Contributed by Renie Herrin, Executive Assistant to the CEO and CCO

Here in Colorado, the leaves have changed their color and begun to fall, the air is getting crisper, and the early November sky glows a gorgeous electric blue.  The changing of the seasons also means that our Boys of Summer are packing up their baseball gear after a rather dismal season ending with a record of 64 wins and 98 losses—ouch!  But hope springs eternal, and the Colorado Rockies know that 2013 will bring with it the freshness and promise of a new season, a new beginning.

After all, the Rockies are fortunate to call the remarkable baseball stadium, Coors Field, their home. Coors Field offers several unique suites and party facilities that are perfect for company events such as teambuilding, employee rewards gatherings, or just a casual afternoon bonding session watching a baseball game.

Coors Field offers several options such as the Super Suites and the Warning Track Party Room. Located in the infield between home plate and first base, the Super Suites are the ultimate choice for corporate entertainment. Each Super Suite features a temperature-controlled indoor lounge with luxury furnishings and outdoor balcony seating, both equipped with indoor and outdoor flat-screen televisions. Encore can utilize both spaces to give your event a well-rounded experience that any guest will enjoy.

The Warning Track Party Room is a large private room located at field level.  This room features bleacher and table-top seating, private restrooms and flat-screen televisions. The Warning Track Party Room offers a unique view of the game that your team will be sure to remember.

No matter which venue you choose, Encore will work with your team to ensure that the outcome is a winning event for your company as you cheer on the Rockies to a better season.

Contributed by Megan Van Dyke, Chief Creative Officer

Recently the Encore team conducted a site visit to New York for one of our clients. Our mission was to canvas the Midtown Manhattan area’s event and hotel locations to uncover the destinations that will help to create a truly unforgettable experience. Our challenge was to make it unique to everyone, whether the attendee had never been to the big city, was a dabbler in New York culture, or was a born and bred New Yorker.

Our main goal was to find a location that would incorporate the touristic aspects of the city into the event while also showcasing the hidden thrills of New York that are not publicized in the newest The New Yorker Magazine.

A few of the locations we visited were a given, but the others were hidden gems and unique spaces that provided some amazing and thought evoking ideas.

Our first option was the MoMA (The Muesuem of Modern Art). After taking just a few steps into the sculpture garden, the Encore team was dreaming of the décor, lighting and linens to complement the breathtaking sculptures and one of a kind atmosphere. It was a location that many people had the opportunity of visiting, but by highlighting certain aspects and decorations, we would be able to really showcase the special attributes the garden offered.

Our second option was one that was more of a hidden gem than the MoMA. The Ziegfeld Theatre is located just steps from the Hilton New York, and is tucked onto beautiful 54th Street. Known mainly for movie premieres, this theater proved to have a quiet ambience as well as the history we were looking to celebrate by being in NYC. Reminiscent of off-Broadway theaters, we had the image of sugarplum fairies dancing around our heads as the inspiration for this location came naturally.

Our final choice in location leaned more towards the unique spaces that New York has to offer. Le Parker Meridian is a hotel filled with awe inspiring spaces, interesting details and really, is just plain fun. As we took in the entire hotel, step after step we were more enchanted with the property. From the old-school styled Sharps Barbershop, specializing in the art of barbering as they did in the 1950’s, to the Dry Bar offering ladies hairstyling, the property has the great amenities we were looking to exhibit throughout our event. A morning latte at Knave and a mid-afternoon burger at the Burger Joint, were only a few of the amazing things we found to entice our client to this property.

What we learned from our excursion to New York City in the hopes of finding the right place for our event, was that no matter what type of event you are looking to host, the perfect location is out there and ready to be filled with the inspiration that we will intertwine with your brands purpose. Every city had unique jaunts that speak to the culture and history of the city, they just need you to tell them where to start.

We could post some photos here, but why don’t you take a gander at our Pinterest board instead?

Contributed by Michelle Rubin

As defined by Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, culture is considered the “set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution.” The fundamentals of any company rely on this characterization of culture in order to build a cohesive work environment, where everyone has a basic and singular goal: do the best work possible. More of a marathon than a sprint, it requires hiring spirited individuals with an array of skills, opinions, and experiences that help round out the abilities of the company, while simultaneously allowing employees to grow together by supporting one another. In order to build the culture of any company, it is important to understand that these skills and experiences are the result of a myriad of different people with different backgrounds. It takes time to understand the ins and outs of each person and how to best utilize their skills for the benefit of the company and it’s culture.
Some executives believe culture begins at the top, and when it is properly nourished and encouraged, it flows through an organization almost organically. This type of culture is intentional and defined, and is able to be successful regardless of economic or business upturns and downturns. It is not necessarily dependent upon the company’s success, but rather on the company’s talent and collective conscious.
Other executives believe that culture is derived out of a successful business, where individuals are inspired to work hard to maintain their jobs. Their drive creates an “A-team” mentality, where employees feel good about being on a team that is considered the best in its respective field and achieves the milestones as set by the industry and competition. With this model, culture is more about the company’s successes as a whole in contrast to the first model in which the successful team is reliant on the successful person.
Encore’s team purpose when we tackle an event, is to encourage our clients to tap into their intentional culture to develop high functioning, dedicated and positive individuals. Our first move is to identify what the desired culture should look like, how it needs to live, and what will make it unique. Next, we communicate the intent and desired outcome through leadership events and training, collateral and story telling, along with the companywide education and clearly understood markers for success. If possible, we use the well-known slogans or mascots of the company to help tell the story. We encourage conversation between employee and employer, which allows a stronger workforce where everyone feels comfortable discussing problems so the necessary adjustments could be made. Finally, with incentive events, the employer has the change to recognize positive behavior and outcomes throughout the organization and company.
At Encore, we lead by example through the execution of our events, with the intention of having our clients follow our lead. We set the model that works best for the specific company, and after nurturing this through events ranging from sales meetings to incentive events to conventions, we leave our clients with the ability to go back to the office and create a culture that works best for their company. We use events to bring people together to communicate a message or brand specifically through leadership meetings.

Here at Encore Global Event Experiences, we’ve taken some time to give our website a facelift, rework our collateral and most importantly take good look at what we do, what we offer and how our services can benefit your company create impactful events with a purpose. Over the next several weeks, a different member of the Encore organization will be stepping in to blog. First up is our CEO, cofounder of Encore Global Event Experiences, Michelle Rubin. Michelle is passionate about people. She enjoys seeking out and developing new talent into impressive leaders within the field. Check back tomorrow for her take on ‘Culture- Where does it come from, and how can you benefit?’

Takin’ it to the streets‽…

I’m here in San Jose to meet with some companies about future business.  So far, I’ve had two cancellations…and am wanting to make the MOST out of my time  here.  SO… yesterday at dinner I suggested to my colleague that I we should just go buy a bunch of YELLOW poster-board and ask for a meeting with a Vice President from the side of the road.  And… that is what I’m going to do.

#ProjectYellow will commence at 8am today over breakfast.  Strategy and Message will be discussed… Eggs and oatmeal will be eaten, and by golly I WILL get those meetings back!

Follow me on Twitter @IncentiveGal1 for updates throughout the day… pictures, video…and the “things people say” … Use the buttons below to Twitter this and post it to Facebook…Teamwork!

PS…I love ellipses

Think of the last time you experienced an event that created an unforgettable sense of awe. All of the components of the event so well orchestrated that there is an undeniable and somewhat inexplicable presence felt by all attendees.