Author: skadmin

Feeling Sporty and Sassy for the Phoenix Open

More than 650,000 people and zero waste at the largest golf tournament in the country. I know. It sounds like a joke, but seriously, sassies, the Phoenix Open is real and it is amazing.

The Phoenix Open was held Jan. 29 to Feb. 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, at TPC Scottsdale-Champions Course. Our friends at CORT Events absolutely killed the design by taking in many forms of inspiration for different spaces and viewing areas and executing with perfection. They delivered 12 trailers filled with more than 10,000 individual pieces of furniture. Sassies, executing an event of this scale takes expertise because that is a LOT of furniture. Here is the inspiration behind just a few of the beautiful spaces that CORT designed:

• The Cove at 17: Offering an elite oasis in the middle of the Arizona desert, CORT provided an elevated guest experience fit for VIPs who enjoyed the tournament from this box. Drawing inspiration from yacht club décor, aesthetic was achieved by incorporating comfortable seating in colors and fabrics reminiscent of the shore. Located on the south side of the 17th green, The Cove at 17 offered one of the most valued suite hospitality opportunities for corporate participants, elevated by design concepts that provided elegant and welcoming spaces.

• The Loge: Inspired by farm chic trends, the Loge featured refined wood textures, pops of greenery mixed with industrial textures and plush furniture for guests to relax. One of the hottest VIP lounges on the PGA TOUR, The Loge opened into a shared luxurious lounge area with all-inclusive food and beverage and ended on a comfortable deck with a bird’s-eye view to all the excitement on the 15th green. Honestly, sassies, the Loge sounds like my kind of viewing experience.

• The Bay Club: Using moveable hedges and refined textures, as well as fun pops of color and eclectic patterns, The Bay Club reflected the top event design trends of 2018, while serving the needs of each group in the space. Offering access to an upscale lounge area as well as a viewing platform overlooking the 10th fairway, the open concept of the elite, members-only club, Soho House L.A., inspired CORT Events to create a space that was both accessible and private for The Bay Club.

This video shows all the hard work that everyone at TPC Scottsdale and CORT Events put into the four-day event. CORT furniture rental was essential to the event’s zero-waste goal. Every single thing at the event was recycled or reusable. So green for 2018! Using an eye for design and drawing on the hottest trends of the year, CORT Events made The Waste Management Phoenix Open a resounding success!

To learn more about CORT’s event rental collections, visit www.cortevents.com.

Statement-Making Event Décor to Spice Up Your New Year

A new year means new colors, new fabrics, and new design trends for your event décor. Whether you’re throwing the gala of the century or hosting an intimate get together for the Oscars, you’ll want to incorporate these ideas into your design concept to stay on-trend and throw an event your guests will be sure to remember! These trends are straight out of Milan, so you know they’re hot. Our friends at CORT Events scooped out the la test and shared what they’re seeing for the year ahead.

Color trends that are literally everywhere: Gray Seating, Bold Energetic Colors and Graphic Patterns. Design Trends that I can’t get enough of: Luxurious Curves, Rich Textures, and Modern Industrial Chic incorporating the 70’s vibe.

• Gray Seating: It’s more than black and white. Gray is the dominating neutral for fabric in seating this year. It matches everything and I’m seeing it in accent pieces and ottomans. Desert rose tones, terracotta, deep greens are also popping up as subdued neutrals that can play well with gray and support other, more vibrant colors. These muted tones are contrasted with black metal frames to anchor the palette and balance the light and dark tones in the space.
• Bold, Energic Colors: Pantone shook me to my core when they announced the color of the year – Ultra Violet. Exploding with zest and energy, accents in ultra violet add a sexy yet elegant ambiance to any event space. Pantone is forecasting that this Spring will be full of discerning colors like Meadowlark, Cherry Tomato, Pink Lavender and Arcadia. The pure bold colors create a high voltage vitality to event décor designs. Many of these fabulous Pantone hues are offered in CORT’s ottoman collections, including its new Beverly bench ottoman collection.
• Graphic Patterns: CORT Events is seeing oversized patterns and accessories in bold colors being used in a more tailored minimal way, and I am absolutely loving it. Adding gold, bronze and copper to underscore these punchy prints gives me all the 1970’s Palm Springs vibes I could ever ask for. Tribal patterns in earth tones are also playing up the visual interest. Consider your event space and guest expectations when choosing which patterns you want to play with in your event design.
• Luxurious Curves: Gone are harsh, hard lines. 2018 invites guests to be comfortable and cozy with softened edges on every surface. CORT’s new seating collections, Munich and Century, reflect the years’ trends with soft velvet-like gray fabrics, espresso and black frames and soft rounded seat backs.
• Rich Textures: Consider all the senses when designing your event space, and keep supple fabrics and textures in mind as you decide on accent pieces. Fabrics that feel rich like velvets and leathers add dimension and significance to the design concept.
• Modern Industrial Chic: CORT is seeing rustic design evolve and are now smarter as well as more chic and streamlined. Reclaimed wood is over! Marble, black metal, smooth edges and rich colors for contrast are making all the headlines. This modern industrial chic vibe incorporates more refined textures, upgraded natural woods, lush fabrics, bold colors and patterns. I’m loving the mix of marble and metallic surfaces with wood and greenery to create a sophisticated, organic and surprising mix that’s easy to personalize in any space.

