Ice-cool launch of Moving Venue Management's Dubai Office

In events you have to be prepared for anything and everything. Very often it is not what has happened but how you deal with it, how creative you can be and how well you communicate the last minute changes to your guests. Only the strong survive through the stress, as the details of this event shows.

On May 22nd MVM (Moving Venue Management) was due to launch its Dubai office and introduce its new London Director, Stephanie Vaughan, to a 220-strong crowd of event managers at the newly opened Ice Space venue near London Bridge.

However, on the Friday afternoon before the event Ice Space went into liquidation, making the MVM team think on its toes and “go to plan B”. That meant working solidly over the weekend to set into concrete the back-up plans, ultimately ensuring that the confirmed guests knew of all the changes.

The ‘ice’ theme was chosen to provide an exciting contrast to the hot 43C? temperatures of Dubai and, naturally, being a new venue in London, Ice Space added the ‘cool’ edge to draw-in the crowds.

However, plan B was to find a venue that would still be accessible (and available!) and Glaziers Hall, a conference and events venue situated on the River Thames, was an ideal solution, proving to be a very accommodating, hard working and flexible venue, allowing Moving Venue to create the stunning ‘MVM Ice Gallery’.

Icebox, the popular ice sculpting company, quickly created ice bars, ice candle holders, an ice plinth, ice statutes and more to frost and glisten the traditional surroundings of the Glaziers Hall, which were covered by sheets of white silk and projected images of the MVM logo. The affect was impressive as the ‘MVM Ice Gallery’ provided great intrigue and wonder, the ice effects acting as a very literal ‘ice-breaker’ to get the crowd buzzing.

In his welcome speech, Richard Beggs, Owner and Managing Director of the Moving Venue Group, lamented Ice Space’s closure but praised the professionalism of Glaziers Hall.

“It is a great shame that we’re not at Ice Space. It is a wonderful place, very entertaining, inspiring and a good visitor attraction. Friends of mine were involved in it and I am bitterly sad for them and I do sympathise deeply.

“At half past one on Friday we had no major worries at all about this event and then got the call to say that Ice Space was no more. So we worked all weekend to respond as a courageous event management company; be creative but still demonstrate what we were trying to say. Glaziers Hall gave us a blank canvas and I am pleased to say that it looks fantastic.

Richard went on to talk of the strength of the MVM team and its vision for the future.

“One of our greatest assets is our people, who are part of the further development of what we are trying to achieve. Stephanie Vaughan brings with her a wealth of experience from a corporate background and Kate Bowery, who is heading up our Dubai office, is doing a terrific job.

“I am pleased to announce that in October we got keys to Moving Venue’s Dubai office, which we were thrilled to open. Business is coming in nicely and showing great promise.”

The preparation and quick thinking of the MVM team paid off. The launch had a remarkably high turnout and was a roaring success. Scores of BNC members mingled amongst an impressive crowd of 180 attendees who were entertained by ice sculptors, artists, musicians and magician-of-the-moment, Dynamo.

A highlight of the event was sampling Moving Venue Caterer’s fabulous taster menu of peppered beef with parmesan cream, tomato and caper salsa; tiger prawns with black and white sesame seeds; corn-fed chicken marinated with honey, ginger and sage wrapped in parma ham; seared scallop, nashi pear salad, chilli syrup; Tomato tartar, quince and truffle pecarino and more plus the dishes with wow factor: gin & tonic granita; chocolate marquise, green tea jelly.

Whilst the food made a powerful impression so did the affable MVM team and their sterling efforts to make the launch of MVM Dubai such a cool success.

“We’ve had some excellent feedback following the event and I have to say that the interest in MVM London and MVM Dubai since the event has increased dramatically,” confirms MVM London’s Director, Stephanie Vaughan (an ex-corporate conference organiser and BNC member).

As the event showed, sometimes it’s the interest in the company, and not the snazzy new, ‘cool’ venue, that pulls in the crowds. As Richard Beggs said himself, “Thank you to all you 180 guests who showed up tonight. That’s not bad out of 220 who originally said they would come. It shows us that it’s not just Ice Space that you were interested in but there’s interest in our company as well.”

To add to the success of the night, Sam, from Reuters and Zena from The Wellcome Trust – both members of The BNC – were the evening’s prize winners. Sam is off to experience Dubai and Zena won some champagne. At least she had plenty of ice on hand to keep it chilled!

Contact

MVM Dubai
Tel: +971 4 361 3752
Fax: +971 4 391 8498
enquiries@mvmdubai.com
www.mvmdubai.com