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Encore have announced a partnership with Sofitel Sentosa Singapore Resort expanding their footprint to clients in the region, particularly corporations and PCOs wanting an out of city location offering an opulent experience. 

Destination events have gained increasing popularity in recent years, with organisers looking beyond traditional hotel walls and into less conventional venues like picturesque, or exclusive locations. However, Sofitel Sentosa Singapore offers international delegates the unique combination of a professional conference venue in an island location providing an opulent, luxury experience for down time. 

Getting away from the standard convention center environment and into a more inspiring, beautiful, environment can foster more authentic conversations and relaxed interactions while guests sample the local flavors and take in the sights. A hidden gem set atop a cliff on the Southern edge of Sentosa Island, the luxuriously appointed Resort offers guests a haven of peace and tranquility spanning 27 acres of outdoor palatial spaces.  

Katherine Pfahl, Director, Strategic Partnerships Encore APAC commented, 

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with such a beautiful and unique venue like Sofitel Sentosa Singapore, and look forward to growing our offering in Singapore. Together, we’ll elevate the guest experience, through each interaction they have at an event at this beautiful island location. The point of difference for our partnership will be the ability to offer a tailored, conferencing solution using the latest mobile equipment, combined with the unique Resort providing add-on experiences via the Resort and other local activities beyond the conference.” 

We did it! Encore’s virtual event platform Chime Live acknowledged as finalist in Spice Hot 100!

Encore has again been recognised in the 2023 Spice News Hot 100 in the category of:

Services and Suppliers for 2023 in the Best Virtual Event Platform

Every year the team at Spice News search the nation to find the top 100 suppliers and services in the events industry – as voted by the public. Their hard work saves you the time and headache of finding the top five businesses in each category.

About Chime Live:

Packed with helpful features, it’s easy to see why this is the platform of choice for in-person and hybrid events.

Platform features:

  • Create a branded online experience
  • Tailor the functions to suit your requirements
  • Secure platform with option for attendee login access
  • My Experience feature lets attendees select whether they’re attending in-person or online and the platform will configure to suit.
  • Live stream multiple speakers in from anywhere in the world
  • House important event information and maps
  • Engage attendees with polling, Q & A, word clouds, heat maps, up voter and more interactive tools.
  • Greater ROI with sponsor recognition
  • banners and profiles that click through to their desired webpage.
  • Upload videos and images
  • List Exhibitor information and location.
  • Ability to quickly make changes to the event as they occur
  • Collect valuable data for insights and improvements – both live and historical data
  • Security protocols compliant with AGM requirements.
  • Facilitate networking and video chat between attendees.
  • Showcase your speakers with clickable bios
  • Attendees can create personalised agendas

Find out more here.

Encore APAC is proud to provide support both local communities and industries in our region; and as part of this commitment, we recently expanded our support of the Fijian community with an outreach program in partnership with Gordon Rugby Football Club to sponsor the local teams; the Drua Rugby team and Yasawa Island Rugby club, now known as the Somosomo Stags.

Encore’s Fijian team members were joined by Encore APAC Managing Director, Scott Nodsle and the former GM, of Gordon Rugby, Grant Pisani to celebrate their sponsorship and present the players’ new team jerseys, boots, balls and training shirts.  

They were welcomed by the village residents with a rousing chorus welcome song and handmade welcome sign. The presentation was led by their village Chief and our local key partner, Kaiava Salusalu “Salu” at the Somosomo Village in the Yasawa islands. After the initial welcome meeting and Kava ceremony with the Village elders, Encore’s Managing Director, Scott Nodsle presented the partnership’s gifts to support the village. That was followed by a beautiful display of Fijian dishes prepared by the team mothers, wives and supporters to celebrate the sponsorship.

Scott Nodsle commented,

“Rugby is a way of life and revered sport in Fiji, offering opportunities for the locals to grow, develop and connect within a community environment. So we are very honoured and privileged to support and sponsor the Drua Rugby team and Somosomo Stags.

“A highlight of the visit was developing strong relationships and ties with the local community. We were overwhelmed by their warm welcome. Building connections and opportunities for growth and careers with Encore is one of our future focuses for the village community.”

