kma_admin, Author at Keep Memory Alive Event Center | Las Vegas Corporate Events

Top 5 Event Trends for 2016

The holidays are over and 2016 is charging forward and focused on what’s to come in the year ahead. From tech to food trends, January attempts to give a glimpse into the future and what to expect from all industries. The planning and execution of special creative events is no different. Each year is a new chance to top the last and a clean slate to fill with new concepts, fresh ideas and inspiration.

The Keep Memory Alive Event Center is no stranger to lavish events. From elaborate weddings to showstopping galas or corporate gatherings, the event center has had the honor to “wow” guests for every occasion. In 2016, these top five event trends and tips will help in building the biggest and best events yet.

Event Tech – Everything is getting digital. From digital “swag bags” to banners and social walls for live sharing, the event world has never been more trackable and interactive. Live crowd-streaming apps such as Periscope enhance the event experience by providing a platform through which guests can instantly share, stream and document their experiences. Event tech, and mobile event apps especially, are becoming more and more popular and for good reason. From the simplicity of digital guest check-ins to the more complex tech of measuring in-event engagements, mobile apps will be making waves in the sea of trends for events in 2016.
Sustainability – No event is ever complete without a food and/or beverage element. Whether it’s passed hors d’oeuvres or a full on buffet, guests tend to enjoy the perks of attendance and look forward to fresh, quality food. This year the focus will shift from quantity to quality as more and more people choose healthier, more organic diets. The National Restaurant Association surveyed nearly 1,600 professional chefs to identify the hot food and beverage trends for 2016 and found locally sourced meats & seafood, chef driven fast-casual concepts, locally grown produce and natural ingredients among the most popular.
Color of the Year – Pantone officially introduced a dual color palette for 2016’s color of the year which incorporates Rose Quartz, pale pink and a dusty light blue named “Serenity.” The ethereal color combination is guaranteed to make an appearance come wedding season.
Social Engagement – Las Vegas’ The Sunday stats state that there are currently 3.2 billion internet users worldwide. This number, according to futurists, will increase to 4.7 billion by 2035 with the average number of connected devices per person increasing from 1.7 in 2016 to 16 per person in 2035. Needless to say, if your event isn’t making waves in social conversations, something is wrong. The best events won’t just be attended – they will be talked, tweeted, instagrammed, live streamed and posted about on multiple platforms – the best events this year will give their guests something amazing to talk about.
Experience over Everything – It used to be the promise of gift bags that would incentivize guests to hurry up and RSVP. Today however, brands are choosing to invest more time and money into creating a unique and personalized experience rather than send guests home with tchotchkes. From live performance and interactive art to slow motion photo booths or social media competitions, incorporating interactive elements into an event will send guests home with something more than another coffee mug to add to their already mismatch collections.

in Uncategorized Posted by kma_admin

November 25, 2015

Set Your Table for Thanksgiving

This year has given our team at the Keep Memory Alive Event Center so much to be thankful for. From weddings to galas to corporate events,we are truly thankful for those who allow us to assist them in making their special day memorable. We hope you have a great Thanksgiving with your family and loved ones and wanted to share our table setting inspirations with you.

Tablecloth

Long gone are the days of plastic tablecloths – make your dinner interactive or entertain the kids by using it as a seating chart or coloring book. Or if you’re going for a fancier feel, use a woven setting or double drape the table.

Table Runner

Use these to give a sense of symmetry to your table. They work well for both round and rectangle shaped tables. Utilize out of the ordinary materials or graphic patterns to draw interest to the center of the table.

Place Setting

The trick to a lavish table is stacked dishes. Planning your dishes and how to eat them ahead of time will allow you to get creative about what they’re eaten on or out of. Also, feel free to organize napkins, silverware and seating cards to go along with your theme.

Mood Lighting

Set the mood by using candles for lighting and fragrance. Dress them in your favorite holiday food to give a more festive vibe.

Down the Center

Create a talking point for your guest to easily enjoy by cutting the table in half. Instead of one centerpiece as the focal point display a collection of festive decor down the middle of the table. This works well for long rectangular tables.

Signature Brand

Give your dinner its own signature by hanging bunting on the wall by the bar, branding the runner or painting pumpkins that reminds your guest why they’re gathering. These are also great vignettes for social media posts!

Guest Seating

Creatively use nature to guide guests to their seats – leaves, apples and mini pumpkins all make for conversation-starting name cards.

Food Plating

Sometimes the best serving dishes are other food. Wrap your hors d’oeuvres in cabbage, scoop out the inside of a gourd to hold olives or flatten the top of a pumpkin to place a tray of cheese.

in Keep Memory Alive Event Center Posted by kma_admin

Creative Ways To Use Social Media At Events

Social media is an important and essential marketing strategy to promote your event before, during and after the event. With more than 1.4 billion people on Facebook, 284 million on Twitter and 300 million on Instagram, that’s a lot of people to reach! But with so much content, it’s important to incorporate creative and unique ideas to engage users and turn your event into a social success. Here are some tips you can tweak to fit your event social media planning needs.

