Here’s a selection of Elettra stories including client work and other agency news.
Excited to share that starting this week, we have a fresh face at the Elettra offices - we're pleased to introduce you to our new intern, Leanne Kedrosky.
Leanne is completing her final year as a Marketing Communications student at BCIT and wishes to use her passion and skills to pursue a career in public relations. In her spare time, Leanne is a professional horseback rider and has an avid interest in painting and outdoor fitness.
Welcome to the Elettra team Leanne!
Pacific Centre has made the top-10 list of “most-productive” shopping malls in North America, meaning they have among the highest sales per square foot on the continent.
The 2013 list, compiled by Retail Insider, pegged Pacific Centre at No. 4, with $1,335 sales per square foot.
Check out the full article and list via The Province.
Vancouver-based Meetingmax selected by renowned festival to provide hotel reservation software
Vancouver, BC; February 24, 2014 – In keeping with its mission to support industry innovators, South by Southwest (SXSW) has signed a contract with Meetingmax Systems, provider of the travel industry’s most flexible online housing reservation system. Through the agreement, Meetingmax’s online accommodation platform will handle hotel room bookings for SXSW’s roster of events and conferences. The companies expect the system to process more than $15 million in hotel transactions during the first year.
The Canadian company’s technology has gained popularity in the United States amongst meeting planners, conference organizers, and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), however this agreement marks the first time Meetingmax will work with an annual festival on the scale of SXSW.
“Since 1987, SXSW has been a standard-bearer for independent business and independent thinkers," says Mike Shea, Executive Director, SXSW. "Meetingmax is cut from that same cloth and we think their housing technology is the right system at the right time."
Discussions between the two companies began in 2012 when SXSW started researching options to replace its previous system, developed internally more than 20 years ago. That software was not designed to handle the increasingly complex requirements of SXSW’s ever-growing line-up of events. After considering its options, including internally redeveloping the software, SXSW decided to engage Meetingmax.
“Meetingmax’s core competency matched exactly what we were looking for. They know housing inside and out,” says Michael Brown, Technical Project Manager, SXSW. “Rather than building a system with similar capabilities, working with Meetingmax means we know the system will function at the level it needs to. We’re now free to focus our energy on innovation in other areas.”
Recognized for its stability and ease of use, Meetingmax’s software also allows for customizable features. For SXSW this will mean special comprehensive billing and refund options and an integrated logic enabling the system to provide unique options to guests based on their role at the event. The housing technology began testing with smaller SXSW events starting in fall 2013, with the full launch projected for August 2014 with registration for the SXSW 2015 Austin conference.
“This contract is a long term, significant investment for Meetingmax and SXSW. Ensuring the fundamentals of our organizations aligned was important to both of us,” says Jeff Duncan, COO and Founder of Meetingmax. “It feels great to be working with a team that will benefit from our software and that also functions like ours in terms of goals and culture. We’re excited to develop this relationship in the years to come.”
First held in 1987 in Austin, TX, SXSW was founded as a conference and festival for the music industry but has since blossomed into a tool for creative people and organizations from different disciplines to share ideas. In 1994, SXSW added film and interactive components, and has since added events spotlighting education (SXSWedu), sustainability (SXSW ECO), and entrepreneurs (SXSW V2V). Today, the SXSW flagship event attracts more than 40,000 registrants to Austin every March, with a local economic impact calculated at more than $218 million in 2013.
Congratulations go out to the Vantage Airport Group. Yesterday the Airports Council International announced the recipients of the prestigious 2013 Air Service Quality Awards, and Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport has been recognized for Best Improvement in the Latin America-Caribbean region. The full list of winners can be found here: http://bit.ly/1eYn8mi
Vantage currently operates the airport and broke ground in 2009 on a $410 million dollar redevelopment, leveraging its expertise to build a world-class airport that would align with the expanding tourism industry on the islands. Two other Canadian firms, Ledcor and Stantec, were also involved in the construction and design of the redevelopment, which was completed on time and on budget.
The infrastructure project was one of the largest in the Caribbean and was officially completed in October 2013. Improvements include:
Sounds like a great place to start and finish a trip to The Bahamas!
If there's one thing that makes coming home from a beautiful, sunny vacation a little easier, it's finding something awesome like this on your desk when you get back in the office... Gray magazine's February issue has a beautiful cover feature on the Burritt Bros. / Zoe Pawlak Over Oceans Rug Collection. The piece highlights the inspired collaboration between artist and retailer, and describes the process of transforming a painting into a series of five hand-knotted Nepalese rugs.
Congrats to Zoe and our friends at Burritt Bros. This is been a fantastic project to work with you all on!
Gray's February issue is on newsstands now. A couple more pics after the jump....
It's been a busy week for the Burritt Bros./ Zoe Pawlak Over Oceans Rug Collection. On Thursday, Zoe sat down with Fiona Forbes on Shaw's The Rush to talk about the Rug Collection. Watch the whole segment here.
BC Living magazine's February issue came out with a lovely piece on the Collection in their Home Trends section.
BC Living'sFebruary issue is on newsstands now. And Western Living editor, Anicka Quin, chose the rug collection as her Pick of the Week.
Landmark complex’s new look features redesigned food court, lower level
Vancouver, B.C.; January 22, 2014 – This week, Harbour Centre Complex Limited is marking the official opening of its lower level and food court after a multi-million dollar redevelopment. The extensive interior upgrades began last spring and focused on creating a brighter, more welcoming space through higher ceilings, open-concept lounge spaces, and a fresh colour palette
The expanded eating and common area occupies approximately 17,500 square feet, and features seating for more than 600 patrons. 13 vendors in the redesigned food court offer a variety of options ranging from healthy fare to selection of world cuisines, including local concept Rice ‘N Spice and the first Canadian retail location of popular New York based chain Famous Famiglia Pizzeria. A full list of retailers can be found here: http://bit.ly/1dPjtMY.