After the formalities, the younger locals demonstrated their football skills during a training session to prepare for their community rugby tournament. The local teams and their families then joined Encore and Gordon Rugby on a boat ride to Naviti Island, where the Stags worked hard to get into the semi-finals, falling just short of winning the title and grand prize. The community was thrilled with the outreach and support, as mentioned by the team Captain, Opeti Laqo,

“This is such a blessing for us because it is a huge burden being lifted from our shoulders, as we struggled with financial needs to support the village, we can now focus more time on training sessions and helping our community further.”

Grant Pisani was similarly delighted by the visit to the island and presentation with the team and commented,

“It was an easy decision to supply kit and support for these youths chasing their rugby dreams as I was a rugby player back in the day. Working with the local community has given us more than we can give to them, by enriching our knowledge and love for the people of Fiji.”

Click here to listen to Episode 26 of the Coconut Wireless Podcast with Kaiava Salusalu from Somosomo Village on Naviti island in Fiji & Grant Pasini from Gordon Rugby Football Club to discuss the trans-Pacific partnership between Encore and Gordon Rugby in Australia and the Somosomo Stags in Fiji.

Encore has partnered with Ovolo Hotel Woolloomooloo, expanding their network of bespoke venues in Sydney. Situated near Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens, the Ovolo Hotel Woolloomooloo offers a unique stay. Bridging between heritage and modern luxury, their contemporary design is complemented by the rich history of the Woolloomooloo wharf.  

Ovolo as a brand is distinctive, in that they are a collection of contemporary hotels that keep guests connected to the little luxuries they love that are included in their stay. The company prides itself on being in touch with the modern traveller through award-winning interior designs, detail-driven comforts, complimentary value-added services like the mini bar and breakfast, with cutting-edge technology. Brimming with character, Ovolo needed an event management team that could work alongside their culture and understand their needs. Encore understood that Ovolo would require creative and tailored solutions to their event planning, knowledge that ultimately led them to success in securing the partnership.  

Encore has partnered with the Canberra Rex Hotel, expanding their network of big drivers in the event industry within the NGO and government sector in ACT. Encore’s existing knowledge of the local and public sector was a distinguishing factor in securing the win, in addition to offering the hotel an extended level of service by providing onsite audio-visual expertise. Raising the bar for what hoteliers can expect from their event planning teams in the region, as staffing onsite is not industry standard and was not viewed as necessary by their competitors during the pitch.  

The beautiful art deco-styled Canberra Rex Hotel and serviced apartments is perfectly situated in the CBD, just a short 15-minute walk to Corroboree Park and the Canberra Centre. The hotel features an in-house restaurant; the Rex Brasserie, cooked to order breakfasts, concierge services and specialises in wedding services. An offering that Encore will now be able to diversify with their service and end-to-end creative, production and technical solutions to meet the Canberra Rex Hotel’s day-to-day needs. Since the win, Encore has increased revenue, delivered seamless events, installed new equipment in venue and has taken on a greater responsibility in assisting the Canberra Rex Hotel to achieve their event goals, garnering incredible results. 

Encore have secured a partnership with Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley, part of the IHG Group to extend their services to clients wanting to offer delegates an out-of-town residential solution for conferences and meetings.

Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley was looking for an audio-visual event production partner who could provide complete end-to-end solutions to their event clients, no matter the size of the event or what the technical or creative ask may be. They wanted a company who provides five-star service each and every day. Encore answered that brief in spades and brings to the partnership a wealth of new event solutions that were previously unavailable.

Destination events have gained increasing popularity in recent years, with organisers looking beyond capital city CBD locations and traditional hotel walls and into less conventional venues like picturesque, rural, or historical locations. Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley offers many features that will attract clients looking for something different as well as an opportunity for attendees to switch off from their daily grind so that they can better focus on the content presented to them.

A destination event allows event planners to offer meeting, networking and experiences outside of the norm, such as networking in a local gallery, a scenic wine tour, team building at the near by 18-hole championship golf course, visits to heritage-listed sites, or a trip down the Hawkesbury River on the famous Paddle Wheeler.

Getting away from the standard convention center environment and into a more inspiring, beautiful, environment can foster more authentic conversations and relaxed interactions while guests sample the local flavors and take in the sights.

