Seasons Greetings and Happy New Year from Gateway Center!

Please enjoy this holiday dance from a few of our elves!

11 Tips for Attending a Bridal Show

1) First thing to do is RESEARCH. Make a list of the area bridal shows. Most likely, you cannot possibly attend them all. SO, determine which bridal shows you should attend based on the dates, convenience, price of admission, and the number of vendors. Also, ask around. If a bridal show is a good one, fellow brides and wedding professionals will be talking about it.

2) Wear comfortable shoes.

3) Buy some of those return address stickers that you put on envelopes. Print your contact information on them and bring them with you to the show. Use the stickers at registration and to enter into drawings. These pre-printed labels will save you time!

4) It's a good idea to take a camera. That way if you like the design of a wedding gown, a cake, or a table centerpiece, you will be able to refer to your photos.

5) Bring your credit cards or checkbook. You may decide to book services or hold dates with a deposit. Be sure to check refund policies before giving any money, and read the contract before signing. Warning - Don't get carried away. Avoid making a snap decision.

6) Gather marketing materials, brochures, and business cards from all the companies that you are interested in. You will be able to look back through this information when you get home.

7) Bring a pen and a notebook so that you can take notes of anything important.

8) Bring a friend. You will enjoy yourself much more if you have someone with you. So, if your groom, your mother, or your maid of honor is willing to go with you, bring them. The more the merrier!

9) If you want to attend a show, but for some reason cannot make it, ask a family member or friend to go for you. They can collect information and register you for prizes.

10) Watch the fashion show. The latest in bridal fashions will be on display, so take the opportunity to view the hottest trends.

11) Last, but not least...Relax and have FUN!!

Fun Tips for your Office Holiday Party

Is your office holiday party boring? Hopefully not. But, if your party is starting to feel like a rerun with the same format year after year, the employees might be feeling less than thrilled about attending the party. If you are in charge of the party planning, below are a few ideas that can inject a little FUN into the party.

- Photo Booths with a twist
Photo booths have been around for a while now and are still very popular with our wedding clients. But, have you ever considered having one at your office holiday party? Photo booths can break the ice and create great opportunities for employees to goof off together.

Earlier this year, we hosted an the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association networking event at Gateway Center. We had an interactive photo booth called StudioB! from Brower's Photography. StudioB! is a supercharged photo booth where they actually set up a "ministudio" at the event. We stocked the photo booth with funny props, such as silly wigs, glasses, fur coats, and goofy hats. Guests would pick out a prop (or not) and get 4 photos taken. Then, each picture would be projected up onto a big screen in the front of the room for all to see and enjoy. Guests then were given a 4" by 6" prints to take home.


- Competition!
There is nothing like a little competition to get people excited! This year, one of our clients (a hospital) who books an annual holidary party at Gateway Center decided to do something new and different to make the party more exciting. They decided to do a dance competition modeled off of the show Dancing With The Stars. Months ago, they paired doctors with staff and the couples started taking dance lessons. These couples will compete live at the event. How cool is that?! This event is still a few weeks away and the the event is already sold out. Everyone is excited to see the show.

Any sort of competition would make for a fun party..... dancing, singing, or maybe tree decorating competitions between departments?

- Let the Games Begin
Get the crowd involved by playing a game. Give gifts White Elephant style and draw names to have people decide whether they want a unwrapped gift or if they want to steal someone else's gift.

Most likely someone on staff has Guitar Hero or a Wii. Ask them if they would be willing to bring it in for the party to let others play.

Gateway Center worked with a party planning/rental company called 62 Sports when we had a western themed party. We rented their mechanical bull, and oh my, people loved it!! 62 Sports has so many fun things: inflatables, games, sumo wrestler outfits, gladiator casino games, carnival games, etc.

- Discover hidden musical talents
Does someone on staff play in a band that can play at the event? Does anyone play piano or guitar? Does anyone have a Karaoke machine? If you know someone that loves music, ask them to bring in an iPod that will provide music for the event.

Your holiday party is an opportunity to reward your employees with a festive break from their daily routine. So, inject some fun into your holiday party and allow everyone to enjoy themselves. After all, happy employees perform better at their jobs which produces happy clients!

