Event L’Or de Jean Martell launch
Venue Hilton Kuala Lumpur
Organiser Ktalyst International
Group size 72
Date May 21

The brief
Pernod Ricard, parent company of Martell, wanted to launch its new US$4,500 per-bottle cognac with a sophisticated gala evening for Malaysia’s elite.

Challenges
Pernod Ricard requested a barker to announce each course, a traditional element of French fine dining.

“We sourced a barker from Europe and flew him in for the event,” says Jean Ng, group account director at Ktalyst International. “He had worked for the group before so was familiar with the expectations surrounding an event of this importance.”

Execution
Ktalyst approached the hotel in March so there was adequate time to prepare for the event. Parent company, Pernod Ricard, wanted a venue that represented its key brand attributes.

“When Martell was planning the launch of L’Or de Jean Martell, the world’s most expensive cognac, Hilton Kuala Lumpur was amongst the very few venues we short-listed,” says William Lee, brand manager of Pernod Ricard, Malaysia. “It represented the premium nature and the quintessence of L’Or de Jean Martell.”

Pre-dinner drinks and a Viking-themed dinner were held in Ballroom A. A gold-painted statue was the central decoration. The hotel’s new meeting space Level 7 was used as an interview area for media along with Ballroom B, which was also used for storage.

Hilton chefs worked with a special chef brought in by Ktalyst for the event on a special dessert menu that included use of the premium cognac. Hilton Kuala Lumpur also hosted a series of smaller dinners in its signature restaurant, Chynna.

Verdict
Lee says: “Hilton Kuala Lumpur is undeniably the perfect venue for any prestigious event held in Malaysia. From the service and ambience of the hotel, to the food prepared and support given, the hotel lived up to expectations and the success of the launch could not have been possible without it.”