I
t was all business during the early afternoon of Thursday, June 23. The Boutique Media Group folks were anxiously awaiting the start of Hospitality Match, a weekend-long event that brings together buyers and suppliers of hospitality interior design products.
We thought the big news of the event would be our new East Coast location (the Landsdowne Resort in Virginia), as the event previously enjoyed four successful years on the West Coast.
And then, just before our opening cocktail reception, our guests started buzzing.
“How old was he?”
“You’re kidding!”
“Is it official?”
“I heard it on TMZ.”
And then the obvious refrain: “Did you hear that Michael Jackson died?”
Sadly, TMZ was right.
MJ didn’t overshadow the event, however. Our crowd rallied and resumed their business as usual demeanor. At the one-to-one meetings the next day, we were told that MJ wasn’t referenced at all. Designers learned about new products and suppliers found new ways to meet their customers’ needs.
It wasn’t until the team building event on Friday evening that MJ talk re-emerged. BMG, the organizer of the event, broke the group into teams and instructed them to build a hotel concept with random materials. Team captains grabbed items from a six-foot long table filled with all types of things like shoes, boomerangs, magazines and pipe cleaners.
The teams presented their concepts to the judges: Rebecca Goldberg, boutique DESIGN, editor-in-chief, Kelly Hushin, boutique DESIGN, senior editor, and Amanda Power, Boutique Media Group, sales and marketing coordinator.
Of the 11 presentations, two were MJ related. The Thriller Hotel rocked our worlds. Yet, it was the Heaven and Hell concept, pitched by Jennifer Termini that took home the Starbucks gift card prizes.
More meetings took place on Saturday, the following day. A panel discussion too, featuring Brenda Wulff of Choice Hotels, Felipe Roa of the Puccini Group, Sean Tanner of Cagley & Tanner and Peter Hapstak of Core Architecture + Design.
The group discussed design trends post-recession. There was no mention of design trends post-Michael Jackson.
The event closed with a formal dinner and a brief dance party. Michael Schneider, President, Boutique Media Group, called up his dance crew - a group of 20+ folks, wearing one white glove, who brushed off their best moonwalk impressions during Billie Jean.
Thanks to all of the attendees of Hospitality Match (and Michael Jackson) for all of the memories. We enjoyed the event as much as you did.
More photos are available on the Hospitality Match Facebook page.
Photos by Madison Alexander.