CELEBRATE IN BOLLYWOOD STYLE
EMC Australia Employee Kick Off (staff celebration component)
Objective: Recognised in previous years as a formal awards gala dinner. EMC required an element of difference for the final evening of the 3 day kick-off event. This was an evening meant to reward staff and show appreciation for a successful year gone by and also an evening to engage the team in a relaxed and fun environment.
Strategy: To transform the evening to an interactive event themed “Bollywood”
Tactics: Convert an empty room from plain walls and ceilings to striking bright colours of fuscia, oranges and purple. 
Guests were greeted by bellydancers, bindi’s placed on foreheads, bangles on wrists and gold turbans on the males heads. Bollywood photo studios were set up, tarot reader interpreted cards, Henna tattoo artist painted people’s hands and a roving snake handler roamed the room. A Bollywood cinema was set-up on one wall playing Bollywood movies in the background, a 12 metre Henna patterned bar featured in a premium position and life size elephant milled outside for guests entering and exiting the event. Caterers provided Indian style canapés and food stations of spice and non-spice flavours.
Results: A highly successful engaging and interactive event which was remembered by staff as ‘unlike any other staff event’.
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IMBIZO – A South African gathering for Event Management Companies
IMBIZO is a Zulu word for gathering and also the name of South African Tourism’s (SAT) recent showcase: a four-city road show for Australian Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events market. The Forum Group assisted SAT in managing and producing IMBIZO. Read our case study below.
Objective: To educate and immerse the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Events industry in the experience of South Africa and its new diverse offerings as a global meetings destination.
The key focus was to create an interactive and educational experience.
Strategy: To create a unique IMBIZO with a 
feel for the experiences that a delegate would have in South Africa.
Tactics: To transform an empty function space into distinct South African MICE encounters.
Guests were greeted by the memorizing voices a 24 piece choir singing lively traditional and modern South African music. Guests enjoyed South African flavoured canapés and wines.
From the pre-diner drinks area, guests were prompted to enter the ‘Stargazing Safari’ zone which was completely dark and only lit by subtle star cloth which covered all exposed walls. Unique sounds of the South African night noises were played subtly in the background.
Guests were required to spend 5 minutes at each of the 11 SAT partner stands to hear about existing and new venues, tours and DMC offerings. A loud elephant’s trumpet sound signaled the trigger to move to the next stand.
The main dinner area was transformed into a ‘Boma’ (campfire dinner) experience with a central campfire prop, long picnic style tables, wooden seating and reeds and plants placed around the room. The area was lit with warm ambers and red lighting to enhance the campfire feel. Delicious traditional Braai (South African Barbeque style) foods were served at all venues.
Results: A highly successful engaging and interactive event which provided Event Management Companies, Professional Conference Organisers, Incentive Houses, Meetings & Conference Managers substantial information to be able to on-sell the wonderful destination of South Africa.
A sensory experience of a South African IMBIZO to the Australian MICE market.
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SCHOOLGIRLS: GET READY, GET SET, GO!!
Objective: To educate, inspire and motivate schoolgirls’ (aged 14-16) to stay actively involved in sport and physical activity, by making the 2010 Breakfast the most fun and interactive breakfast yet!
Strategy: To invigorate the current event format by focusing on creating an interactive environment where the primary focus of the breakfast was to see schoolgirls’ get active and participate in various sports and activities.
Tactics: To change the layout of the event from round tables to bleachers, and provide the schoolgirls with an ‘on-the-go’ breakfast box rather than a sit down breakfast. This allowed more time and more space for the schoolgirls to participate in the activity stations, mingle with athletes and really ‘get active!’
Results: 730 schoolgirls, Olympic, Commonwealth, Australian athletes and VIPs attended. Schoolgirls’ participated in 12 different activity stations showcasing them to a variety of sports. An interesting panel session with 6 high achieving athletes, moderated by Beach Volleyball champion Kerri Pottharst, created an excellent opportunity for schoolgirls to ask questions and get advice from their favourite sporting heroes.