Greenery Named Pantone of 2017

With 2016 coming to a close, we want to start the new year feeling revitalized and inspired. What better way than getting inspired by the Pantone Color Institute for the Pantone of the Year. 2017's choice is a refreshing and revitalizing shade that is symbolic of new beginnings, exactly what we need!

Greenery has been announced as 2017 PANTONE® Color of the Year. “Greenery bursts forth in 2017 to provide us with the hope we collectively yearn for amid a complex social and political landscape. Satisfying our growing desire to rejuvenate, revitalize and unite, Greenery symbolizes the reconnection we seek with nature, one another and a larger purpose.” In addition to connecting with nature, preservation of the environment is of utmost importance to a growing number of people. Choosing such an natural color indicates the growing concern and attention to the environment in the coming years.

Natural greenery has frequently been an element in events, from living greenery walls and step & repeats to leaf place cards. With this Pantone announcement we anticipate seeing more natural elements incorporated in events, both in the use of Pantone 15-0343 and with green initiatives to help preserve our earth.

Here’s to a rejuvenated 2017!
-DTE Team

Photo Credit: Pantone, BizBash

Holiday Experiences (in Gingerbread)

There are many holiday-themed activations this time of year. With family visits and time spent with loved ones, a special experience can make 2016's holiday season stand out. How about a couple ideas of the Gingerbread variety? 

First, let's visit the desert. How much material does it take to create a larger-than-life Gingerbread house? Our friends at The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain have the answer: 400 pounds of honey, 856 pounds of sugar, 350 pounds of flour, 100 pounds of ginger powder, 50 pounds of cinnamon, 250 eggs and 10 pounds of nutmeg! With it’s own working fireplace and dining room furniture, guests are flocking to this desert oasis for a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Those lucky enough to secure a reservation are able to host up to 6 people in the mega-sized house.

While tourists flock to New York City for the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center, this year a new attraction garnered quite a bit of attention. In Madison Square Park, guests engaged in an interactive experience on Gingerbread Boulevard. Lined with life-sized gingerbread houses, guests could virtually decorate a Christmas tree or create a marshmallow snowman.

Hope these ideas inspire your own Gingerbread-flavored experiences!

Happy Holidays!
-DTE Team

Photo Credit: Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain, TimeOut

Diana Tsao Named Mandarin Leader Honoree

We are proud to announce Diana Tsao, CEO and Fearless Leader of Diana Tsao Events, was recognized as a 2016 Honoree by Mandarin Leader for creativity & excellence among Chinese in North America in Entrepreneurship.

Mandarin Leader is a premium North American Chinese-language media brand focused on Chinese making an impact in North America. The honored individuals have: created something out of nothing, taken risks, and exhibited characteristics associated with leadership. We are very proud and humbled by this award!

One excerpt from the interview:

What is an extraordinary place you have recently traveled to?
Aspen. I went skiing, dog sledding and one night after the mountain closed - took a snowcat up for dinner on top of the mountain.

Head over to Mandarin Leader for the full interview!

Truly honored,
-DTE Team

Photo Credit: Mandarin Leader

'Tis the Truffle Season!

October through November is white truffle season in Italy, it also just happens to be our favorite time of the year. In most major cities around the world you will find multiple truffle dishes on seasonal menus, and who doesn’t want authentic truffle on their pizza? But to experience this secretive truffle culture steeped in tradition one must go to the source, and there are many opportunities…

For the adventurous truffle lover who wants to get their hands dirty, there are special truffle hunting excursions available. From Tuscany to Piedmont there are opportunities to meet a true trifulau, truffle hunter, and his trusted hound to learn all you can about this wild delicacy. Gain a true understanding for this secretive profession that is steeped in tradition and inherited skill. 

For those who do not want to spend hours in the forests of Italy, there are quite a few truffle fairs in the heart of some of Italy’s most breathtaking cities. The Alba White Truffle Fair is one of the most famous, and arguably the best in all of Italy. Truffles are not the only thing on display during the Alba White Truffle Fair, with over one hundred exhibitors the gastronomic culture of the region is on full display. If you are looking for more of a medieval backdrop for your truffle fair, be sure to visit San Miniato, in Tuscany, for their Truffle fair the second, third, and fourth weekends in November. 

Happy Truffling!
-DTE Team

Photo Credit: FineDiningLovers, Bella Italia Retreats

Geofilters, Events & Experiential Marketing

You can’t walk a few blocks in New York City without seeing some form of advertising, whether that be a poster plastered to brick, a conveniently placed sticker, or someone handing you a flyer. Snap brings this concept to experiential marketing with Geofilters. Companies are starting to use Geofilters to engage people in specific locations. For as little as $5 for a few hours, events are also creating custom Snap Geofilters to tell a broader story - from a guest's perspective. So...what is a Geofilter?

Geofilter lets users overlay specific filters - available only to people within a pre-determined geofence - on photos and video taken in Snap. For example, riders at SoulCycle can snap a video with their yellow logo or a heart fills your screen when you snap with jewelry at Tiffany. Prices vary based on how many hours you want to offer your filter and how big your geofence is (must be between 20k and 5 million square feet). The upload tool allows you to see different pricing options when creating your Geofilter.

How can a Geofilter enhance events? Creating an effective event hashtag has been around for a while but to increase the digital impressions for your event - at (currently) low costs - consider creating a Geofilter for your next event. Snaps might not live as long as hashtags but the ability to personalize an event with special filters that also reach other people in the area is appealing. If you are looking for a filter not offered through Snap, there are quite a few ways to help create the perfect personalized filter for any event, like Pepper Filters or Canva.

How is this changing experiential marketing? Business are taking note of this new on-demand Geofilter option and implementing experiential marketing campaigns around it. These campaigns bridge online & offline for people in very meaningful ways. One of the more successful campaigns has come from Delta Airlines, who recently joined Snap. Not only do they have their own Geofilters, they created a scavenger hunt around them. Delta’s Dreamhunt challenged the people of Los Angeles to find specific Geofilters around the city to win amazing prizes centered around key industries in the city. Bloomingdale's created something similar with their in-store scavenger hunt, Swipestakes. Geofilters were hidden in local stores across the country giving customers the opportunity to win a meet and greet with Rebecca Minkoff, tickets to Maddie & Tae or gift cards to the store.

As on-demand Geofilters gain popularity, why not be an early adopter and make one for your next event while it's still almost free?

Happy snapping!
-DTE Team

Photo Credit: Snapchat, Delta