Gateway Bridal Shows

A wedding is a wonderful milestone event in every couple's lives. But, with all the details involved, sometimes planning a wedding can become very time consumming and frustrating. At the Gateway Bridal Shows, brides and grooms can save time, money and hassle! In just one evening, couples can meet with over 100 wedding professionals, compare pricing, and have valuable face-to-face time with the vendors.

A lot of wedding planning these days is being done online. But, so many things can only be decided upon after seeing them for yourself. At the Gateway Bridal Shows, couples can plan their wedding using their 5 senses.... Look at gorgeous bridal gowns. Listen to a beautiful string quartet. Taste yummy wedding cake. Touch soft table linens. Smell romantic flowers. It's all a real, hands-on, interactive experience.

Gateway Center is hosting two Gateway Bridal Shows in 2010. The first show is on Thursday, January 14, 2010 from 5 PM until 9 PM and the second show is on Sunday, July 18, 2010 from 1 PM until 5 PM.

For more information, please visit our site: http://www.gatewaycenter.com/bridal.html

Gateway Center staff has been known to go all out for Halloween. We have costume parties, we decorate our offices, and we pull scary pranks on each other. BOO!

So, when it was time to pick a theme for this year's Gateway Center sponsored ChamberNet, a Halloween themed event was a no-brainer!

We have been planning out our costumes, creating a scary menu, and gathering spooky decor including vampire coffins! Special thanks to A-1 Party & Wedding Rental in Collinsville and the Waterloo Sportsman's Club for allowing us to borrow decor.

We are ready to impress (and scare) our guests at ChamberNet next week!

ChamberNet 2009 at Gateway Center Graveyard
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
5 PM until 7 PM

Network with people from all over the Metro East area at ChamberNet 2009!

Free Admission Free Food & Drinks Free Parking Attendance Prizes Costume Contest

Participating Chambers are: Chamber of Commerce of Southwestern Madison County, Collinsville, Edwardsville/Glen Carbon, Fairview Heights, Greater Belleville, Mascoutah, O'Fallon, River Bend Growth Association, Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob, and Waterloo.

Halloween costumes are being strongly recommended, but not required. We are going to have a Costume Contest with fun prizes.

Chewbacca Visits Archon 33 in Collinsville!

The mighty wookie Chebacca is coming to Collinsville! Peter Mayhew AKA Chewbacca from Star Wars is one of the Guests of Honor at Archon 33 Science Fiction/Fantasy Convention this weekend at Gateway Center.

Archon has been held each October at Gateway Center in Collinsville for 15 years. The convention draws thousands of often-costumed sci-fi, fantasy and comic book fans for three days of games, shows, workshops, celebrity autographs and seminars. Topics run the gamut from Star Trek, vampires and monsters to Harry Potter, aliens and superheroes.

The Archon Convention is something that the staff at Gateway Center looks forward to each year. Some of the costumes that the attendees wear are so elaborate, it's amazing! Personally speaking, it always makes me excited for Halloween!

For more details, check out their website: http://www.archonstl.org/33/index.php

Pat with Patty-Cakes is a reality star!

Our wedding industry friend, Pat Jacoby with Patty-Cakes (located in Highland, IL) is a reality star! How cool is that?!!

Here's the scoop:

On June 30th, Pat left for LA to tape an episode of TLC’s “Ultimate Cake Off” series. This new series pits three different bakers against each other as they create edible masterpieces in hopes of winning $10,000 and have their cakes featured at a marquee event.

A sneek-peek episode will air on August 3rd. Pat’s episode is scheduled to air on September 14, 2009 10 PM ET/PT, 9 PM Central.

If any of our clients are in need of cake, we always recommend Patty-Cakes. They are very professional, friendly, and truly talented!

Congratulations, Jamie!

Our very own Jamie Lane has passed the CMP exam and is now an official Certified Meeting Professional! For those of you who aren't familiar with the CMP, it is a designation offered by the Convention Industry Council. In order to take the exam you must toil though a lengthy application to prove you have enough experience, and then you study, study, study from four recommended text books for the exam.

