost-effective lighting easily “color washes” fabrics, curtains and backdrops to set the tone, any way you like.

• A big influencer right now in the worlds of décor and architecture is Phillipe Starck—one of the best-known contemporary designers in the world. Starck’s style is simultaneously striking and beautiful. The Delano South Beach Hotel is a good example of his work. Check it out, here.

One other takeaway: We learned that taking quality photos of events is critical—so we promise in future issues to bring you a lot more pictures of our events, food and venues!

The three-day congress, held at the Buenos Aires Hilton, featured a GSK symposium, exhibits, training and compelling presentations by key opinion leaders (called “KOLs” in the industry). The Charles Group managed all travel and logistical needs for GSK, including a GSK-sponsored welcome reception in the exhibit hall; organized training workshops for South American GSK sales personnel; helped accommodate all KOLs; secured translation services; and arranged entertainment and special dinner receptions for key attendees.
Bringing unique experiences to life.

Every event has the potential to bring something wondrous to attendees—something they normally wouldn’t get to experience. One such highlight was a dinner reception at Patagonia Sur—arguably the hottest restaurant in Buenos Aires. With stunning architecture reminiscent of historic Argentinean homes, the restaurant is owned and operated by renowned South American chef Francis Mallmann, a popular TV personality and author. [Link to his book] The Charles Group managed to secure exclusivity at Patagonia Sur for the entire evening, and attendees enjoyed a sumptuous eight-course meal of Chef Mallmann’s signature recipes.

In addition to relishing Patagonia Sur and other popular Buenos Aires eateries, attendees enjoyed a wide array of extra-curricular activities—from Argentinean wine and beef tasting, to tours of quaint marketplaces and shops, to dancing the night away at a tantalizing Tango club.

“Sentry is Manhattan’s newest meeting and event facility,” said Carol Davis-Grossman, managing partner for The Charles Group. “Even though it’s right in midtown, it’s like an oasis—a meticulously controlled, state-of-the-art environment that’s perfect for group events, trade shows, banquets and even training programs.”

Sentry Center, which calls itself a “state of the art sanctuary in the midst of midtown’s hustle and bustle,” brings a plethora of amenities to its clientele.

In addition to on-site cuisine prepared by acclaimed chefs, Sentry Center has multiple conference and breakout rooms and a 27^th floor executive board room for smaller groups of up to 45. To learn more, see a video and photo gallery of the facility, visit http://www.sentrycenters.com/sentry-center-midtown-east.php.

Bringing Sentry Centers and PRSA-NY together for the holiday event, however, was the brainchild of The Charles Group. In fact, The Charles Group arranged for Sentry to actually sponsor the PRSA-NY party. The event gave Sentry the chance to showcase its facility to senior-level public relations practitioners, while allowing PRSA-NY to have its first holiday party in several years. And it was a great success.

After all, what better place than a highly advanced, audio-visual facility to hold a karaoke party?

Davis-Grossman explained that the venue for any event is a huge, determining factor in how that event is perceived, and ultimately, its success.

“The venue is an attendee’s first impression, that critical, first ‘feel,” of how something will be,” she said. “If it isn’t right, it can color the rest of the event in that person’s eyes.”

The Charles Group takes particular pride—and puts considerable time, resources and effort—in offering their clients a broad palette of venues to choose from, across the globe. Davis-Grossman noted that any venue is a “multi-sensory” experience: visual, tactile, aural, and even emotional.

“A place like Sentry is very ‘now,” very ingenious.” Davis-Grossman said. “The sheer scope of it, its architecture, technology, everything… truly state-of-the-art. But, it’s a totally different feel, look and touch than, say, a more intimate place nestled in the mountains of Vermont. The key is marrying the ideal venue to an event. It must be done in a way where they complement each other and enhance the experience for everyone attending.”

When it comes to seeking out venues and facilities, The Charles Group team is tireless in its hunt—continually exploring, visiting, and reading about hundreds of places around the world each year. Since the group is long established and highly connected in the events/meeting planning business, it often gets early word on up-and-coming or new facilities. Once a facility finds its way on to The Charles Group’s radar, its staff has a careful and systematic vetting process. For the group to be successful in this business, it can’t settle for anything less than the best.

