Diamond Investment              (Events) 

London-based Diamond City Events proved that clients from the finance sector are still demanding well executed, prestigious events staged in select venues. Earlier this month Diamond City's client, Global Investment House, asked the company to organise a three-day networking conference and entertainment event for a cosmopolitan, wealthy clientele.      Abigail Parkin(27 Nov'08)

Event guests converged on the rural idyll of The Grove (pic above) in Hertfordshire, winner of "Best Leisure Hotel" at the recent Condé Nast Readers' Travel Awards (see here). The Grove is just 30 minutes from London and its setting in 300 acres of park and woodland provided a tranquil backdrop for the conference.

Although Diamond City Events specialises in organising luxury events for the corporate market both in the UK and abroad, its client's brief was exacting. “Our brief was incredibly difficult and demanding," said Diamond City Events' MD Donna Comfort. "Our client, Global Investment House, is one of the world’s most respected investment houses with a fabulous reputation. Based in Kuwait they insisted, quite rightly, upon staging an event that would enhance that reputation and prove both stimulating and informative for their highly-valued and discerning clients. Together we delivered on all counts.”

The grandly titled "Global Private Equity 2008 Limited Partners Meeting" had a guest list to match. "What set this conference apart was the stratospheric profile of the attendees," Comfort said. "They are among the richest people in the world. While we cannot identify them they included members of royal families predominantly from the Middle East and Asia."

Guests who had arrived the day before the event joined a welcome evening with drinks and canapés before enjoying the fare of the hotel's Michelin-star chef Vikki Jeffryes.
“We organised the conference as well as a Gala Dinner with fabulous entertainment," recalled Comfort. "One evening there was a special private concert from stars of the spectacular stage show Mamma Mia! (pictured above). Highlight of the second evening was a stunning private performance of the Irish dance phenomenon, ‘Spirit of the Dance’. Guests were also able to enjoy trips to Windsor, shopping expeditions to London and golf or spa treatments at the hotel.”

"It was marvellous to be able to show some of the wealthiest people in the world what we can do in the UK." Donna Comfort

The event proved to be a huge logistical challenge requiring months of meticulous preparation and Donna Comfort praised her efficient and professional suppliers (see below) for the successful delivery. “We had promised our client a spectacular event that oozed style, elegance and simplicity but also to counteract the extremely serious nature of the financial conference and networking events we promised incredible food and fantastic entertainment,” she said. “It was marvellous to be able to show to some of the wealthiest and influential people in the world what we can do in the UK. It was important to win this contract for the UK events industry at a time when many companies are taking their high-profile events abroad because of the value of the pound against other currencies. It was an amazing, high-profile success and I am extremely proud of what we managed to achieve particularly in the current climate.”

Client feedback

Moustafa N. Zantout -Head of Marketing and Communications, Global Investment House
“We were absolutely delighted with the event. Donna delivered on everything she promised and displayed great leadership qualities. She has a wonderful ability to solve problems in an extremely pressured environment. We were thrilled with the setting of the hotel, the theming and the quality of the food and entertainment provided as well as the professionalism displayed on the organisation and presentation of our conference and networking events. This was an extremely successful event for our Private Equity at a very unsettled time for worldwide financial markets. It was an incredible success.”

Suppliers

Food - The Grove's Vikki Jeffryes
Theming and floral - Nic Clarke for Simply Flowers
Marquee - Ollie Newin for Structure Matters
Linen & furniture - Kevin McGuiness for Allens Equipment Hire
AV and event production - David Wise & Scott Halls for Wise Production                                                                                                     Chauffeur services - Peter Oliver for Spectrum
Mamma Mia! & Spirit of the Dance performances - Julie Elleray for Prelude Entertainment
Venue finding and support  - Alison Best-Dufour for Best Options

RK__________________________