The
Brief
We were thrilled to be appointed once again to manage the CUCF Aesthetics Conference and Gala Dinner. This is now the fourth year we have supported this annual event, helping our client bring together customers and prospects to showcase their products and services in a highly engaging and memorable way.
With 150-200 delegates attending the conference and 100 guests at the Gala Dinner, the event required meticulous planning, creativity, and full end-to-end management.
Our client needed a venue that could host a theatre-style plenary for up to 200 guests, alongside three breakout rooms of varying sizes and two additional meeting rooms. On-site bedrooms were preferred, with additional nearby options available.
We were tasked with providing complete end-to-end Event Project Management, from concept through to delivery. A key part of the brief was the Gala Awards Dinner, which needed a strong theme implemented throughout the evening to create an immersive experience.
Hippo’s
Solution
We conducted a full venue search across London and the Home Counties, presenting six London venues and eight Home Counties options. After reviewing proposals and site visits, our client confirmed Sopwell House Hotel as the ideal venue. Through our negotiations, we achieved over £20,000 in savings, representing more than 20% reduction in costs for our client.
From there, we provided full project management, covering every detail of the conference and Gala Dinner, including:
- Audio Visual – full set and stage production
- Videography, including a 2-minute highlights reel and voxpops
- Photography throughout the event
- Full venue branding across all spaces
- Photobooth for delegate engagement
- Lanyards and badges
- Printing of all event-related collateral
For the Gala Dinner, we developed a 1920s-themed concept, bringing the era to life for attendees. Highlights included:
- Branded cocktails inspired by the theme
- 1920s-style props, including vintage cars, giant gramophones and art deco imagery
- Period entertainment, featuring roving Power Room Girls and a jazz vocalist performing during dinner
- Celebrity-hosted awards with Anna Richardson
- Personalised award trophies
- DJ and dance floor for evening celebrations
We were on-site throughout both the conference and Gala Dinner, ensuring that every element ran smoothly and the experience was seamless for attendees.