Once a facility or venue is accepted, the group’s creativity comes into play. Like an artist would look over his materials before working, The Charles Group carefully considers everything about a venue—how many people it can hold, the creativity and the quality of the food available there, the atmosphere, facilities, the feel and so much more. When they’re charged with managing an event, they carefully connect it with venue candidates.

“We handle every type of event imaginable, from small training seminars to multi-day conferences with thousands of attendees,” said Davis-Grossman. “But no matter what type of event our clients are tasked with, there is a perfect home for it out there… that place that just seems made for it. And we love bringing them together.”

As they took their seats, the women found themselves sitting next to clarinetists, violinists, trumpeters and more—in fact, an entire symphony orchestra of musicians, in tuxedos and gowns, were scattered throughout the auditorium.

At the front of the venue, standing ready at the podium, Maestro Roger Nierenberg lifted his baton and led the orchestra with a selection from Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel. The room filled, and the atmosphere blossomed, with enchanting music.

“Of course, hearing music this way—literally being immersed in it—was an entirely unique experience for everyone there,” said Susan Dunkelman, managing partner for The Charles Group, which has helped orchestrate the HBA conference since its inception in 1999. “It was truly magical, and it set the tone for the entire conference.”

But the use of the orchestra was more than mere pageantry. As the program continued, Maestro Nierenberg revealed that, like a conductor, leaders must “live in their imagination to see what can be accomplished.” He likened the orchestra to any organization, where everyone has a part, and there must be an active sense of belonging and participation for it to be successful.

Needless to say, attendees were moved.

Indeed, the opening ceremony brought to life, with musical perfection, the three-part theme for the conference: Innovate, Orchestrate and Perform. The theme set the stage for the conference’s multiple workshops and sessions, which gave attendees real-life solutions on everything from thinking outside the box to staying energized in today’s demanding work environments.

Hosted annually, the HBA Leadership Conference is a multi-day event held in a different U.S. city each year. Each gathering offers up to 20 concurrent sessions and an exhibit hall with more than 25 companies and organizations represented.

In every host city, The Charles Group puts its creative powers to work, brainstorming and coordinating events that tie both to the conference and the city. This year’s event was held in Philadelphia, which was affectionately renamed, “The city of sisterly love,” during the conference. In an early morning inspirational session, attendees enjoyed a “Rocky Rally,” where, like the classic Rocky film, they ran up the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum to pose next to the iconic statue of Rocky Balboa. It was a moment that made everyone feel like a champion.

When The Charles Group began running the HBA Conference more than a decade ago, attendance was relatively small, although impressive for a first-time event: 110 women came to experience the HBA that year. But, as word spread and demand grew over subsequent years, attendance swelled accordingly—topping 650 in 2009, and skyrocketing to nearly 1,000 attendees this year. More than half of the attendees at the 2010 conference were first-timers.

The Charles Group, which manages the event closely with the HBA, is first tasked with finding a different venue each year—one large enough to accommodate hundreds of guests, information sessions and workshops and exhibitors. Thanks to its seamless execution and cutting-edge leadership development content, the HBA Leadership Conference was named one of the top 100 leadership programs for women in the United States.

“This is the HBA’s flagship event,” said Dunkelman. “And we’re honored to have been a part of it from its beginnings… to watch it grow and rise to the level it has over the years. It’s a moving experience for us, too.”

The September 26 event, offered free of charge, gives survivors of all types of cancer the chance to share, rejoice and reflect with other survivors, friends, caregivers and family members. The festivities took place at Liberty State Park, with the magnificent Statue of Liberty—a symbol of hope, renewal and liberty—in the near distance.

“This celebration holds a special place for us,” said Susan Dunkelman, managing partner for The Charles Group. “It is simultaneously uplifting, celebratory and even educational. All of us find it wonderfully rewarding to see the participants and their families experience it.”

Indeed, The Charles Group was instrumental in the event’s success—from arranging transportation, to managing its budget, directing the event’s set up, food, entertainment, activities, raffles, and more.

Attendees enjoyed delicious food, rocking entertainment from The Infernos, and interactive workshops that ranged from healthful laughter yoga and Qigong to more practical make-up, scarf tying and wig demonstrations. The day also included the planting of an evergreen, to symbolize hope for the future.

“It’s a wonderful way for Hackensack University Medical Center to congratulate its patients on winning the fight with cancer,” said Dunkelman. “And it’s our honor to help make it memorable.”