Prestigious award won by Danish event bureau

Danish Welcome Event Marketing goes all the way when it comes to developing creative concepts for the  congress and conference market. And their efforts are not unnoticed. Recently, the agency took home the prestigious ISES Esprit Award for 'best creative concept'.

The entire world's event industry gathered recently for a gala show in Hollywood, where the International Special Events Society awarded the year's ISES Esprit Awards in 24 different categories. Jesper Christensen and Jannik Seifert are partners in Welcome Event Marketing, and although they knew they had nominated a good project, it still came as a surprise when they were called up to the podium. It is the first time ever that a Danish agency has won one of these prestigious awards.

TDC Total Take-Off

The best creative concept prize was awarded for a project for TDC Total Solutions; at an internal staff event - TDC Total Take-Off - more than 6,000 staff members went on board a gigantic 'TDC Boeing 747' in Odense Airport and flew off to new horizons. The event marked the kick-off to a new phase for TDC Total Solutions, in which the staff must move into unknown terrain and meet new types of challenges.

Although the guests had been given boarding passes, no one knew what awaited them when they arrived at the specially-built Total Take-Off departure hall at Odense Airport and checked in to board the gigantic aircraft.

The evening on board the 'TDC Boeing 747' was a veritable feast for the senses. After a simulated take-off, the guests could lean back in their seats and enjoy a flight box packed with sushi and other delicacies. Later, the aircraft flew into stormy weather and landed somewhere outside time and space in cascades of light and smoke. The travellers were then whisked off to the 'cockpit', which was a stage on which various popular Danish bands played dance music until it was time to land again.

Total concept

Welcome Event Marketing is also facing new challenges itself.

Up till now, we have concentrated on show productions and events, but the trend is for customers to demand both creativity and traditional PCO services together. As a result, we are moving into the congress and conference area, where we can for example help companies and associations to strengthen both their businesses and their communication, said Jannik Seifert.

We have integrated the event agency with traditional PCO services. Together with Pernille Hertz and Jørgen Boesen, both of whom have a great deal of experience in the PCO industry, we are establishing Welcome Meeting Management, which will offer total concepts in the congress and conference market.

When everything is turned upside down

Welcome Event Marketing does not offer standard solutions.

Everyone's been to conferences with dinners and concerts, and people receive lots of invitations to all kinds of things. It has to be something special for them to want to come, said Jørgen Boesen.

We turn everything upside down and do things they don't expect.We are constantly on the hunt for new locations and unusual venues. If we use places that are well-known, we change them completely so that they are virtually unrecognisable. We are always out on the edge, because that's where the event becomes interesting and will really make a difference, concluded Jesper Christensen.

November 1st 2005