The Spier Harvest Festival 2010 was another great success and marked the launch of Spier’s signature campaign. The event was hosted on the lawns outside the new Eight Restaurant. Bedouin tents with hammocks, picnic blankets, hay bales and cushions for the guests to sit down, relax and enjoy the festival atmosphere, were all set up. Creative Block, Private Collection and the signature campaign were each allocated an area where guests could taste the award winning wines of the estate.

On arrival, guests were met by friendly Spier ambassadors who handed each guest a “personality test” – this formed part of the signature campaign. Each guest chose their personality type, which was secretly linked to a Spier wine. They were then handed a “personality badge” and encouraged to taste the wine which best suited who they are! It was a huge success and created a buzz of curiosity and excitement.

Entertainment this year was endless and ranged from face and T-shirt painting for kids, to grape stomping competitions between the wine makers. Tractor and pony rides led the guests around the farm during which they were given a short history lesson on Spier Estate. A harvest procession was lead by the Princess of the Harvest and Frans Smit, the senior winemaker, blessed the grapes. Gerald Clarke from Delta Blue provided live music for the day. There was plenty to eat at the organic food stalls and Eight Restaurant, as well as lots of wine of course!

Guests arrived for registration for the MD conference at the Pool Pavilion, Johannesburg Country Club in Woodmead. A lovely Mediterranean lunch was served to ensure the conference started off on a good note. Platters to the table consisted of char grilled aubergine, courgettes and red onions served with tomato petals, rocket and goats cheese, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic reduction. Thinly sliced rare beef fillet was also served, garnished with capers, watercress and parmegiano reggiano and prawn and egg noodle salad, served with chilli, coriander, ginger, lime and spring onions with a soy vinaigrette – to name but a few of the very delectable dishes.

Tables were set to tie in with the Mediterranean inspired lunch and navy blue and white damask patterns were used on the oval tables. Decor included proteas and other indigenous flowers in glass containers. The tango duo, Tona, entertained guests with their lively Spanish tunes.

After the luncheon, guests were ushered to the conference room where the conference commenced. During this time the Pool Pavilion was transformed into the after party area. The tables used for lunch were removed and replaced with high cocktail tables and bar stools, foosball tables, pool tables and Playstation and Wii games on huge plasma screens. The pool area was perfectly transformed using a large Bedouin tent to cover the lawn with white day beds and curve loungers scattered beneath it.

Decor consisted of white roses, gladioli and orchids. The sounds of well-known band, The Sticky Triggers, filled the air. Guests received cold hand towels on arrival on this hot summer’s day. Pongrácz non vintage, followed by sushi was offered to guests. A braai bowl food menu followed and consisted of harissa spiced lamb skewers, served on Moroccan couscous and finished with a cucumber raita; slices of wood grilled rump, with triple cooked chips, slow roasted tomatoes and sauce béarnaise and Cajun chicken kebabs, were served on bayou potato salad with coriander.

From set-up to breakdown, lunch, to gift bags on departure – this was definitely another successful event coordinated by the talented Aleit Event Projects team.

A large-scale event took place on 04 June 2010 for all ABSA Capital employees based at their Sandton head office to build spirit for the FIFA World Cup. Bedouin tents were set-up in the parking lot and the area was converted into a sophisticated yet fun space! Comfortable lounge pockets, cocktail tables and bar stools decorated the previously empty space. Soccer ball beanbags were incorporated to tie in with the World Cup theme. Vibrant flowers were used to add colour to the white furniture. Foosball tables, Playstations and Wii consoles were set-up in one tent and provided endless entertainment for guests throughout the event. Heaters and blankets were supplied to help guests brave the cold Johannesburg weather.

Food stations were set-up and the menu was compiled to tie in with the relaxed theme. Guests helped themselves to chicken prego rolls and homemade burgers, and for dessert there were “koeksisters” and rum and raisin chocolate tartlets.

The event kicked off with a diski dance lesson. The CEO, Stephen van Coller, had to prove himself on stage, much to everyone’s delight. Brian Baloyi, former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, was also keen to join in on the diski dance fun. He entertained guests afterwards by showing off his goalkeeping skills on a make-shift soccer field of astro turf with of course, a goal post. Mike Mangena was present during the event and old football footage was shown on plasmas which adorned the area. Mike mingled with guests and shared his stories. Well-known DJs, DJ Zinhle and DJ Tumz kept guests on the dance floor till the early hours of the morning.

Planning an event so far from home sounds very exciting, and without familiar service providers at our disposal, we had our work cut out for us!  We had to trust the locals to assist with suggesting the best people for the job.  After the request came to organise a cocktail party in Tanzania, hosted by Maria Ramos herself, Aleit Event Projects decided that a site inspection and meetings with the suggested service providers had to take place.  

This meant getting temporary passports, aeroplane tickets, yellow fever injections, malaria tablets, accommodation and setting up meetings with the relevant people...all in just 48 hours.  After a safe return to South Africa, only two days later, planning had to commence to ensure a successful event.

Before we could blink, the week of the event had arrived. On Monday, 03 May 2010, the Aleit Event Projects team boarded a plane, overweight by 100kg! Our luggage included crockery, linen, scatter cushions, flower vases, Wii consoles and a cello.  Once the team arrived in Dar Es Salaam, the real adventure began. The Aleit Event Projects team spent the day in downtown Dar Es Salaam, in order to get the best possible furniture for the cocktail party - taking place on the Thursday, at the Southern Sun Hotel in town.

Set-up only commenced on the morning of the event, as the cocktail party venue was also the breakfast room used to serve hotel guests.  Set-up included covering the existing African coloured couches in white leather, screening off some of the walls and the kitchen, building a stage for the speeches and the performers, setting up surround sound with plasma screens for branding, and creating a warm, inviting cocktail lounge where 100 delegates could enjoy a break after the final day of the World Economic Forum.

With local entertainment, using traditional instruments, good food supplied by The Southern Sun Hotel and specially imported South African wines, the evening was a great success.  All guests had a wonderful evening and enjoyed the conclusion of a successful forum.

At the present moment we are executing The Africa Energy Conference in Switzerland. 

With the FIFA World Cup undergo, the first half of 2010 has been abuzz with preparations and celebrations for this once-in-a-lifetime event. The events industry is no different. Many soccer-themed festivities have been demanded by our numerous clients. The next six months of 2010 may see a drastic reduction in "soccer fever" or the celebrations may just continue well into 2011.

Stiff and starchy formal dinner parties have come...and gone. Interactive dinners and cocktail parties are the order of the day with an ever increasing demand for fun-filled, light-hearted elements. These includes "musical chair dinners" which see guests moving around the dinner area in search of a new chair each time a specific song is played – of course the networking opportunities at an event such as this are endless!

The move away from more formal social events has allowed our events team to become even more creative! Pizza making evenings, braai cookout competitions and quiz nights are also becoming increasingly popular amongst our clients.

Gone are the days where little boys spent endless nights in front of television screens playing Mario Brothers! Today, game consoles such as the Playstation and Wii are becoming increasingly popular for an array of events!

Clean lines, crisp white furniture and modern accessories are no longer at the forefront of event decor! Vintage styled lounges, creatively styled furniture and interestingly displayed decor are the flavour of the month! With decor, less is without a doubt more. Brightly coloured flowers, classic throws and colourful cushions have tied in with the colourful celebrations of the FIFA World Cup 2010.

While we spend our days planning, executing and fine-tuning elegant and trendy events of the highest standards...The Aleit Event Projects team still found the time to play around in the Grabouw forest on a chilly winter’s morning...