Corporate events make a big splash

OFF-SITE CONNECTIONS
Off-Site Connections Event Management began operations in China in 2005. The company specialises in events for the corporate, conference and incentive markets. “We’re
creative-focused and do everything from scratch, conceptualising events according to
our clients and their brands,” says Anna Patterson, general manager greater China.
“In that sense, we’re more of a communication company than a production company. We also have a multicultural team which fuses the best of the east and west.”

For events, the company takes care of everything from the design of invitations and door gifts, to onsite management. “We never do things like bringing out the same stage set,” says Patterson. “Everything is always customised. The events are more like marketing exercises and each one is different according to the different objectives – we work with our clients to find out how they want to be perceived by the audience at each event.”

In China, the lead time for events range from six months to a year, up to just four weeks – which Patterson says is “the tightest” the company has done. Some of the company’s most memorable events have been the opening parties for the Westin hotels in Beijing and Guangzhou, and the launch of the Grand Tower for Westin Shanghai.

JACK MORTON WORLDWIDE
Jack Morton Worldwide, an experiential marketing agency, has an office in Beijing that
works closely with their Hong Kong office. “We are very integrated and our staff move
across Hong Kong and China as required for our events,” says Carmen Kwong, senior
account director of Jack Morton Worldwide, Beijing. “The Beijing team also works closely
with the London and US offices, offering clients a truly international team. This is
what our MNC clients demand.

“The Beijing team are experienced producers, with strong local knowledge and experience of delivering world-class events.”
“In China, we have delivered many internal events such as meeting and conferences, teambuilding, and executive summits – where social events are often part of the equation,” Kwong says.

Kwong says most of Jack Morton’s clients in China are MNCs. “Many branded events need
to make sure that the agencies can uphold their brand, standards and quality across the
world, so they come to us. We are strong in combining content, message and creativity.”

One recent event Jack Morton handled in China was the YAGEO Celebration of 10 years in China & Opening of Second Suzhou Plant. Jack Morton Worldwide has also been appointed production consultants for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games. This will be led by Jack Morton’s Public Events Team, which is based in London.

TURNING POINT SOLUTIONS
Turning Point Solutions is a creative events agency with a staff of 15 based in Shanghai and
Sydney. “Almost half of our events in China are in Beijing,” says Peter Pecotic, managing
director of the agency. “We do government, cultural and corporate events.”

In China, Turning Point Solutions has produced events for the Shanghai Stock Exchange as well as the Guggenheim Museum’s exhibition and exchange in Beijing and Shanghai last year. “We’re not that big on marketing events, we’re more involved in conferencing events,” Pecotic says.

Many of the events the agency has dealt with are regional or global conferences for MNCs – multi-day events that will take in opening and launch ceremonies, gala dinners, and off-site meetings.

“Here, people are looking for turn-key solutions – one agency to take care of everything,” he says.