Light the Way: Illuminating UC Berkeley’s Success in Hong Kong
Encore’s seamless production transforms the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong’s ballroom into a celebration of heritage and leadership for UC Berkeley’s Asia roadshow.
The Brief
UC Berkeley, one of the United States’ elite universities, hosted a two-day event at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong’s Grand Ballroom. This event was part of a global roadshow, aimed at reconnecting with past, present, and prospective students, sharing updates on the university’s achievements, and celebrating a significant leadership transition. The event, themed “Light the Way,” was particularly special as it celebrated the successful completion of the university’s historic fundraising campaign which raised over $7.37 billion for the campus and marked the farewell of Chancellor Carol Christ after seven years of service while welcoming the new Chancellor, Richard Lyons.
As the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong in-house event production partner, Encore was tasked with delivering a complete production solution to align with the event’s theme and significance.
The Solution
Encore’s team designed a comprehensive production plan that captured the essence of UC Berkeley’s “Light the Way” theme, emphasising innovation, celebration, and connectivity. The event spanned two days:
For the Academic Forum, the Grand Ballroom was cleverly divided to accommodate both a conference setup and a luncheon for 140 guests. The front section featured theatre-style seating for the main conference sessions, while the back half was arranged with banquet rounds for the luncheon.
An impressive LED wall served as the stage backdrop, showcasing the event content with exceptional clarity. This visual element was crucial in engaging the audience and enhancing the overall experience.
Custom-branded gobos projected the “Light the Way” and “Brilliant Together” logos onto marble pillars flanking the stage, further reinforcing the event’s branding.
The room was bathed in UC Berkeley’s signature blue and gold colours, creating a cohesive visual identity throughout the event. The conference benefited from the pre-installed enhanced lighting design planned for the following day’s gala, maintaining a consistent thematic atmosphere.
The second day saw the transformation of the ballroom into an elegant gala setting for the Celebration Dinner. The pre-function area was adorned with large illuminated letters spelling “Light the Way,” setting a celebratory tone as the 210 guests arrived.
Guests were welcomed by a performance from UC Berkeley’s choir, followed by an appearance by the university’s mascot, Oski, who provided photo opportunities and nostalgic moments for attendees.
The ballroom featured white banquet rounds with crisp white and green floral centrepieces and ghost Tiffany chairs, enhancing the elegant ambiance. The lighting dynamically shifted through UC Berkeley’s brand colours, adding a vibrant and celebratory mood to the evening.
Encore provided all production support for speakers and performances on stage, ensuring a seamless flow of events and maintaining high production standards.
The Result
The UC Berkeley event was a resounding success, receiving high praise from both the client and attendees. The comprehensive production solution provided by Encore effectively captured the event’s theme and significance, delivering an engaging and memorable experience. The seamless integration of visual, audio, and lighting elements demonstrated Encore’s ability to transform the Grand Ballroom into a versatile space that catered to diverse event formats.
The seamless collaboration between Encore, UC Berkeley, and the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong was instrumental in the flawless delivery of the events. Regular communication and a shared commitment to excellence ensured that the event was executed flawlessly.
According to Encore’s Assistant Director of Event Technology – Hong Kong, Daniel Neville,
“This event’s success was significantly bolstered by Encore’s direct involvement with the client from the earliest stages of event planning. Our team engaged in detailed coordination, from early morning calls with stakeholders in the U.S. to comprehensive pre-event rundown meetings held in person with the client.
“This thorough approach ensured we had complete oversight from a production management perspective. Additionally, our direct collaboration with the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong Events Team helped strengthen our ongoing partnership and streamline the entire communication process, facilitating a seamless event execution,” said Mr. Neville.
UC Berkeley was thrilled with the outcome, particularly noting how the event did justice to the special occasion of welcoming the new Chancellor while celebrating the contributions of the outgoing Chancellor. The collaboration between Encore and the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong further underscored the strong partnership and mutual trust in delivering world-class event experiences.
Encore looks forward to continuing this successful partnership and delivering more impactful events that meet and exceed client expectations.