Sassies, I can promise you this, these trends will be everywhere in 2018. Incorporating elements of the trends that speak to you will elevate your events in the coming year. I, personally, can’t wait to make these trends the focal point of every event I host this year. So fun! Tell me all about your event design ideas for the year on Facebook!

To learn more about CORT’s event rental collections, visit www.cortevents.com

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How many Millennials do you think are in our country today? Would you believe me if I told you there are over 83 million? Well, that’s the number according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Right now, millennials represent more than one-quarter of the nation’s population.

Do you know what makes Millennials different from other generations? Well, first of all, millennials have grown up in a time of rapid change, giving them a set of priorities and expectations drastically different from previous generations. Now Sassies, I know you may find this shocking, but Millennials LOVE technology and being constantly connected is a priority! Did you note the sarcasm there? OF COURSE staying connected is important for today’s events AND meetings! Not just for Millennials but for all of us! When is the last time you went to an event without your phone?!

Millennials are blurring the lines between work and play, as they are always connected and can work from anywhere, literally anywhere! With so much information at their fingertips all the time, this generation of workers seeks meeting and conference experiences that offer something they can’t get on their computer screen. They want an authentic experience that fosters learning and contains elements of surprise.

When Millennials attend events, they expect a shareable, FABULOUS one-of-a-kind experience. Have you noticed a selfie station at recent events you’ve attended? You can thank a Millennial! Both meeting and event attendees want to feel inspired, connected to fellow attendees, and engaged in the overall experience of the event.

Designing and furnishing events have evolved as well. Millennials EXPECT the unexpected! No more run-of-the-mill, boring meetings. They want to walk away greatly impacted and ready to share their experience with their social media followers! So how do you design a fab event to engage millennials?

Create Collaborative Team Environments. Generic “theater” seating for meetings will not please this generation. Spaces that not only delight the senses but create a collaborative team environment conducive to learning, networking, and brainstorming are what Millennials desire in their event spaces. Experiment with different seating arrangements, such as casual seating vignettes and small lounges to make your space feel comfortable and inviting. Create unique lounges using Hexagon Ottomans or Island Sofas that encourage groups to sit informally, collaborate and help break down barriers to communication.

Provide Flexibility. Furnishings that allow for easy movement and flexibility make Millennials most comfortable. Consider using curved or round seating, such as pieces from the CORT Endless Collection, that encourages a constant flow around the furnishings. Bar table groupings are also a great way for small groups to gather and work impromptu. Incorporate non-traditional seating around café tables or monitors. The Marche Ottomans swivel and can be configured on the fly for campfire style gatherings, plus they add a dose of color to keep the room fresh. Wagner Chairs and Vibe Cubes are great ways to add texture and color to a space while still maintaining comfort and style.

Always Connected, Always Plugged In. Staying connected and charged is a hot button item for this audience. The importance of being connected to mobile devices and maintaining accessibility to charging capabilities is a must! Introduce a variety of powered furniture to your meeting rooms to create communal workspaces that foster a team environment and encourage collaborative strategic planning.

Offer Comfortable Breakout Sessions. Comfortable soft seating not only keeps your participants relaxed but also alert, engaged and more willing to participate. Define large or small breakout areas with Miramar Dividers or Boxwood Hedges to allow for more intimate gatherings within a large room and provide opportunities for branding and signage. Comfortable and energetic spaces encourage interactivity that creates memorable learning experiences.

Millennials are keeping planners on their toes to continually create meetings and conferences that reflect the evolving social landscape. Rethink the way you develop, design, and deliver events and experiences so they leave a lasting impact on attendees. Keep your events fabulous, think outside of the box, and you can’t go wrong! I’ll even let you in on a little secret … if you plan a fabulous meeting you also increase the chances of your attendees remembering the content!

To learn more about CORT’s event rental collections, visit www.cortevents.com.