Winning Pitch
As part of a five-day incentive, audio-visual and event services company Staging Connections created an Australian-themed gala dinner for 1,150 members of direct selling organisation Amway Taiwan. As the incentive’s feature event, the gala dinner included aerial acrobats and dancers, a firework display, and a performance by New Zealand classical singer Hayley Westenra.
Highlights
Attendees were transported to Barangaroo on Sydney’s Harbour foreshore in 56 buses, and were greeted by a raft of performers including stilt walkers, seven-metre-high vertical performers, bouncing kangaroos, five-person water ski formations in neigbouring Nawi Cove and a petting zoo with wombats, koalas and joeys.
From there, guests were led to The Cutaway, a unique cultural venue decked out in elaborate décor and worldclass AV technology, including enormous 60m x 12m digital screens featuring large, illuminated backdrops and projections of Australian landscapes.
Custom-printed Amway napkins and engraved napkin rings accompanied native flower centre pieces on tables, while the company award winners rode in a procession of vintage Mustang convertible cars to the gala event.
Entertainment included a performance by seven aerial acrobats rigged from the roof by large hoops, a native Welcome to Country ceremony featuring a 40-strong cast delivered by dance company Decendance and the NSW School Aboriginal Dance Company, and a dance performance by Soul Mystique, backed by Staging Connections’ customised animations.
The evening’s finale saw classical singer Hayley Westenra perform songs in English and Putonghua, supported by dancers who were hoisted to the ceiling on trapezes with silk sails hung below featuring projected designs.
The event concluded with a 15-minute custom firework display with giant fire letters from eight pontoons, including two large barges on Sydney Harbour. Filmed by drones, the display lasted longer than the Sydney NYE fireworks, which run for 10 minutes.
The Upshot
Tony Chamberlain, managing director of Staging Connections, commented on the impact of Asian incentives on Australia’s reputation for hosting business events.
“Asian incentives look to Australia to offer their guests experiences that they cannot have anywhere else in the world, and this market is experiencing major growth, contributing massive economic benefit to our country, based on our international reputation for excellence.
“We have delivered a range of international events, from the G20 in Brisbane, to the Rotary International Convention, Joymain Incentive and the IUCN World Parks Congress in Sydney, and now the Amway Taiwan Leadership Seminar. Our teams have excelled in delivering superior results for these clients, putting their events in the spotlight on the global stage and delivering lasting memories for attendees, which have all contributed to Australia’s strong reputation for delivering world class events,” Chamberlain said.
Chris Lewis, event director at Staging Connections, explained how his team went above and beyond to exceed Amway Taiwan’s expectations.
“Our client’s vision was to deliver a number of once-in-a-lifetime experiences for the international delegation. Our team produced an event that delivered real wow factor, utilising entertainment backed by superior production to truly enthrall the guests.
“The event showcased the very best that Australia has to offer, and we know it will be remembered for many years to come as one of the most elaborate and exciting events Sydney has produced,” Lewis said.
