Thursday, 13 August 2009 00:00

News

For the eighth consecutive year, Vision Event Productions partnered with Salt Lake City-based Burton Group to design and manage hospitality suites at Burton’s annual conference, Catalyst. Held at the new Hilton San Diego Bayfront on July 27 – 31, Catalyst brought together mid- to upper-level IT directors, architects and managers for a conversation about IT strategies in 2009.

Vision’s role in the conference was to create and manage 10 unique hospitality suites, or individually-themed parties, to provide an on-site entertainment option for attendees on Wednesday and Thursday night.

“This event is always a lot of fun for us,” said Senior Director of Events Joseph Parkes. “Hosting multiple hospitality suites over the course of two days gives us the chance to think outside the box and create dynamic experiences that encourage Burton’s guests to network, relax and interact with each other in fun settings.”

At Catalyst 2009, Vision worked with the following companies to cook up engaging hospitality events:

• ArcSight: The Padres-themed suite, complete with crackerjacks, hotdogs and beer was a homerun with attendees.
• Aveksa: Blackjack and roulette tables left no doubt that guests had arrived on the Las Vegas Strip, as passed hors devours and white glove service left all guests feeling like VIPs.
• CA: The southern-inspired Hurricane Party stirred up partygoers in search of fresh fish amid a torrent of dining options.
• Citrix: This icy escape and its four ice luges were a welcome reprieve from the warm San Diego sunshine.
• Palo Alto Networks: Equal parts sizzle and cool, the Fire and Ice Ultra Lounge featured an 8-foot ice bar emblazoned with Palo Alto Networks’ company logo, white leather furniture and simulated flames climbing the walls.
• Passlogix: Standing by to save the day, the Super Hero suite featured heroic video games and décor al fresco on the patio. A quick shot of Super Hero Elixir gave attendees the energy to conquer the remaining suites.
• RSA: With a design fit for a big top, this carnival-themed suite featured classic carnival games, a bearded lady and all the delicious food you could crack a whip at, including: mini donuts, popcorn and sausage off the grill.
• SailPoint: A takeoff of Jimmy Buffet’s famed oasis, Margaritaville, SailPoint’s suite included a 10-foot seaplane, Jimmy Buffet concert footage on-screen and cheeseburgers complete with ‘big Kosher pickles.’ Paradise, indeed!
• Software AG: This suite got into gear with a NASCAR theme that included race simulators and leather NASCAR jackets as the coveted giveaways.
• Sun Microsystems: Straight out of the 80’s, guests at this suite got busy with a break-dance theme that featured dance-offs every half hour. Peppa and the Outer Circle, featured in the upcoming feature film “Step Up 3D,” represented the dueling East and West Coast factions as guests noshed on New York Pizza and L.A. tacos.

One of San Diego’s newest downtown properties, the Hilton San Diego Bayfront proved an idyllic setting for hospitality events.

“Hosting an event that overlooks San Diego Bay in the summertime is pretty tough to beat,” said Parkes. “Burton Group has had a great experience each time they have visited San Diego, and we were thrilled to partner with them on such a diverse range of hospitality suites.”

Since 2001, Vision Event Productions has provided full-service corporate management for companies such as FedEx Office, McAfee and i2 Technologies. Based in Rancho Bernardo, Vision is currently ramping up for a busy fall of productions and meetings throughout the U.S. Check out some more pictures of the event below, all courtesy of Joseph Parkes.