2011's Best Events at Simply Mumtaz!

Hey everyone! So, we are thrilled and excited to post the most memorable, fun, thought-provoking events of 2011... So, here goes

Our first event that was more challenging and fun than anything else... It was at the super cool Natural History Museum in Los Angeles and we had a 4pm load in for a 6pm start... For technical production, dropping tables, chairs, linens, florals - you name it! It was really cool though as guests walked in the main entrance and were able to do an abbreviated tour of the museum - the bone skeletons were striking!

Our annual signature event was awash in purple and Farmers Field... We are excited about producing this coming year's event... more purple? We'll see... It was also fun to coordinate the opening act with three mayoral candidates. It really was an awesome act and there has been no better rendition of Downtown!

Next up was one of those events that happens to just run as smooth as possible... At least that's how we want to remember it...  LOL, so I never recommend client's to have someone sing the national anthem since it's not a sporting event type of thing, but with this audience and client it seemed like an interesting idea... It was a smash hit! Alex bolted it out and you couldn't stop your jaw from hitting the ground. Miscommunication with florist and we ended up 3 centerpieces short - literally found 3 on the fly (like 1 1/2 hours), and then the technical production worked like a charm and it all came together fantastically!

This summer was fun because we got to work with our clients again from last year's Centennial Aviation Day event. It was a fun, down-to-earth family reunion. So, our client and I have had some words over the last few years and we put $200 on the line for 3 balls to get him on the Dunk Tank! Needless to say, it was all in good fun but boy did it feel good taking this photo!



Next to last was this event where we internally like to brag as our logistical accomplishment! We had everyone that was attending stop before they got to registration by being greeted by hosts, take headshots, then those headshots were quickly edited with a graphic designer on-site into this program where we put them (everyone's headshots) into the above image... The whole theme of the event is individually we can come together and make a difference... So, together there is an image. Over the course of dinner we scrambled to get the artwork done, off to an off-site printer to print 11X17 posters for 250 attendees, back, rolled, ribboned and handed out as their departing gift! This image was also presented in a framed image and the on screens by the last speaker! It was a feel good event that really made you proud to be a part of an organization that truly cared about being a true corporate citizen.

Finally, in 10 days we produced an outdoor event with the makings to take your breath away... High pressure gourmet meals that spoke to the excellence of high class, weather that caused the temperatures to drop, last minute details, and everything else... LOL, this was an accomplishment for all of us at SME and our partners.

And, with that... Those are our favorite events for this year...  Here's to an outstanding 2012 for all of us personally and professionally! May the best be yet to come...  Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays from all of us at SME in sunny California! May the Holidays and New Year bring you joy and lots of luck!

It's Time For Holiday Parties! @Point Moorea - Wilshire Grand Hotel

No doubt about it: with the holidays, come holiday parties! SME's last event for 2011 just happened to be one of our client's holiday party. The Wilshire Grand's Point Moorea was filled with our client's guests all eager to celebrate the holidays and the new year.

It was hard to decide between what the room had more of: guests or food stations. The evening's guests got to sample fares from all over the world, food stations included: fresh sushi, Korean BBQ, a craving station, fresh fruit and of course a dessert corner complete with gingerbread men and candy cane shaped cookies.

 

Here are a couple of shots of Joella, Jennifer M and Jennifer K enjoying the evening as well!

As always the evening couldn't have gone smoothly with the help of our staff and the event's host. We would like to thank the evening's sponsors: US Bank, BNSF Railway, Chevron, Millennium Biltmore LosAngeles, Plains All American Pipeline, L.P., Turner, Xyvest and the Wilshire Grand.

 

Happy Holidays!

Sneak Peaks of Farmers Field and FIGat7TH

Also recently, SME had the opportunity of having some of the finest architects in one room discussing their plans to revitalize downtown LA at our client’s event!

