Something Special A preview of next year's highlights Along with valuable information from the education sessions and booths on the trade show floor, attendees at The Special Event 2001, Jan. 10-13 in New Orleans, will have the chance to experience goods and services offered by the show's sponsors.
K-Paul's Catering Expedition, based in New Orleans, is sponsoring a luncheon Jan. 11 featuring legendary chef Paul Prudhomme. Prudhomme will demonstrate signature dishes and discuss upcoming food trends.
K-Paul's Catering Expedition is the traveling arm of Prudhomme's catering operation. For hosts who "really want to make a statement," says Marie Hasney, director of sales and catering, the team will fly in food, equipment and culinary staff to create an authentic K-Paul's meal. K-Paul's catering operation handles about 250 events a year, Hasney says.
WOW WEDDINGS The luncheon "WOW Weddings for Any Season" will be staged Jan. 12 at the new Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, which opened last month.
"We are so excited to have been chosen as the location of the wedding luncheon," says Stacy Jones, the Ritz wedding specialist and co-chair of the wedding luncheon. "Our executive chef, Eric Branger, has planned outstanding menus that will showcase the different seasons of the year. The attendees will be thrilled with the variety and presentation of our culinary creations, including wedding cakes by our pastry chef, James Satterwhite."
Speaker sponsors include Jan. 10 keynoter Dan Clark, head of Salt Lake City-based Dan Clark Success System. One of the contributing authors to the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series, Clark will examine the issue of attitude vs. ability: When our attitude is right, our ability always keeps up, he maintains. He also will ask attendees to define who they are as opposed to what they do.
Using humor and other strategies to build customer loyalty will be the focus of a presentation by sponsor Scott Friedman of Denver in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sale" on Jan. 12. His presentation "will give [attendees] some fresh ideas," he promises. "I will encourage them to have more fun in creating ideas and show how to incorporate their unique sense of humor into their events." The Special Event is a valuable opportunity "to network with some of the most creative minds on the planet," he adds.
PRODUCING MAGIC Providing all production for the wedding luncheon and the Opening/Closing General Sessions and video production of the Gala Awards Celebration on Jan. 13 will be New Orleans-based Royal Audio Video. The company is equipped to handle the task, president Randy Gervais explains, because "we're a one-point-contact, full-production-service company. We provide audio, sound, lights, video and stage set design."
