Gene Capuano, the Venetian’s executive director of conventions and exhibitions, discusses the recent International Indian Film Academy Awards, the largest event Venetian and Macau have ever done with several functions each attracting up to 8,000 people:
How were the various event spaces at the Venetian used?
From the moment the first guests arrived it was different. There were more than 150 team members welcoming them by forming an applauding path through the hotel.
There were Bollywood dancers and an after-party for 2,000 people in St. Mark’s Square, the ‘green carpet’ entrance for the awards ceremony wound through the hotel, performers from Cirque du Soleil’s Zaia interacted with guests before a special performance on the first night and the awards ceremony attracted 8,000 people.
What makes IIFA different from previous events the Venetian has hosted?
The sheer number of events, meal functions and parties was definitely the largest collection of events within a five-day period we have hosted. Our master operating schedule reached 107 pages, which is by far the largest event resumé I have produced in 18 years of hospitality experience. The various events within IIFA took up the Cotai Arena and the entire conference centre for its duration.
We had just four months to prepare from the time we learnt our bid was successful. Every department had a direct role in putting the event together and representatives met weekly for the Task Force Logistics Meeting.