Case Studies
Whistler Film Festival, White Carpet Party, December 2011
Event Overview
On Friday December 2, 2011 Brightlight Pictures, EBTV and Finale Editworks combined forces to host the White Carpet Party at the 11th annual Whistler Film Festival. Hawksworth Communications was retained to manage the media relations for this exclusive event and collaborated with the Whistler Film Festival to ensure key media and film festival VIP guests were in attendance. Widely considered to be the festival’s hottest invitation, guests rubbed elbows with the West Coast’s brightest stars at the award-winning Araxi Restaurant. The guest list included an international array of filmmakers, as well as a host of Canadian movers and shakers. Notable guests included Shawn Williamson (Brightlight Pictures Co-Chairman and Whistler Film Festival Chair), Actress Lana Parilla (Once Upon a Time), Actor Lachlan Munro (Scary Movie & The Company You Keep) and Actor Donal Logue (Blade, the Patriot). Key media attendees and secured coverage include The Vancouver Sun, The Province, Vancouver 24hrs, The North Shore News, The Georgia Straight, Variety, E-Talk and Entertainment Tonight Canada.
Bel Cafe opening media campaign, November 2011
With sweet and savoury delicacies fresh from the kitchens of Chef David Hawksworth, Bel Café opened within the Rosewood Hotel Georgia in November 2011. Hawksworth Communication handled the launch of the new brand, along with the ongoing media relations for both Bel Café and Hawksworth Restaurant. Launching the European-style café brand softly, Hawksworth Communications arranged a series of media sampler evenings, allowing the media to test a wide range of the sweet and savoury menu and experience the café’s table service. Resulting coverage from these tailored media events included Vancouver Magazine’s The Fix, Sweetspot.ca, VitaminDaily.com, Blackbook.com, Notable.ca, Georgia Straight, Westender, CTV, Metro and numerous lifestyle bloggers.
In conjunction with the venue launch, Hawksworth Communications established Bel Café’s Twitter handle, with the aim of not only providing a platform for the Bel Café team to share daily specials and feature items, but also for Bel Café customers to share feedback and post photos of their own Bel Café experience. Bel Café now receives over 50 customer engagements every week, and has a highly engaged following of 250 Vancouverites.
Sarah McLachlan School of Music Launch, October 2011
Event Overview
On Thursday October 27, 2011 award-winning Canadian singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan proudly opened the doors of her new School of Music, in partnership with the Wolverton Foundation. Local media and VIP guests attended a special reception, to discover and celebrate the permanent new music school set to offer free music education to vulnerable youth. Students of the school performed live as guests enjoyed a private viewing of the new 16,000 square foot facility.Hawksworth Communications worked closely with the SoM and Wolverton Foundation teams to promote the launch of the new school including concept and planning of press conference, announcements and coordination of all media interviews and invitations. Key media attendees and secured coverage included local TV news stations: CityTV, CBC, CTV and Global TV; in addition to The Province, The Vancouver Sun, The Vancouver Courier, Vancouver View Magazine, Vancouver Magazine and Vancouver 24 Hours.
To view video footage from the launch event click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuWMSP3nex0
Tiffany & Co, Leather Collection Launch, October 2011
Event Overview
On Monday October 24th and Tuesday October 25th Tiffany & Vancouver celebrated the launch of the Tiffany Leather Collection with its celebrated designers Richard Lambertson and John Truex.Hawksworth Communications worked closely with Store Director Rob Ferguson and Tiffany & Co media relations team in New York to host two successful ‘Tiffany styled’ events including a VIP reception and media breakfast where guests enjoyed a private viewing of the Tiffany Leather Collection while design directors Lambertson and Truex shared their insight and inspiration for the elegant handbags and leather accessories. Targeting the city’s most stylish women and leading fashion editors coverage was achieved in broadcast, online and traditional print media including: Vancouver Sun, Lifestlyr magazine, Vancouver View, Vitamin Daily, Vancouver Courier, Shaw TV West Coast Style with Mana Mansour and Shaw TV’s Studio 4 with Fanny Keifer.
To view the Shaw TV clip, please click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sgifSLMU1I&noredirect=1
Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Opening Event & Press Campaign, July 2011
On July 15th, 2011 the legendary Rosewood Hotel Georgia opened its doors, after a four-and-a-half year renovation. In preparation of the event, Hawksworth Communications conceptualized and launched a Memories campaign to provide a platform for Vancouverites to share their stories of the hotel over the past 84 years. After over 70 entries (many via our newly launched Rosewood Hotel Georgia Facebook and Twitter pages), the winner was chosen and gifted with the opportunity to be the hotel’s very first guest on opening day.
During opening day, Hawksworth Communications secured three of the top news stations in BC to attend and cover the opening, with carefully chosen angles pitched to each one. Extensive coverage was achieved on Global TV, CBC and CTV with the footage repeating on multiple news shows throughout the evening. Print coverage was achieved in Vancouver Sun and Globe & Mail for both the Memories contest and opening day, as hotel review stories secured in Globe & Mail, Elite Traveler, UP! Magazine, San Francisco magazine, LA Times, Robb Report and Fashion Magazine, within three months of opening. Social media presence was also established and the memories contest secured over 800 Facebook fans.
