Once again HTMi hosted the International Gala Event, organized by its Higher Diploma Management and Post Graduate Event Management students, which took place on Friday, 1st May 2015. The event involved numerous performances and showcased the exceptionally high standards of the HTMi student body, that we are sure will remain in the memory of our guests for a very long time. The whole evening was organized around the elegant “One Night in Shanghai” theme.
The students accomplished this with a gourmet five-course menu where guests were delighted with a variety of food from the fascinating Asian culture. As part of the theme, the students successfully created outstanding designs and decorations around the concept of “One Night in Shanghai”. On arrival guests were welcomed inside a traditional Chinese Garden on the terrace complete with a hand built Chinese bridge, cherry blossom trees and a stream running under the bridge. This Shanghai theme was then brought into the main dining area with a 45-metre Shanghai landscape surrounding the walls and traditional Chinese décor as table centrepieces and decorations.
It all started with the main character, Li, finding a Dragon Scroll, based on an old Chinese legend, which mysteriously transported him back to the Shanghai of the 1920’s. Guests were treated with a diversity of international performances gathered around an intriguing storyline, as they were accompanying Li in picking up different clues throughout the pursuit of regaining the same Dragon Scroll to bring him back to the present. Performances involved a traditional Vietnamese dance, a break-dance followed by a Chinese martial art demonstration, Tai Chi, both being set up on the streets of Shanghai.
The most breath-taking moment of the evening involved a Flair Bartending show which together with the Dragon Dance, as the closing performance presented by the Higher Diploma and Post Graduate Event Management class, created the ideal moment for Li coming back to the present, and thus bringing a spectacular evening to a climatic finale.
HTMi is yet again proud to support the “Save the Children” Organisation through the event, as it has been doing so for many years now. This year, the event was specifically focused on supporting the EVERY ONE Campaign and taking into consideration the devastating earthquake that recently struck Nepal, part of the money gathered throughout the charity initiatives organized during this semester will be directed to supporting this cause.
HTMi was honoured to host the Ambassadors Taiwan, Slovenia, India, South Africa as well as members of the Diplomatic Corps from Vietnam, South Africa, Romania, Republic of Slovakia, India, Hungary and Singapore from their respective embassies represented here in Switzerland.
The Centre for Events Management Training would also like to thank the numerous sponsors who kindly donated many items that were used in the Tombola and also for the Silent Auction during the International Gala Event.
I would like to thank all the ladies and gentlemen of HTMi from all classes for their hard work, dedication, commitment, support and tireless effort in making this International Gala Event such an enjoyable, successful and memorable evening. A final thank you goes to Chef Andreas Kurfürst and his team of culinary chefs and the students of the baking & pastry course for their outstanding performance in creating the food menu and the crème a la crème, a dessert buffet of truly Asian Art that left the guests breathless. A big thank you also goes to Madame Michele Schuster, Food & Beverage Manager and Mr. Yazan Sudki, Operations Manager for their constant and incredible support.
To quote some of the feedback given by our guests: “Best international gala event ever”, “We have been attending for many years and this was the best ever”“, I had a great time. Thank you so much!”, “Thank you very much for this excellent and great evening, students were excellent with plenty of passion”.
Anthony Lack, Events & Training Manager, HTMi Centre for Events Management, May 2015