Some Real Big Ones

Minolta Corporation

Arranged for the New Year’s ball in Times Square to be lowered for the first time ever other than on New Year’s Eve to celebrate the lighting of a new Minolta sign in Times Square.  A cocktail reception from The Hilton Hotel overlooking the site was attended by almost 1,000 people.

Universal Orlando Resort

In conjunction with Universal Studios Florida’s major expansion — arranged virtually simultaneous openings of Universal Islands of Adventure,  new rides, attractions, 14 dining and entertainment venues at City Walk and multiple on-site hotels.    

Specific events included:

A grand opening for the new theme park’s Island’s of Adventure bringing together dozens of internationally known film stars including Academy Award winner Steven Spielberg, hundreds of media representatives and a spectacular visual featuring Spider-Man dangling hundreds of feet above the park from a fast-moving, bright green helicopter.

The opening of Portofino Bay Hotel (a Loew’s five-star property)

Part of the new Universal Orlando Resort… Arranged the world’s largest champagne toast featuring two 50-foot champagne flutes.   After the toast, attendees enjoyed a spectacular pyrotechnic/ confetti display creating a dramatic visual moment for print and television media and Universal video news releases and b-roll.

The opening of the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort

Arranged for hundreds of drummers lead by Monkees drummer, Mickey Dolenz, to provide a dramatic, record breaking drum roll.   The drum roll introduced the unveiling of a huge, iconic guitar that is now a permanent statuary in front of the hotel.  This was followed by pyrotechnics and rock music – another audio/visual opportunity for media covering the opening and exciting visual content for broadly distributed vnrs and b-roll.  Outstanding media coverage resulted for this iconic brand.

Islands of Adventure “Toon Lagoon” cartoon venue

To develop pre-opening publicity for the resort’s Islands of Adventure and its “Toon Lagoon” cartoon venue, created an out-of-town event honoring Popeye the Sailorman’s creator E.C. Segar in his hometown, Chester, Illinois.  Numerous special events were arranged in Chester including a donation of 300,000 cans of Popeye spinach to charity.  Video news releases (vnrs) were distributed globally by satellite from these events . Major national and international print and broadcast coverage resulted.

Note:  Each of these events was documented on video and video news releases and b-roll were fed by satellite to network and affiliate television stations nationwide and abroad.

Sea World air ship cross-country media tour

Traveled the Sea World air ship on a cross-country media tour.  Arranged tent parties in 50 cities.  Thousands of potential park visitors and media representatives attended outdoor receptions/picnics and received blimp rides.

Citibank

Team created miniature railroad Christmas exhibit – now an annual holiday event at Citicorp Center in New York City.  Also created a nationwide children’s art exhibit for the company’s annual calendar, resulting in an exhibit of “Children’s Art” at the Guggenheim Museum.

Russell Corporation and Pop Warner Football

Created the first super bowl for youth football accompanied by numerous special events including an awards dinner, celebrity appearances, an air show, a small town parade, traveling art exhibits, celebrities, etc.  Astronauts, football heroes, movie stars, and many others were contacted to participate in this small-town event which received considerable national exposure.

B. Dalton Booksellers’ national literacy initiative

Press events nationwide and in the Oval Office to announce and promote B. Dalton Booksellers’ national literacy initiative.

The World Wrestling Federation

Introduced the first Wrestlemania event featuring Hulk Hogan, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Muhammad Ali, Liberace and Cindi Lauper at a press conference in New York.  Millions of seats were filled in arenas nationwide for this sports/entertainment event with stories in virtually all national magazines, television and newspapers nationwide.  Our core program is still in existence today.