More than 150 guests got sneak peaks at LA’s soon be football field, Farmers Field, the reinvention of 7th & Fig to FIGat7TH, and many more projects in and around downtown LA. There was definitely lots of excitement in the room when plans for a Target in downtown were brought up! Commercial interior design firms and other businesses were able to get face time with guests as well before lunch was served.

Below Michael Maltzan, FAIA of Michael Maltzan Architecture presents at the luncheon. We were also excited to work with him because he designed the Carver Apartments for Skid Row Housing Trust and which we managed the Grand Opening for... It is a small world.  

Simply Mumtaz' Event Grabs International Media Attention!!

Just in case you missed off our Simply Mumtaz Events Facebook Fan Page (Don't forget to like us!), check out the very cool international media coverage from the event that we created in 10 days earlier this month! Check out our ealier post with event details or click here. We are very excited to share these links with you! Check'em out!

SBS News http://bit.ly/rE2gDX

KBS News http://news.kbs.co.kr/world/2011/11/19/2390850.html

SBS News http://news.sbs.co.kr/section_news/news_read.jsp?news_id=N1001028678

LA 18 http://youtu.be/WJUWyzZvkWE

Our Hospitals Are Filled With Heroes!

Another great event... This year’s Hospital Hero Awards Luncheon was fantastic. So often the only stories that make the headlines concerning hospitals are filled with sad or scary news, Hospital Heroes takes a moment to recognize the exact opposite. Each year employees from different hospitals all over southern California are honored for going above their call of duty and performing what can only be described as heroic actions! Each participating hospital submits a heart warming true story of how their nominee has touched the lives of patients, their hospital colleagues and the community. Talk about a tear jerker! We love planning feel good events!

We would like to congratulate all of this year’s nominees and honorees! We thank them for all of their hard work and care. A big thank you to the afternoon’s Master of Ceremonies Ric Romero of ABC as well!

And finally a big thank you to our event partner  J&M Entertainment & Event Production and great photos by Luminaire Images! 

Happy Thanksgiving from Simply Mumtaz!

Simply Mumtaz would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

We would like to take a moment to thank our clients and industry partners for the wonderful events we've been able to produce through out the years! Here's to many more events... love, laughter, and happiness! Enjoy the holiday!

gobble gobble!

10 Days to an 8-Course Korean Gourmet Meal - A Special Hansik Dinner with Asia Society Korea Center

What a fun and event filled two weeks Simply Mumtaz has had! Our most recent event was a logistical challange - a Hansik Dinner for Asia Society’s Korea Center. We booked the event 10 days out and dived right in... Guests were invited to an exclusive eight-course gourmet Korean dinner experience celebrating the preservation and integration of the Korean culture in Southern California. The event closed a two day conference that was held at USC. The event was held in the backyard of the Korean Consul General's home so we literally had to bring in every element of the event from power, kitchen, heaters, tables, forks, to audio visual.

The night’s guests were treated to a very special meal prepared by Lotte's own Master Chef Bruce Byung Woo Lee who was actually flown in from Lotte Hotel Seoul just for the special evening. Here’s a shot of Joella and Master Chef at the end of the evening. It was a long night and we both look exhausted, but thrilled the evening was a success.

The crowning jewel to that night's eight course meal was a dish that has traditionally been reserved to royalty due to the type of cod being available only once a year. Sinseollo is a royal seafood casserole with cod, crawfish, shrimp pancakes and vegetables in fish broth. Check out the fit-for-a-king dish presented in traditional silver dishes below! These special dishes were hand delivered straight from Korea.

Each course was presented by various special guests including Asia Society's Korea Center Executive Director Yvonne Kim and the Consul General of Korea.

The evening's festivities concluded with a stunning Hanbok presentation/fashion show. Guests were treated to more than 10 looks of both traditional and modernized Hanboks or Korean gowns.