Encore has delivered events in many unconventional locations including a mine in Musselbrook, The Old Quarry in Alice Springs, St Hugo Winery, Cairns Armory and Artillery Museum and Tangalooma Island to name a few. The Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley presents another unique opportunity for clients wanting to get away from it all.

Katherine Pfahl, Director, Strategic Partnerships Encore APAC commented,

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with such a unique venue like Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley, and look forward to growing our partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts. Together, we’ll elevate the guest experience, through each interaction they have at an event at this beautiful location, by creating tailored solutions that fit the goals we glean from every customer.”

The Fijian Tourism Expo (FTE) took place in May 2023 with Encore providing all professional audio visual and technical solutions for Tourism Fiji to deliver an engaging event. The event took place at the Sheraton Grand Resort, with Encore installing their own 40 foot projection screen in the Ballroom to display event promotional videos – the largest screen in Fiji.

As the leading exposition of the tourism industry in Fiji, FTE, hosted by Tourism Fiji, showcased Fiji’s diverse tourism offering with attendees building relationships and partnerships for visitors and events in the region.

Scott Nodsle MD also commented,

“Encore has been creating professional events in the region since 2006 and we were delighted to be part of the showcase.”

Tim Keeling, Regional General Manager for Fiji, New Zealand and Queensland (Australia) commented,

“The Expo was an amazing spotlight on Fiji as a destination for events and travel, so our teams were focused on new ways to immerse and amaze delegates. Our technical, creative and production experts were able to utilise the latest projection technology to showcase engaging Fiji experiences on the BIG screen!”

Encore’s Creative, Technical and Production teams paired with Hilton’s first-class food and beverage service to produce an immersive experience for their esteemed guests at the Hilton, Sydney. The showcase on April 20 touched on all the senses through Encore’s innovative creative strategy and cutting-edge event technology that left an indelible impression on esteemed guests. After the event one guest, Marjolein Chandler the manager of Global Accounts at HelmsBriscoe commented;

“What to expect when you get an invite for the “immerse your senses” experience by Encore and Hilton Sydney? The answer: An evening where technology, creativity and culinary experiences intertwine and most of all fun and creating memories.”

The event was designed to demonstrate creative and innovative ways of how successful event execution can leave an indelible impression on a guest long after they have left and was attended by event industry leaders, VIP clients, and mainstream media personnel.

The pre-function area featured a bold cocktail bar, surfaced with dramatic black acrylic. Behind the bar sat a custom-built screen that was framed by layers of additional smaller plasma screens that announced the theme for the night; ‘Creating Immersive Experiences by Stimulating the Senses’.  As guests entered the semi dark ballroom, they were met by a neon light cage construction with black acrylic for a dramatic mirrored subphase, flanked by additional moving lights pre-programmed to specifical curated music with altering colours to complement the neon cage. Haze added drama to the look, enhancing the 3D aesthetic of the cube. Encased in the cage was a stunning ballerina, in traditional swan-lake style costume moving to moody atmospheric music  as guests mingled around the modular cocktail bar.

Past the networking areas that featured futuristic battery-operated LED table centrepiece lights, the guests were drawn to the sound of the rainforest, futurist and atmospheric sounds coming from around another darkened corner. Here they were met with a touch kiosk screen where they were able to choose their own immersive experience from Roses; Desert; Rain Forrest and Aura. On selecting their experience on the screen 9 room-high LED columns sprung to life displaying the creative in super-bright, animated custom designs. Each creative featured accompanying curated immersive audio that subtle changed when guests would walk through their chosen experience. The latest, ingenious, immersive audio speakers were placed on top of each column, delivering targeted sound which moved with guests as they passed through.

Finally, guests entered the end destination of the hero room where the presentation was held. It featured a large LED Wall measuring a total of 66 sq. m delivering unparalleled event technical sophistication. Guests were welcomed by MC Melissa Hoyer who introduced the Hilton and Encore teams hosting the event. In this space Encore delivered the latest technical innovations, immersive audio, modular 3D LED constructions and more during the presentation.

One of the guests, Helen Batt-Rawden, the Publisher/Managing Director of Business and Tourism Publishing commented,“The visual impact of Encore’s technical solutions definitely brought the ‘wow’ factor to the showcase event”.