Hashtag it – Create a special hashtag for your event. Make sure that it’s unique to your event, concise and consistent on all collateral and platforms. If your event is annual, add the year to distinguish and help for further tracking.
“Insta” Gratification – Give your guest the gift of instant gratification by live broadcasting the selfies they upload prior to and at the event with the appropriate hashtags on social media. This helps to positively reinforce your guest experience and interaction with your brand.
You’re invited – Cause a word of mouth wildfire by asking your guests to share their RSVP on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Make it as easy as possible with a few sentences to extend the invitation. Don’t forget to use the event’s special hashtag for tracking and continuity.
Behind the scenes – Show them what’s behind the curtain of an event by hiring someone, designating a person on your team or recruiting your entire staff to capture behind the scenes footage. People are interested in how things are done so show them how the magic happens by exhibiting what it takes to bring everything together, how the staff interacts while the event is going on and what happens after the curtain falls.
Power in numbers – Collaborate with vendors at your event to use your promotional material on their social media channels. This increases your reach and chance of being seen, followed and attended by others not in your immediate network.
Feed FOMO – Play into people’s “fear of missing out” by live streaming your event. After seeing the fun with their own eyes they won’t want to miss it next year.
Monkey See – Prompt people to share on social media what they find interesting by making their environment eye catching, pretty, unique, and even a little unusual. The more visually appealing the venue, the more your guest will be encourage posting. The Keep Memory Alive Event Center is a perfect example of an environment that people want to share with their followers.
Tell it like it is – Let your guests’ voices be heard with a testimonial booth. Increase your control of the content by having a cameraman present to take the footage and then package the clips to use for later.

Take these tips and run with them to further individualize, promote and wow your guests with social media at your event.

in Events Posted by kma_admin

October 30, 2015October 30, 2015

Elite Media helps to spread the word about the KMA Event Center

Thank you to our friends at Elite Media for helping us to spread the word about our center! Check them out at www.elitemediainc.com

in Keep Memory Alive Event Center Posted by kma_admin

October 20, 2015October 20, 2015

Find fun in the cold winter days with these seasonal party themes!

Wintery Woods

To create a wintery forest feel, line the walls with tree branches and candle lit lanterns. Use natural materials such as birch, magnolia leaves or pine cones to adorn interior spaces.

Drinks: White and red wine, craft beer
Decoration: Outdoor woods inspired elements, organic wreaths or foliage, deep reds and greens

Cozy Romantic

Incorporate a casual but still elegant theme that will invite guests to feel like they’re home for the holidays at your celebration. Warm colors against wooden decorative accents will create a rustic, cabin-inspired environment.

Drinks: Winter lagers and warm cocktails
Decoration: Snowberries with florals, twigs, or wrought-iron lamps as centerpieces.

White Winter Wonderland

Floor to ceiling white with sparkling winter elements is a more modern and sultry party theme.

Drinks: Iced champagne or cocktails featuring Blue Curacao
Decoration: Icy blues with hanging LED tubes to represent icicles, or centerpieces of white carnations on silver sequin tablecloths.

Black and Ivory

A sophisticated party theme, use the two colors in simple patterns along with subtle winter touches to host a chic evening dinner party.

Drinks: Selection of red and white wines along with a full premium bar.
Decoration: Black and ivory fabrics in stripes, chevron or other decorative prints
paired with assorted winter florals, like poinsettias.

in Keep Memory Alive Event Center Posted by kma_admin

September 29, 2015September 29, 2015

Keep Memory Alive wins Venue of Excellence award

We are pleased to announce we have won the Venue of Excellence award from the Wedding Industry Professionals Association (WIPA). They are the only national nonprofit association run by esteemed members representing the multitude of wedding disciplines in the industry. WIPA hosted its first national Excellence Awards, recognizing wedding professionals that demonstrate excellence in their field, judged anonymously by a group of their peers across the country.

in Keep Memory Alive Event Center Posted by kma_admin

September 2, 2015August 26, 2015

Latest Bar/Bat Mitzvah Trends

The Bar/Bat Mitzvah is a celebration, often a lavish one, that most Jewish families look forward to having for years. However the right choice can be a difficult one to make with an overwhelming amount of options in food, music, decoration and entertainment. We have rounded up the latest trends to have a memorable event that guests will rave about completely possible.

Photo Booths

A photo booth or some sort of photo area provides guests with great entertainment value and an awesome party favor – props take it to the next level of fun! This is also a great way to capture photos for every single guest at the event for your own memories.

Color Combinations Instead of Themes

While themes or a certain “look and feel” are still popular for Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, a new concept to focus a party around is a single color or a color palette. Decorations in different shades of a color or color combos is a simple and elegant concept but still ties the party together.

