Entries Tagged 'News & Entertainment' ↓

The pies ’n’ pints package holiday culture is still alive and kicking in Tenerife but away from the dense concrete resorts of the southern coast, the largest Canary island has a dazzling offer for incentive conferences.

With plunging cliffs, black sand beaches, tropical forests and over 200 volcanoes, the island’s geography – including El Teide, Spain’s highest mountain – is jawdroppingly varied. And jawdropping is the way to describe the 5* ABAMA Resort.
Perched on a cliff top, with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. ABAMA is a careful combination of subtropical architecture and nature.

• 300 rooms within the main hotel and a further 120 rooms and suites in the exclusive villas
• 1,500sqm of versatile meeting space for up to 600 theatre style which is fully equipped with the latest technology
• 8 swimming pools throughout the resort
• an 18 hole Golf course
• 10 excellent restaurants
• 5 themed bars
• a tennis and beach club and private beach

With a good number of flights and charter options plus a good price for the quality, ABAMA really does have everything you need within the resort.

Paragon produce Conferences Worldwide and look after everything from concept, programming and creative, travel managment and ground liaison. We’re just a call away - but we reckon you’ve guessed that!

It was no small feat creating an authentic Medieval village in the grounds of Tudor Dorney Court near Windsor for our client, a well known pharmaceutical company.

Blazing braziers, torches, wenches, King, Queen, minstrels, fireaters and gorgeous and gallant fighting knights.  All this and a hearty feast of soup, hog, roasted vegetables washed down with ale, mead and wine.

Our client and guests through themselves into the theme and sang, danced and laughed through the evening which ended with a spectacular firework display.

If you fancy feasting, give us a call on 0870 224 2644.

Fancy a Swinging 60’s party?

Or choose from one of our easy peasy entertainment packages for your party this year. Perfect if you’re being careful with budget but still want to achieve a truly memorable event.

Choose from:

Swinging 60’s
Tudor Banquet
Burlesque
Grab That Game Show
Mini Cabaret

Each package includes theming, music and management.

Yes, we’re lucky enough to have an MD with Membership, so spending time in this uber cool, but relaxed haven in a converted old tea warehouse off Shoreditch High Street, is no problem at all.  In fact, any excuse and we’re in there.  For us, there’s plenty of space to meet clients and not be overheard in a variety of areas of differing designs for different moods.  All of them comfortable.

The rawness of the building has been preserved by interior designer Tom Dixon with lots of wood, chocolate browns, huge windows, futuristic bright and sinkable chairs and sofas, a huge bar, snug room, spa and gym, restaurant with superb menu and the breathtaking rooftop pool and semi-open to the elements lounge and grill.

But that’s not all.

There are areas that can be hired by non-members for corporate events.  The rooftop lounge and the wonderfully named Biscuit Tin (bar, seating area, room for DJ) and adjacent Biscuit Pin, a 2 lane ten pin bowling alley).  Max numbers standing 200.  Well worth a look.

We’ve been to 2 demos so far of this amazing holographic projection system and frankly we’re looking for a good excuse to go again.  The Musion Eyeliner is a unique HD projection system that brings spectacular 3D holographic performances to the live stage, for conferences, launches, retail window displays - in fact just about anywhere.  Live or vitual presenters can appear alongside and interact with 3d animations, people or images.  

If you’d like to book for a demo at their base in Covent Garden, let us know.  Check out their showreel on YouTube.  We also love Kate Moss’s Catwalk appearance.

For those who didn’t spot Bar Wizards doing their thing on Britain’s Got Talent then take a look at this YouTube piece.

Professional flair bartenders, they’re amongst the world’s best and will certainly liven up your event - and you won’t mind the wait for your drink.

It’s not new, but it’s stunning, and you might not have seen it yet.  A breathtaking aerial ballet, featuring an aerialist suspended beneath a helium balloon as it floats through your crowd. Illuminated and set to music, a Heliosphere performance is truly unforgettable. 

Click here for Cool YouTube video

We came across Green Tomato Cars earlier this year.  The Hammersmith based company’s fleet comprise Toyota Prius saloons that have an engine that runs partly on electric battery and partly on fuel.  This means their carbon emission is only half that of a traditional black cab and the company offsets the unavoidable emissions.

The company operates 24/7 across London.  You can either call and book or set up an account and book online.  Give them a call!  020 8568 0022

1.Our first tip is - call us!  But if you are going it alone:

2. Use LEDs
Lighting is one of the most obvious ways an event consumes energy and a growing number of technologies offer more earth-friendly solutions.

LED lights win raves for their convenience and low energy usage. An LED fixture of comparable brightness uses up to 80 percent less energy than its conventional counterpart. Another perk of LED lights is that the lights themselves come in all colours, so there’s no need to set up huge labour-intensive rigs for colour films.

Hassle Factor: None. Using them for an event is a simple request for most lighting companies.

Cost: LEDs are more expensive to produce, so hiring costs more. On the other hand, setup is much quicker and easier, so you could recoup most or all of the hire cost.

2. Rethink Your Cars
While hybrid cars such as the Toyota Prius are the best-known, there are a variety of alternative-fuel vehicles on the road, and a few forward-thinking car services are offering these vehicles. Green Tomato has a fleet of Priuses for customers traveling around London and beyond. Other companies such as Chauffeur-First offer their fleet of executive Lexus hybrid vehicles. London’s 20,000 black taxi fleet will also be expected to meet strict emissions standards by mid 2008, under the Mayor’s Taxi Emissions Strategy.

Hassle Factor: Outside of major cities, finding a green/er car service is tough. For smaller events, you might be better off renting a hybrid and hiring a driver, or be creative with local and appropriate options where earth-friendly transportation is a priority. But for guests or execs who have their hearts set on a stretch Hummer or a similarly gas-guzzling ride, there might not be much you can do.

Cost: These services are generally within the same price range as other services that provide more typical town cars.
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Interactive methods and techniques are an integral mix for an effective conference and in the right situation, introducing intelligently designed and delivered games will energise your audience and get them involved, motivated and… remembering your message. 

Here are 7 reasons why:

Breaks Ice
Gives everyone the opportunity to break out of their traditional roles and express themselves more freely

Draws out people
New or quiet participants quickly become valued members of the group

Draws out hidden issues
Every day hidden issues can be brought to the surface through a well-designed game and then expertly processed to help participants recognize implications.

Reveals hidden talents
Game conditions can set people loose to invent, create, design, negotiate, set targets, take bold actions and succeed

Generates energy & enjoyment
A game can deliver key learning points with involvement, excitement and entertainment. A great way to launch your program, or to end the event

Highlights a specific message/theme
Whatever your focus – motivation, innovation, teamwork, sales, an intelligently designed game can bring that focus to the forefront of participants minds and maintain it through and beyond the event

Gathers new ideas & solutions
By introducing new perspectives, new ideas grow and lessons are learnt that can continue to be used long after your event

Establishes a reference point & lasting metaphor
People refer to effective conference games for years. Let the activity and insights from your conference become an anchor for group understanding

Let us know what’s been successful for you in the past.