CASE STUDY 1
CLIENT: Minority Supplier Diversity UK (MSDUK)
TYPE OF EVENT: 2nd MSDUK National Awards evening
VENUE: Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel, London, UK
Brief Overview:
The second MSDUK Awards Reception and Dinner celebrated the UK’s best and most innovative ethnic minority businesses (EMBs) and corporations committed to improving diversity in their supply chains. These awards recognised creative, dynamic and customer-focused EMBs and the forward-thinking companies that have embraced supplier diversity.
Top executives from corporate companies, including Cisco, BT, Capital One and PepsiCo including many others from community organisations joined the event to applaud the achievements of suppliers from Britain’s diverse minority communities.
The compere for the awards and After Dinner Speaker was the funny-man of BBC acclaim, Hardeep Singh Kohli who kept the guests entertained with his wit. Keynote speakers at the landmark event included Janice Bryant Howroyd, founder & CEO Act 1 Group and India Gary-Martin, Global Head of Location & Vendor Strategy for Investment Banking Technology and Operations, JPMorgan.
Sara Todd chairperson of MSDUK’s board of directors, and also head of procurement for Europe, Middle East & Africa for Merck, Sharp & Dohme also spoke about the role of corporates to do more in the name of procurement. Responsible for influencing a total spend in excess of $1billion, covering direct materials and indirect categories, across all divisions in this major pharmaceutical company.
Six awards were presented on the evening, with more than 300 guests enjoying a specially curated scrumptious Indian meal at the Grosvenor Square, one of London’s finest hotels.
Tasks Undertaken:
Tania-Tapel’s specialist executives managed the whole event from start to finish, including the evening’s creative menu and operationally managing the outside caterers and sit-down dinner service. RSVP management was handled by Tania-Tapel, sending out invites, chasing in all the high profile guests. Logistical planning of whole event, working hand-in-hand with all the suppliers. Providing a meticulous meet and greet registration service for guests. AV production and equipment hire was managed by Tania-Tapel to ensure showreels, sound and lighting checks completed in advance and monitoring precision timing on the evening. Managing the live band rehearsals and ‘stings’ for the awards were co-ordinated. Working to ensure press area was set up and ready for interviews and photographs. Worked closely with sponsors to execute branding for the evening.
Guests were greeted in the Whitewall Suite where they enjoyed exquisite canapés and drinks and some gentle oriental background music. Then it was on to the stunning Westminister Suite where guests enjoyed a lavish Indian and Caribbean menu to the sound of a lively orchestral band with a twist of modern and classical throughout the evening, followed by the awards ceremony, jointly compered by Denise Nurse, Managing Partner at Halebury Law (a strong supporter of Supplier Diversity) and the hilarious BBC comedienne Hardeep Singh Kohli.
CASE STUDY 2
CLIENT: Fight Hunger Foundation
TYPE OF EVENT: NGO Launch, India
VENUE: Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai, India
Brief Overview:
Fight Hunger Foundation mandate is no more hungry children in India.
The launch of Fight Hunger Foundation, a subsidiary of France’s largest NGO Action contre la Faim (ACF) was only weeks away from hosting a gala dinner. The gala dinner was a culmination of promoting the cause and recognition for the 11 founding members, who had kindly contributed 5 lac each for a cause they believed in.
The private gala dinner of 65 guests for invited guests only included guest of honour, France's First Lady Valerie Trierweiler, Chief Secretary of State Summit Mallick and his wife, French Ambassador to India Monsieur François Richier, French Consul General Mr Peytregnet and a number of other high profile business people at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.
Fight Hunger Foundation required a professional that understood the importance of the VIP high profile guest list at the Gala Dinner, and needed an expert to put operational elements into place quickly and firmly as the media were heavily involved.
The event successfully raised over 63 lac in donations and contributions through various channels including pledge donations and tombola raffle draw with some rather fabulous prizes and gift bag packs from Devi Garh by Lebua, L 'Oreal, Le Mill, Grover Zampa, Diageo, Moet & Chandon, Orange. This money will help to tackle the huge problem of acute malnutrition in India which in 2014 equated to 20% of Indian children under the age of 5 (8 million a year) and 50% of child deaths below the age of 5 attributed to under nutrition (1 million deaths a year) in India alone .
Overall the event, was a huge success for a launch event to raise much needed funds .
Task Undertaken:
The Fight Hunger Foundation Gala Dinner was initiated by Tania-Tapel approximately four weeks before the event. The initial proposal was declined due to the busy schedule of Anita Patel, but upon a second approach a few months later with a date change, she found the time and was honored to contribute to such a significant cause.