Integrating Party Favors and Giving Back to the Community

Teach your kids the importance of giving back to the community by making a donation to their favorite charity on behalf of their guests. Every event at the Keep Memory Alive Event Center benefits the treatment, research and prevention of brain disorders at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, so your unforgettable Bar or Bat Mitzvah will help preserve the memory of others.

Candle Lighting Alternatives

Not all Bar/Bat Mitzvahs need to have cakes for the traditional candle lighting. Try using uniquely decorated candle holders instead. This will still be easy to see from anywhere in the room and a lot of fun for guests to be a part of.

Food stations

People are moving away from formal meals and providing small plates or fun, interactive food stations instead. Serve the same classic favorite offerings to kids and adults, and then switch up a few for some global cuisine.

in Events Posted by kma_admin

August 26, 2015August 26, 2015

Tips for Booking Holiday Parties

With the Las Vegas valley still feeling triple-digit temperatures, the last thing on anyone’s minds are the holidays. However it’s never too early to start thinking about planning for a holiday event. Venue calendars fill up quickly as many rush to secure their yearly celebration, so we thought we’d give you some helpful, very essential tips for booking your holiday party.

1. Book now, not later.

Even though the holidays may seem far away, the window for finding the best prices shrinks as you wait. The longer you procrastinate, the more challenges you’ll face, so get an early start on researching the logistics!

2. Be flexible.

The ultimate, glamorous holiday celebration that you dream of may not be possible with availability or budget limitations. So have flexibility and be assured that your party will still be amazing even if it’s not what you idealized.

3. Be open to unconventional ideas.

For example, try a non-traditional venue to make your party stand out from others. The Keep Memory Alive Event Center is a one-of-a-kind architectural icon that will amaze your guests. The more you think outside the box, the more you’ll be able to customize a festivity that’s all your own.

4. Be patient, the hassle will be worth it!

It will be exhausting contacting multiple venues, businesses or guests, all while keeping calm and organized. Stay patient and be diligent with your planning process and you’ll have less difficulties to deal with during the actual event.

5. Give back while having a great time

The holidays are a time of giving so encourage employees to bring toys or warm clothes for a community charity or nonprofit. Every event at the Keep Memory Alive Event Center benefits the treatment, research and prevention of brain disorders at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, so your unforgettable Bar or Bat Mitzvah will help preserve the memory of others, some of which are holiday memories!

in Events Posted by kma_admin

July 20, 2015July 20, 2015

Top 8 Things to do in Las Vegas for Free

As one of the top destination spots for tourists, weddings and meetings & conventions, Las Vegas has a lot to offer to see, visit, taste and do. Many of the attractions can be costly and add up, so we thought we’d give you some suggestions on free things to do while you’re in town!

1) View the Keep Memory Alive Event Center light up a spectacular color for a holiday – we turned red, white and blue for the Fourth of July.

2) Watch the dancing Bellagio Fountains – during the day or night, the breathtaking fountains are a can’t miss attraction.

3) Check out the iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign and make sure to take a selfie while there.

4) Visit the Fremont Street Experience for the nightly light show and people watch – there’s no shortage of entertainment down there.

5) Head out to Red Rock or Mt. Charleston for a day of hiking and adventure in the grand outdoors.

6) Walk around The Venetian and find the landmarks that are replicas of Venice, including the grand canal, Rialto bridge and Campanile tower.

7) Learn how to play craps or blackjack with a free gaming lesson at your favorite casino.

8) Stroll through the Bellagio conservatory, breathe in fresh flowers and take photos along the way.

in Keep Memory Alive Event Center Posted by kma_admin

July 7, 2015July 7, 2015

It’s the Power of Love

Prior to the 19th annual star-studded Power of Love gala on June 13 at MGM Grand, the invite-only pre-event cocktail party took place at the beautiful Keep Memory Alive Event Center. Guest of honor Andrea Bocelli surprised the crowd when he took to the stage for an impromptu performance of Ave Maria, bringing a number of guests to tears. Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck provided decadent hors d’oeuvres and wine tastings and Dr. Cummings from the Cleveland Clinic spoke about his mission and current programs offered. It was the perfect kick-off to a weekend of excitement and fun!

The following night was a powerful evening of hope with spectacular live entertainment from Gloria Estefan, Martina McBride, Robin Thicke and Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion joining in duet for “The Prayer,” bringing the crowd to its feet. Celebrities were out in full force to walk the red carpet including Quincy Jones, Sharon Stone, Emilio Estefan, Suzanne Somers and Siegfried & Roy. Queen of the kitchen Giada De Laurentiis wowed the crowd with a three-course over-the-top dinner and guests bid on priceless silent auction packages, including a vacation at Richard Branson’s private island. Check out the photos to see both nights in action!

in Events Posted by kma_admin