Event Face the Inconvenient Truth: Al Gore Live in Manila
Organiser SM Prime Holdings
Partner Campaigns and Grey
Venue SMX Convention Center
Attendees 2,500
Date June 8


The brief
The Al Gore event was aimed at raising awareness about the effects of climate change. The former US vice-president and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate presented an updated Asian version of his award-winning documentary, An Inconvenient Truth.

SM Prime Holdings organised the event as part of a company initiative to promote sustainable development by spreading awareness of eco-friendly practices among businesses and consumers.

Challenges
The main challenge was securing Al Gore, as well as ambassadors and other dignitaries who attended the event. A combination of security was used at all entry points. Coordination with the local government, traffic coordination council and police was critical to ensure the safety of guests.

Execution
The conference was held in four function rooms at SMX Convention Center. One meeting room was used as the press room, while another hosted the logistics committee and the security command centres.

The registration area was on the ground level and ushers were present at all main entry points to the building to guide attendees. Given the venue’s horizontal layout, large screens were deployed to ensure all guests could see the presentation.

Photographs, facts and figures were projected onto the screens as part of the symposium, which lasted 90 minutes.

A 30-minute window for a Q&A discussion was integrated into the programme. Attendees were asked to write their questions on sheets of paper that were collected by the ushers. This ensured that the discussion time was maximised by filtering out any questions that were unrelated to climate change.

The fellowship dinner followed the talk. High-profile businessmen, media personalities, ambassadors and other dignitaries were invited to the reception, where Gore held a book-signing session and photo opportunities before dinner.

Comment
Joseph V. Saludo, SM Holdings senior vice-president and a member of the event’s security committee, says: “Six months of relentless planning ensured the whole event went off without a glitch.”