Link to coverage on Global BC:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKBy6Gjw7fs
Moda Hotel Group Press Trip, March 2011
In March 2011, Hawksworth Communications arranged for a select group of media to travel to Vancouver and Whistler, to experience the hidden treasures of Vancouver’s city streets to the dramatic vistas and mountain adventures of Whistler. Media guests were hosted at the Moda Hotel in the Bustling heart of downtown Vancouver, while embarking on a Vancouver culinary adventure that included an Italian feast at Cibo Trattoria, a cocktail tour, a Caffe Artigiano coffee cupping, a cooking class at the Dirty Apron and a site tour of Hawksworth Restaurant and the Rosewood Hotel Georgia. While in Whistler, the media group stayed at Nita Lake Lodge, and visited the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre and the Whistler Sliding Center, participated in skiing and sightseeing on Whistler Blackcomb, the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola and the Biathlon at Whistler Olympic Park.
Media
A group of respected Canadian and US writers joined this press trip, who’s outlets include Travel + Leisure, Sunset Magazine, EnRoute, Up!, Elle Canada, Seattleite, the Globe &Mail, Conde Nast Traveller.
Tiffany & Co, Holiday Press Breakfast, December 2010
On Tuesday December 7th Hawksworth Communications planned an in store breakfast event to unveil Vancouver’s Tiffany & Co. holiday windows and kick off the holiday season. Select media, online writers and bloggers were invited to attend, while Citytv’s Breakfast Television and popular host Dawn Chubai filmed the morning news live onsite. With festive canapés, breakfast items and Tiffany blue iced cookies, guests noshed on delicious refreshments and enjoyed a chic Tiffany holiday celebration.
Donnelly Group, All Star Charity Jam, October 2010
On Wednesday, October 6th 2010, Donnelly Nightclubs hosted the All-Star Charity Jam Fundraiser at Bar None. The Donnelly Group and the Donnelly Fund were proud to partner with the Steve Nash Foundation to host this exclusive event, featuring NBA stars and celebrity athletes.
Media
The Pheonix Suns and the Toronto Raptors were in Vancouver for an exhibition game at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena. After the game, both teams celebrated at Bar None, the popular Yaletown club. Special guest DJ Bamboozle hyped up the NBA star studded crowd, with all proceeds from ticket sales benefitting the Steve Nash Foundation. The Steve Nash Foundation, a registered Canadian charity dedicated to assisting underserved children in their health, personal development, education and enjoyment of life.
West Coast Fishing Club, Group Press Trip September 2010
To celebrate the West Coast Fishing Club’s admired annual culinary series, which sees talented Canadian chefs travel to Haida Gwaii to cook for guests staying at The Clubhouse. In September 2010, Hawksworth Communications arrange for a select group of media to travel to Haida Gwaii to learn more about the culinary offering at this unique property and to try their hands at fishing in the Salmon Fishing Capital of the World, accompanied by Chef Andrea Carlson from Bishops Restaurant and Chef Myke Shaw from Vancouver Aquarium who served sumptuous dinners for both media and guests.
Media
A group of respected Canadian and US writers joined the trip, with publications including Canadian Living, Brix Magazine, Montechristo, Contra Costa Times and Diablo Magazine. Watch writer Nancy Brown’s video with Clubhouse chef Ryan Stone on YouTube.
Fishing for Kids, Annual Fundraising Tournament, August 2010
Taking place at the West Coast Fishing Club in Haida Gwaii, the Fishing for Kids Tournament has raised over $2million charitable dollars in just five years, benefiting notable children’s charities – BC Children’s Hospital Foundation and Canucks Autism Network.
Media
For the past two years, Hawksworth Communications as attracted key sports and news media to the event, particularly the Cast Off Breakfast, which takes place at Vancouver International Airport South Terminal, before the group depart for Haida Gwaii. Media attendees include CBC sports, Breakfast Television, The Courier, Business in Vancouver.
Red Card Sports Bar, An Evening with Ossie Ardiles, June 2010
To launch what was set to become Vancouver’s most stylish sports bar, Hawksworth Communications worked closely with the Red Card Sports Bar team to bring soccer legend Ossie Ardiles to Vancouver for a series of media, VIP and public events to celebrate the opening, profiling the venue as THE place to enjoy the upcoming 2010 World Cup.
Media
Following media events and one-to-one interviews, coverage was successfully secured within Vancouver Sun (both sports and lifestyle sections), TEAM 1410 Radio, Montreal Gazette, The Star Phoenix and Soccernews.com.
OPUS, Winter Olympics Podium Party, February 2010
Hawksworth Communications worked closely Tourism Vancouver to host the international media welcome party kicking off the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. The OPUS Podium Party was held on Tuesday February 9th, 2010 at the OPUS Hotel Vancouver, welcoming over 400 key journalists from around the globe. Guests enjoyed Olympic inspired canapés and cocktails, fabulous entertainment, and found out what really happens after the podium with OPUS’ Dare to Disturb interactive guest room tours.
Media
Hawksworth Communications collaborated and worked closely with the Tourism Vancouver Media Relations Department and OPUS Vancouver on the overall event theme, production, sponsors, gift bags, entertainment, guest list and media relations for this hugely successful event. The OPUS Podium Party was Vancouver’s hottest Winter Games kick off party featuring athletes, celebrities and the “who’s who” of local and international media. Special guests included Fashion Television’s Jeanne Beker, 2002 Olympic skating champions David Pelletier and Jamie Sale, and media guests from TSN, USA Today, CTV, The Wall Street Journal, Sports Net, and NBC.