2017 Las Vegas trip
Our mission in 2017 was to secure a long-lasting professional relationship with the esteemed institution UC Berkeley by proving our worth through excellent service delivery. We were tasked with ensuring a top-notch experience for their group of 175 members. Over three months, we collaborated closely with five event organizers, whose mandate was to make this the most memorable graduate school trip to date.
To create an exceptional experience, we synthesized all the necessary information and presented our clients with various meticulously planned proposals to secure their business. Although they were in discussions with several other companies, they chose us based on our expertise in handling large organizations, our robust relationships with various venues and hotels, and our commitment to delivering superior service while adhering to their budget.
The first challenge was to find accommodation for the sizable group. We negotiated exclusive hotel rates significantly lower than those accessible to the general public.
The group made Mandalay Bay Resort their temporary home, occupying 65 double queen rooms and two expansive penthouse suites. For their night-time entertainment, they opted for Hakkasan Nightclub at the MGM Grand, acquiring half of the Main Room Mezzanine for an exclusive experience. This private, cordoned-off area provided an intimate balcony view overlooking the DJ booth, adding to the VIP feel. The vibrant energy of Hakkasan was a big hit with the group.
The following day, the group headed to Daylight Beach Club at Mandalay Bay. We suggested Daylight as the venue offered the most space while remaining within the allocated budget. The club provided us with an exclusive buyout of their luxurious cabana sections, only accessible to our clients, at an incredibly competitive price.
2018 Las Vegas trip
Organizing the 2018 trip for our client presented a fresh set of challenges. The graduate school annually appoints different organizers, fostering a friendly rivalry to outperform the previous year’s planners. Having already earned their trust and established a strong working relationship, we eagerly accepted the task.
This year saw an increased number of attendees – up to 225. Leveraging our negotiation skills, we secured an incredibly discounted hotel net rate of 70 percent off the retail price. We booked cheaper rates than the previous year and managed to reserve over 700 square feet suites for each attendee at the Delano Hotel. Our long-standing partnerships with Mandalay Bay and Delano executives facilitated early room reservations.
The group found comfortable accommodations at the Delano, occupying 60 double queen suites and two expansive penthouse suites.
For their evening entertainment, we secured a private area on the terrace of Intrigue Nightclub at Wynn Resort. Intrigue was chosen for its ample space, the open and covered terrace patio area, and its proximity to the DJ booth. The renowned artist Diplo was performing that night. Not only did our group enjoy a more extensive, closer space to the DJ, but we also managed to save them money while providing the same quantity of beverages they had enjoyed the previous year at Hakkasan. The weather was perfect, and the group relished the exquisite outdoor layout and clean design, trademarks of the Wynn properties.
Regarding the daytime activities, Daylight proved to be an immense success the previous year, leading us to reserve the same spot for our clients again. We made subtle modifications to the alcohol distribution, which enabled the group’s drink credit to extend an additional hour compared to the previous year. We concluded the day with a unique “Berkeley Haas” bottle presentation and a special DJ shoutout for the group.
We eagerly anticipate collaborating with Berkeley’s Haas School of Business again in the not-too-distant future.