Meeting and event planners are used to brainstorming event planning ideas to incorporate into their events. So when 4,400 of the industries meeting professionals and industry suppliers from around the world gather together in one place, it takes some creative thinking to wow them.
This was the challenge faced by the sales management team at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas. And although a red carpet line isn’t a new idea, the magnitude of scale for attendees at the MPI World Education Congress (WEC) 2008 achieved the objective.
“This was actually the first time we have done this type of welcome at this scale,” said Richard Harper, vice president of sales for Mandalay Bay.” A few of us were brainstorming and someone said, ‘Let’s go find the longest red carpet anyone has every seen to welcome MPI!’ Then someone added, ‘We can’t have a red carpet without screaming fans!’ Next thing you know, we created an experience that our guests will remember for a very long time.”
Red Carpet Line, Easy to Create
Creating a red carpet line isn’t as complicated as some may think. Given the volume of staff who work at the convention hotel, the sales management team at Mandalay Bay was able to gather more than 200 staff members to be at the line to welcome the MPI attendees.
“I’d love to say this was a well thought strategic initiative, but the truth is that we sent one e-mail to the Executive Committee at Mandalay Bay and next thing you know, I received immediate responses with 'I’ll have 20 people there; I’ll have 50 people there,'” Harper added.
Clearly the idea was a success. MPI WEC attendees walked through the red carpet line and commented about how special they felt.