Encore’s Creative Director, Julz Partington took to the stage to speak to the creative strategy and process that led up to the event as well as their inspiration of stimulating the five senses; sight with amazing visual experiences with lighting effects programmed to the music, sound with immersive audio moving around the room, sensory from the touch screens and other tactile elements, taste and smell both creative by the food and beverages from Hilton’s skilled chefs and cocktail staff.

Guests were treated to a dramatic performance performed by violinist, Melissa Voyias who played a neon lit, electronic violin alongside classical and ultra-modern music. Following the performance, guests were welcomed by Hilton GM Hayden Hughes and Encore’s Managing Director APAC, Scott Nodsle who both remarked on the incredible work of their teams in delivering the industry leading event.

Hayden Hughes the General Manager of Hilton Sydney, commented;

“Partnering with Encore has allowed Hilton Sydney to enhance guest experience with unique and immersive technologies that bolster our team to streamline logistics, increase efficiency and provide the highest level of service for the property’s MICE offering. This demonstration of innovation and forward-thinking cements Hilton Sydney as one of the city’s finest venues to host and cater for the widest variety of events and meetings,”

Scott Nodsle was similarly delighted, remarking;

“The event was an amazing demonstration of what can be achieved when you combined a first-class venue such as Hilton, with Encore creative, technical and production teams, plus a LOT of inspiration”.

Encore Event Technologies has opened a brand new warehouse in Auckland building on our capabilities to deliver world-class events in New Zealand.

The launch event invited teams from around the business to experience the new office with dedicated space designed for collaboration with clients. The location will enable clients to discuss their event ideas with our teams and develop a creative, technical and production solution.

In addition, spaces have been created to accommodate Encore’s growing New Zealand based teams to demonstrate and learn about the latest event industry technologies and production innovations. It will also house a training and development space for teams to learn and demonstrate the latest technical innovations from the events industry.

Tim Keeling, Regional General Manager commented,

“The new office and warehouse give our teams and clients the opportunity to develop their ideas. It’s ideal for our teams to demonstrate how we can bring clients’ ideas to life with the latest technical and creative solutions.

We’re also really excited to have a dedicated space for our technicians to learn how to utilise event technologies, whether this be the latest product launches or technological investments by Encore, or existing equipment and how to use it in new or innovative ways”.

Encore recently launched the APAC Women of Encore group with an inaugural event dedicated to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion by focusing on gender equity, stereotypes and issues faced by females in the workplace.

The event featured several incredible Encore employees who identify as female, with keynote speaker and former staff member Elizabeth Talbot who is now a Clinical Psychologist, recounting her experience of gendered language and behaviour at work where her technical input was disregarded, and she was replaced by a more junior male peer for his input. Plus a highly engaging ‘in-conversation’ interview with Jane Lyons, General Manager, Hyatt Regency and Encore’s Katherine Pfahl, Director of Strategic Partnerships. During their in-conversation session they discussed the importance of females going for opportunities that push them outside of their comfort zone. This is a gendered attitude that has historically set women back as statistically men will go for jobs when they meet only 60% of the qualifications, whereas women will apply only if they meet 100% of the criteria. Women are typically underrepresented in leadership positions in the workforce, with only 30% of key management and 17.1% of CEO roles being held by women.

The voices of Encore ranged from Sales team members to AV Technicians all of whom had amazing stories and reasons for loving working in the rewarding, yet challenging events industry that is predominately dominated by men. For example, gender biases around women being more interested in the creative than technical side of events. A recent AV Women and Girls study debunked this assumption to be completely unfounded, with the majority of women saying that they actually preferred the technical side.

Encore’s progress in breaking down barriers and facilitating female team members careers was outlined by Managing Director, Scott Nodsle who shared statistics from Encore data showing that during the increased focus of female hires from 12% to 29% over the past 10 years business profits have exponentially increased. Making for further evidence that a more collaborative and diverse workforce is not only beneficial but advantageous for a business to play to the strengths of all genders. While there is a long way to go until we reach an equitable workforce, Encore has certainly been making strides this week to raise awareness for meaningful change to take place.

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