Virtual Event Brief
A long-standing client of our sister company Venue Search London needed to take their Christmas Party and Awards virtual. The virtual event requirements included a bespoke and brandable platform, virtual activity for 250 staff and awards ceremony alongside a networking area. Gifting was also required, with festive boxes being delivered to each staff members home. Having reviewed the brief, Story Events was introduced, pitched and won the opportunity to give them the red-carpet treatment and bring this exciting event to life.
Delivery
A virtual event for 250 people needs a reliable platform that is user friendly and had the relevant functionality for our client’s needs. From experience we knew Remo would be the perfect platform for this event, due to its bespoke design capabilities, outstanding networking features, multiple break out rooms and importantly, a very user-friendly interface. Using the client’s design brief, our in-house tech team created a completely bespoke and unique platform. Story created a three-floor networking nightclub, including a dance floor and cocktail booths, where mingling and socialising could take place. This was alongside a main stage for an awards ceremony and three further breakout rooms for interactive masterclasses.
The client requested entertainment for everyone to partake, something inclusive and Christmassy, and so cocktail making was deemed the perfect choice. We worked with the cocktail team to create a festive menu that included both cocktails and mocktails for the guests. Lasting an hour, the masterclass allowed guests to make three cocktails from the comfort of their own home using the cocktail kit plus ingredients which had been sent to them ahead of the event.
Every year our client hosts their awards as part of a live and interactive dinner, so it was vital that this years’ experience made the entire Preqin team feel included and excited by the virtual event. Our in-house tech and operations team worked closely with Remo to bring the event to life and ensure we created an awards ceremony that felt as close to a live experience as possible.
A key element of this event was producing a script for the award ceremony that had all the anticipation, interaction and entertainment of a live event. Presented by two members of the Preqin team, during the build-up of each award, our tech team provided the nominee detailing, followed by a musical sting once the winner was announced. The winner would then be invited up onto the virtual stage to give an acceptance speech. Alongside this, the chat box went wild with support and praise from their colleagues, giving what felt like a true live experience you would see and feel at an awards ceremony. Following a very exciting 70 minute awards session, guests then returned back to the nightclub networking area for a final hour of mingling before the event came to a close.
In addition, the client wanted to really thank its employees for all their hard work throughout what was a troubling 2020. With the launch of Story’s Artisan Gifting service, we were able to send a bespoke gift box to each employee with a personalised message within. Our gifting team sourced the products and led on the production, fulfilment and delivery of all 250 gift boxes, including management of all dietary requirements and lead-times.
Testimonial from client
“Being forced to go ‘virtual’, something we’ve never done before, we were sceptical, but Story pulled it out of the bag! From event management to fulfilling gifts sent to over 250 staff home addresses, the stress was completely taken away and our Christmas event was such a success. The cocktail kits were branded and spectacular, the artisan gifts such a special touch and the virtual platform allowed people to feel as together as we could in these times. I’ve had lots of positive feedback and everyone is talking about it, even now, so a massive thank you to Lulu and Lauren and all the team involved!” Sasha Morris, Preqin