Recognizing the urgency and many unmanaged tasks, Anita took on the role with determination. Valerie Metzger had already secured extensive support from sponsors, all contributing at no cost. Anita took on the responsibility of managing the branding for each sponsor and ensuring efficient delivery of their goods and products.
Working closely with the team at Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Anita ensured they understood the high expectations for service, particularly for the sit-down dinner, which needed to be executed flawlessly. The hotel generously supported the cause without charges, going above and beyond to assist.
Anita efficiently organized the table plan and briefed the hostesses on how to confidently and graciously escort the guests. She also sourced last-minute details, such as securing a protection officer from G4S for France's First Lady.
Throughout the process, Anita communicated effectively with every sponsor, venue, guest, and foundation team in both India and Paris. She handled all requirements practically and thoroughly, regardless of whether they fell within her remit.
The French team, led by Valerie Daher, Managing Director of ACF Development, was heavily involved, especially given the event's elevated profile due to the involvement of the French First Lady, Valerie Trierwieler. In India, Valerie Metzger played a crucial role, scouting and bringing together founding members and becoming one herself alongside her husband Denis. Her humanitarian advocacy was inspiring. Thomas Gonnet, Director of ACF, was deputed from Paris to oversee the success of Fight Hunger Foundation in India, and it was a pleasure for Anita to work with him.
Anita managed time, execution, and operations throughout the Gala Dinner, including pre- and post-event follow-ups. A last-minute media frenzy required her assistance with the press conference and a private ladies' lunch event at the Oberoi Mumbai to ensure everything was handled professionally.
Handling three Valeries in one day added to the challenge, but it also brought a unique dynamic to the event. Raising awareness of malnutrition was an insightful and internally rewarding experience for Anita.
CASE STUDY 3
CLIENT: British Business Group, Mumbai
TYPE OF EVENT: BBG National Convention 2013
VENUE: Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai, India
Brief Overview:
Tania-Tapel was requested to oversee the British Business Group Convention 2013, which was the third National Convention by the Association which every year was undertaken by different chapters across the country. This year was going to be even bigger, as Alan Rosling, the former chairman of BBG Mumbai was heavily involved in this event. There was a need to appoint an experienced event planner that could oversee the whole operation and was experienced enough to handle an international delegation.
The convention theme was ‘Putting the Special back into the Indo-British Partnership’. A distinguished speaker programme and hospitality lined up during the three-day convention. Luminaires from the world of business and government in india and the UK were to speak at five interesting plenary sessions, and six industry masterclass sessions. Ultimately, 85 VIP speakers were confirmed to be part of the convention, with many to be flown into Mumbai and be transported by executive cars to the Taj Mahal Hotel.
Delegates would have the opportunity to meet with experts and exchange ideas on how to deepen the bilateral flow of trade and investment. A social programme was also created to further explore Mumbai at the end of the convention - with such an international delegation in the city, it was an opportunity to showcase our vibrant city of Mumbai.
Tasks undertaken:
The convention was in it’s early phases of planning this high-level event when Tania-Tapel was delegated to Conference Manager. The venue had been contracted already, and potential keynote speakers from across the globe had been approached by Alan Rosling.
My role entailed working intently with all the agencies, vendors, venues, speakers and BBG committee - to communicate and give clear direction and delegate responsibilities.
Jointly worked cohesively with the team at UBM handling all the sound, lighting, AV and logistics parameters for the event both pre event and during the event.
Pre planned and supervised the Ping Network interviews of all the guest speakers during the two-days.
Managing sponsorship relationships for receiving branding specifications, communicating expectations and promoting the brands flawlessly with a healthy attitude.
Closely worked with the editor of the convention brochure, and each speaker office to receive and proof-back profiles for entry into both the brochure and website. Worked closely with the web-design team to upload profiles of each speaker on approval efficiently throughout the process.
Assisted in curating an appropriate menu for a global delegation for the two days of events, creating different themes for each menu throughout the convention. Worked very closely with the team at Taj Mahal Hotel to ensure smooth execution up to the run up of the event, with clarity on particulars on service, choices of linen and tableware, timelines, and execution expectations. VIP arrivals and departures accommodation schedules put together and handed over to hotel to manage effectively. Participation in the food tastings which needed tweaking to cater for the taste buds of the international delegation and putting on a 350-delegate table planned sit down dinner reception as the finale to the convention.
Oversaw the whole convention being set up and completed to a high-level of expectation, with numerous compliments for its seamless administration.