ChallengesOne of the biggest challenges faced by OSCC was having the 1,000 boxed invitations hand delivered. The beautiful, branded invitations were individually addressed and Westin wanted to create anticipation by hand delivering them to their offices by a uniformed courier.
There were more than 150 couriers. It was a huge coordination effort, with couriers getting lost, and turning up at strange addresses and giving invites to different people.
ExecutionGuests entered the venue on a branded green carpet, receiving a special butterfly name tag as they passed through. OSCC installed a motion sensor projector, allowingguests to interact with the images in the projection – in this case, an image of a pond with goldfish that could be moved by people’s feet.Intelligent lighting was utilised to create a river of light straddled by a purpose-builtwooden bridge. The 500 VIP guests journeyed through the river of light, where branded messages lined the path.Branded staging platforms were installed in the main event space, which included three podiums for the main performance and a purpose-built stage for the speeches.Veuve Clicquot was served from the circular bar, and each of the food and beverage venues, including Jewel, Senses and Prego, provided a showcase of the hotel’s cuisines.The evening’s entertainment included 25 silk costumed tai chi performers. Coco, a famous jazz musician in Shanghai, performed jazz classics while models, handpaintedin Westin brand patterns, graced the stage.Covered head to knee in butterflies and Chinese artwork, the models were a sophisticated addition to the décor of the room.The headline act was the VC Girls from Hong Kong, three female string performerspositioned on circular plinths in front of the curtain.
During the act the curtain dropped to reveal stilt walkers, painted models, fire breathers and a Westin logo burn pattern marking the conclusion of the performance in a flurry of fire, sparks, colour and movement.
Verdict“The opening event showcased an array of sights and sounds designed to evoke The Westin brand’s core values – Personal, Instinctive and Renewal, combined with a party atmosphere,” says Charlie Dang, general manager of the Westin Beijing, Financial Street.“We wanted our guests to leave the evening feeling better than when they arrived. Thepositive response has been overwhelming.”OSCC was also pleased with the outcome. “Our client was happy, and we executed our creative concept perfectly,” says Anna Patterson, director of events for OSCC.Simon Lee
