An event to remember with classical inspiration

It’s human nature to cast our thoughts to the future. Well, today we invite you look to the past, where the classical styling of centuries past is now an incredible vault of inspiration.

Depending on the century you’re casting your mind to for classical inspiration, it’s important to explore the connection that event main themes have with the period of choice:

• What are the characteristics of the time selected that breathe ‘classical’ and what do they share with message being communicated?
• How do you want these characteristics to influence the event? Just the décor? F&B elements? Music and lighting? Perhaps even the dress code?
• How will these elements be incorporated and when?
• Will there be playful opportunities between message and era that will make sections of the event more memorable than others and how can you take advantage of that?

And these are just a few of the top line questions that need to be considered when planning an event that looks to the past for that touch of classical class.

Classical styling

Embracing a classical theme will give an event an air of a regal happening, one that allows you to create an atmosphere that would be the perfect platform from which to reveal a product, a benefit dinner which involves speeches.

What’s exciting about the use of classical themes in an event is that, depending on how certain elements are used, the overall feeling could either result in a decadent reflection of times past or, as seen in cult films such as Fifth Element, they can be manipulated to reference the future. This often represented in the clothing selected for the film and is usually a style seen being worn and associated by those with wealth.

Of course, styling goes beyond clothing and includes layout, décor, lighting and much more. If you’re hosting a benefit dinner, imagine chandeliers, large candles dotted throughout the space, heavy fabrics bunched up with thick cords and F&B elements that help set the scene.

A classic taste

Perhaps you’re already familiar with our delicious Tempting Breaks, our versatile F&B offering geared especially towards meetings and events? Well, break the mold of a typical coffee break or buffet, and orchestrate a selection of bites that echo the event’s look and feel. Why not take local and popular flavors yet present them in a manner that surprises and delights (and will surely create social media fodder)? How about indulging in the presentation further and create a feast like situation by using a long table and foods presented at different heights to create the effect of abundance. Either way, you approach the F&B of the event, with Tempting Breaks, both eyes and stomachs will be satisfied.

Let the venue speak

Our NH Collection Amsterdam Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky is the perfect example, boasting more than 150 years of incredible history to share with those who enter. The aesthetic of the hotel invites your attendees to step back in time and imagine the stories that are kept within its walls. Stand out features of this hotel are unique in their own right; for example, the Winter Garden, a sensation when it first opened in the 1870s, is a beautifully elegant hall with a soaring glass roof, intricate iron work and stylish black and white tiling.

This large, customizable space is an excellent choice for those wanting to craft an event with a dramatic impact, take the MOAM presentation for example, a platform through which young creatives are coached by respected names in the Dutch creative industry. The space was transformed into a fashion show setting, complete with runway, seating, the perfect lighting and tailored decorative elements. Martijn Daniël Nekoui, the Founder & CEO of MOAM explains that, ‘‘the Winter Garden is grand, perfectly tended and unique in nature: modern with a classic twist’’.

What MOAM achieved was utilizing the classic styling of the space to evoke an elegance that is often paired with the past, taking advantage of the nostalgia the hotel and spaces presents. Of course, as mentioned before, this decadent use doesn’t have to transport attendees to the past, if your event touches upon themes that future forward, the juxtaposition between the message and character of the hotel will be a memorable one.

One thing to remember is that classical doesn’t mean somber, color and classical go just as well together. So let your imaginations soar.

At NH Hotel Group, our team are on hand to help you excel and go that extra mile, so you can count on our expertise and service offer to do just that. You can rely on us to help you explore the possibilities that your upcoming event presents you, using the various innovative tools we have at hand to make your professional life easier, more productive and fulfilling.