“There’s a daytime population of 130,000 within one kilometer of Harbour Centre. We saw an opportunity to create a more contemporary and inviting atmosphere to better serve existing customers and attract new patrons to the Centre,” says Richard Lui, General Manager, Harbour Centre Complex Limited. “We’re thrilled with the finished product and look forward to welcoming customers to the revitalized space to experience all we have to offer.”
Other new amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi zones, larger washroom facilities, and digital directories. The redevelopment was designed by SSDG Interiors Inc. in conjunction with project architects, DA Architects + Planners.
The building’s exterior façade is also currently undergoing improvements that are scheduled for completion in late spring. Wider entryways, new canopies, and improved signage will add colour and light to the building, improving street presence for pedestrians.
About Harbour Centre Harbour Centre is home to a 28-story office tower, a nine-story office building with historic origins, Simon Fraser University Downtown Campus, The Vancouver Lookout Observation Deck, Top of Vancouver Revolving Restaurant, and two levels of shops and services. Recognized as the Information Technology Hub of Western Canada, Harbour Centre houses 5,000 office workers, students, and faculty. Located at the junction of Vancouver’s key transportation arteries, it is easily accessible from anywhere in the Lower Mainland, by road, bus, train, floatplane, Seabus, or Helijet. For more information, visit www.harbourcentre.com.
Earlier this year, we met with the team from The Kettle Society to talk about their Facebook page. Together we all brainstormed some ways they could build a stronger page, engage their existing audience, and gain new followers that would find their page helpful and interesting.
Since then, they’ve done an awesome job with their updating their page regularly and posting valuable content related to their services, events, news, and topics important to their organization.
Head to their Facebook page to learn more about the society and the great work they do!
File this one under: Really Great Gift Idea for the foodie / spirit connoisseur on your Christmas List. Vancouver's first micro-distillery, Long Table, has launched Peppermint Mist just in time for Christmas.
Made with local, organic peppermint, this little tipple has Christmas in every drop. Imagine Peppermint Mist in hot chocolate, drizzled over vanilla ice cream, or served chilled as an accompaniment to a chocolatey Christmas dessert.
I, for one, can't wait to take this beauty along on my next wintery hiking trip. It will be heartily enjoyed along with some hot coffee on top of a snowy North Shore Mountain.
And in other news, Charles & Rita Tremewen, owners/distillers of Long Table, have just told us that next week they are launching Vancouver's first Aquavit. Aquavit is a traditional Scandinavian spirit made with herbs and spices. It's traditionally served around Christmastime, so it makes another great gift choice for a spirit-lover on your list.
- Simone
On Thursday, the Vancouver Airport Authority and its partner businesses on Sea Island came together with a Christmas Food Hamper Drive in support of Quest Food Exchange.
More than 450 hampers were contributed by employees of companies right across Sea Island. The hampers, each of which will include a turkey courtesy of the Vancouver Airport Authority, will benefit Quest families in need this Christmas.
Black Friday came to Richmond Centre and Pacific Centre for the first time this year and shoppers got some great deals. Here's a story in Saturday's Vancouver Sun.
Zoe Pawlak is featured in Elle Canada's Five Minutes With profile. She talks rugs, colours, and fashion collaborations. Read it here.
Vancouver, BC; November 21, 2013 – Burritt Bros. Carpets & Floors is announcing the official launch of the Zoë Pawlak Over Oceans Rug Collection. The collection, which is a series of five graphic area rugs inspired by a single Pawlak painting, is a stunning example of what is possible when art, technology, and business meet.
“It has been incredible to see Over Oceans, a piece that is so personal for me, transformed into something entirely new,” says Zoë Pawlak. “Through this rug collection, I’ve been able to explore the variations that are made possible by working in a new medium. It’s opened up an opportunity to connect with art buyers in whole new way.”
The source painting, Over Oceans, explores the passing of time and crossing the ocean, a once-unimaginable distance to traverse. Each of the rugs in the series depicts the movements, variations, and endless possibilities that a single, massive expanse of water can have.
“Zoë is an innovator and a trendsetter. Her approach is never bound by what is expected,” says Keith Donegani, Burritt Bros. Carpets & Floors. “This collaboration combines that spirit with the latest rug making technology and Burritt Bros.’ knowledge of what consumers are looking for in their homes. This is a true collaboration between creative entrepreneurs.”
Over the past decade, Pawlak has built a strong following across North America, working with private clients, interior designers, and select brands. Having worked closely with designers to create custom pieces, Pawlak is keenly aware of the opportunity to connect with her buyers beyond their walls.
“I’ve never felt bound to a single medium or a single theme, because there are so many ways to engage and connect with the people who buy and appreciate my work,” says Pawlak. “The business of art is rapidly changing, and that presents new opportunities. By embracing collaboration - whether it’s through canvas, textiles, or rugs - a whole new body of work is born. For me, the connection to people is the most important part of the collaborative process, and Burritt Bros. shares that same value.”
The Over Oceans rugs are individually hand-knotted in Nepal. Stock size for all five rugs is 8’ x 10’, however, as a result of Burritt Bros. custom rug capabilities, sizes can be adjusted to meet each client’s needs. The collection can be viewed at Burritt Bros., 3594 Main Street in Vancouver, and online at http://burrittcarpets.com/zoe-pawlak.html.