Katalyst Productions - Best Partner Engagement Event

Company: Katalyst Productions (Philadelphia, PA)
Company Description: Katalyst Productions is a cause-centric communications and events agency based in Philadelphia, with clients in key markets across the country. We’re committed to helping our clients increase their impact through unique event experiences and communications strategies, and each project is designed to accelerate positive change.
Nomination Category: Event Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Corporate & Community - Partner Engagement Event

Nomination Title: Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center Grand Opening Celebration

We were tasked to re-introduce Philadelphia to the Four Seasons brand when we were hired to plan and produce an iconic, unforgettable "one-night-only" Grand Opening Celebration for Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center on October 22, 2019.

We honored the Four Seasons legendary brand by infusing elegant design with memorable, jaw dropping installations–creating a series of activations in key spaces throughout the hotel designed to lure Four Seasons executives, ownership, partners, VIPs, influencers and international media effortlessly through the hotel.

Because the new hotel features unparalleled architecture, design and style– our task was to amplify and exaggerate those assets unique to the hotel in a way that felt luxurious and over-the-top. By highlighting those features in a truly transformative way, we paid homage to the essence of the hotel without overwhelming it–creating an immersive guest experience unlike any other.

The major challenge we needed to solve was to create an intentional event experience that strategically lured guests through each of the key spaces without guests getting “stuck” in one area and missing a stop. Because the hotel is spread out over 60 floors and capacity in each space was limited, we designed a progressive journey in which guests flowed in small groups from one space to the next, enjoying signature music, menus and cocktails in each space.

Key to achieving this was the RSVP process, which was specifically designed to mimic the luxury hotel “personalized check in time” offering. In order to prevent too many guests arriving at one time, guests selected their own “check-in” time (arrival time).Upon arrival, guests were issued RFID enabled “key cards”, which enabled them to have professional, branded photos taken in each key space and delivered as a personalized digital photo album post event.

Outside the Jeff Leatham Studio, “Rock Star” florist Jeff Leatham transformed a stark, white lobby into an intoxicatingly seductive floral fantasy, the focal point of which was a 20’x40’ raised LED dance floor upon which thousands of fuchsia and bright orange rose petals were placed and lit from beneath to make them "glow”. The installation was accented by an oversized, custom fractal wall made from mirrored fuchsia plexiglass to act as a photo backdrop.

The highlight of the Spa & Wellness Center was the transformation of the hotel’s iconic edge-to-edge infinite pool on the 57th Floor. In order to highlight the dramatic design of this space and take up as little floor space as possible, we designed and built a clear plexiglass floating stage that was wrapped in mirror and held in place by a custom suspended tension design in order to meet strict engineering requirements.

The Grand Terrace Ballroom featured larger-than-life floral décor and a deliberate mash-up of sleek, modern design and jaw dropping organic elements. Critical to this transformation was the installation of 4,000 square feet of mirrored black plexiglass to cover the existing carpet to create a dramatic, liquid effect. Oversized floral trees and floral spills were installed throughout, and custom fractal performance backdrops accommodated rotating performances from a 9-piece band and DJ. The entire space was converted– inclusive of flooring, lighting, floral, and furniture– in under 24 hours.

Optionally, list the appropriate creative and production credits for the nominated event, such as the following: Advertising Agency/City: Client: Art Director: Cinematographer: Creative Director: Designer: Director: Illustrator/City: Music Producer/City: Photographer/City: Printer/City: Producer: Production Company/City: Programmer: Writer: Web Development Firm/City:

Concept Design, Management and Production:Katalyst Productions
Artistic Direction and Floral Design:Jeff Leatham
Creative Production:Trevor Vaughan
Production:HITECH Events, Light Action Productions, Papertini Event Design, Revolution Event Production, Staging Dimensions
Video Production:Helm Creative Studio
Photography:Barbaro Photography
Food and Beverage:Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center, Jean-Georges, JG SkyHigh, Vernick Fish
Culinary Consultant:Jason Cichonski
Printing:Revival Letterpress
Rentals:Bubble NYC, Party Rental Ltd., Penncora
Talent Management:Mole Street Artists (live performances by Zeek Burse Band, Alfiya Glow, JUL&CO, Noelle Mercer, DJ Sabeel and Bellosound)