This event could not have been possible without the amazing work from our event industry partners... We usually only list a few vendors but not this time around - Here's a special shout out and link to each of their sites. They all helped us pull the event together and each had their own challenges getting to event day... Thank you, thank you, thank you. Wildflower Linens, MyFlowerGuy, J&M Entertainment & Event Production, Luminaire Images, A Rental Connection, Classic Party Rentals, LA Party Rents, Town & Country Event Rentals, Food Fetish, Event Power Solutions, and Z Valet.

SME at BlogWorld Expo 2011

Hi all! SME’s Event Assistant Ely here! I recently had the chance to attend BlogWorld & New Media Expo at the LA Convention Center Nov. 3-5. BlogWorld is the largest expo centered on the blogosphere and all the different social media components involved. It was aTwitter, Facebook and FourSquare mecca!

I was able to attend and learn from some of the industry’s leading bloggers and social media experts but I do have to say I have a favorite presentation. C.C. Chapman’s simple and right to the point approach to social media with a smartly titled “Content Rules, But Common Sense Rocks!” session stole the show for me. 

Here are my favorite tips I picked up from C.C. Chapman: 

Speak in Human: Blogging should be an extension of a brand and shouldn’t be written like a thesis paper! 

We All Make Messes: We’re all human, if a tweet or status post goes bad, deleting isn’t always the answer. It shows integrity when brands own up to PR mistakes and go with the flow. 

Respect: Value what your content says and readers will value it! No one likes a sell out.

Since we're talking about social media, don't forget to Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter: @MumtazMarketing, @SimplyMumtaz and @MumtazEvents!

Congrats to Our Own Joella... She joins SEARCH Foundation Board

 

We’re pleased to announce that the SEARCH Foundation has asked Joella to join them in their cause by becoming a Board Member! Originally named “Special Events Assistance and Resources with a Caring Heart” the SEARCH Foundation has supported special event industry professionals during times of crisis through scholarships, fundraising, volunteer services and donations for over a decade now. Most recently partnering with ISES Eventworld and raising almost $27,000 at its 13^th Annual ISES Fundraiser in St. Louis, MO! Funds will be distributed among the foundation’s various scholarship and aid programs. Check out their website for more information! searchfoundation.org - Please contribute to a wonderful cause! Also, come join us in Tampa at The Special Event Conference! Stay tuned for details... 

Happy Halloween & Dia de los Muertos!

Happy Halloween! But, since Simply Mumtaz President is Mexicana - she'd like to wish everyone in addition to pumpkins and ghouls... a happy celebration of Dia de los Muertos! Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it attains the quality of a National Holiday. The celebration takes place on November 1st and 2nd, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2). Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts. Take care all! Safe holidays...

Lt. Governor Newsom Speaks At The Omni

Hi All! SME recently got the opportunity to host California’s Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom at our client’s event last week at the beautiful Omni Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. Lieutenant Governor addressed over 150 guests in the Bunker Hill room at the Omni where he laid out his “Economic Growth and Competiveness Agenda for California.”  Guests left with a renewed sense and understanding of California’s future in creating jobs and growing as Newsom stayed for questions long after his speech. Plus, some of our team was able to sneak a pic - Christian, Jennifer, Lt. Gov. Newsom, and Jenny!

IMEX America 2011 - Las Vegas!

Hey everybody! We, your Simply Mumtaz gals - Joella, Jennifer Minzey, and Jennifer Kim, hope this post finds you well! We had a blast at IMEX America 2011! It was fantastic to visit with friends, meet new colleagues, and of course, play! Smart Monday sponsored by MPI was fantastic - great professional development sessions! But, the absolute highlight was the tradeshow!

I had to post about this booth! It was so inviting, fun, and sent the wonderful smell of coffee brewing and pastries just like you were walking past a coffee shop in Europe! You just had to stop...  

Then, I was so stoked to see fellow ISES peeps! Jennifer Minzey and I posed with Kevin Hacke, Executive Director of ISES. It was wonderful to see Kristin and touch base with Kevin about how ISES is promoting the special events industry as professional and strategic. 

We look forward to seeing everyone again next year!