Jamie sat for the exam on July 11, 2009, and received the news that she passed this week! Whew. We knew she could do it!! Congratulations, Jamie!

Gateway Center now has three CMPs on staff including Jamie, Jenny Conrad and Lisa Smith.

Posted by Jenny Conrad

Eurest Dining Services Won Two Awards Last Night!

Eurest Dining Services, Gateway Center's exclusive in-house caterer, won two awards for "Best Appetizer" at the Horseradish Festival Preview Party last night. At the Preview Party several local restaurants and caterers participated in a Professional Recipe Contest.

For those of you that are not aware, Collinsville, IL is known as the "Horseradish Capital of the World" because more than 75% of the world's commercial horseradish crop is grown in the surrounding area. Each year this often overlooked root is celebrated with a family friendly two-day festival. This year, the International Horseradish Festival will take place on Saturday, June 6th and Sunday, June 7th in Woodland Park in Collinsville. The event features free entertainment, food booths, root toss, root golf, root sacking contest, craft fair, Bloody Mary contest, horseradish cooking contest, an expanded childen's area and, of course, the Annual Horseadish Root Derby!

The Preview Party's Professional Recipe Contest last night was a lot of fun! It was a networking event for the Collinsville Chamber of Commerce and the Contest offered a taste of some of the fabulous foods that will be available at the festival this weekend.

The staff of Gateway Center is very proud of Eurest Dining for winning not one, but two, awards! Eurest really showcased their culinary skill and creative flair.

Here are Eurest's winning dishes:
Horseradish Crostini with Horsey Dijon Topped with Shrimp and Bacon created by Mike
Stuffed Olive with Horsey-Boursin Cheese created by Daniel

Sound yummy? Believe me, it was! I don't even really like horseradish (or shrimp!), and I thought they were both scrumptions.

Planning an event with a theme? Want to impress your guests with a creative menu? Then, you should consider having your event at Gateway Center where Eurest Dining Services will work with you to create a special menu.

For more information on the Horseradish Festival:
http://www.horseradishfestival.com/

On April 7th, Dawn Mushill with Customer Service and Beyond visited Gateway Center to do a customer service training. It was WONDERFUL! Dawn truly is a customer service expert.

We had all of our employees attend this full-day event. Employees both new and old, from our newest newbies to the GC lifers, sat together to hear her excellent tips and suggestions. With her sense of humor and energy, Dawn shared life stories with us and also had us participate in group activities.

Dawn taught us that "It's All About the WOW." We all must strive everyday to "WOW" our clients, as well as the public, event attendees, vendors, and anyone else who enters our doors. We must set our goals high. After our customer service training, Gateway Center's new goal is to be the best convention center in the world!

For more information on Dawn Mushill and Customer Service and Beyond, please visit:
http://www.customerserviceandbeyond.com/

Have you ever had a really great customer service experience? It's easier to remember the bad than good, but if you have a good story about how someone WOWed you with their customer service, either at Gateway Center or anywhere else, please tell us about it. We all could learn from each other's experiences.

Add Pizaazz to a Room with Stage Decor

Gateway Center's in-house audio-visual company is AVSC.

In addition to audio visual equipment and lighting, AVSC offers a variery of stage designs that can add some serious style to a stage.

Gateway Center - The Great Way to Gather for Any Event!

photo credit - Starry Eyed Studios

Cocktail Hour in Prefunction

Gateway Center can host any type of event from meetings, wedding receptions, and banquets to the trade shows, conventions, and consumer shows.

The Rock Your Reception Contest at the Gateway Bridal Show was a huge success. There was a total of 1,116 votes. The winning couple was Nikki and Tom. Congratulations!!


First Photo: Jamie Lane, Sales Manager at Gateway Center, with the Rock Your Reception Contest Winner, Nikki!

Second Photo: The participants from the Rock Your Reception Contest at the Gateway Bridal Show, Nikita, Nikki, Jamie and Sarah.

The Winning Couple Won a Rockstart Treatment Package with prizes from the following companies: Starry-Eyed Studios, Sizzor Shak Salon & Spa, Weck Events & Weddings, Night Magic Entertainment, and Gateway Center & Eurest Dining Services.

For more details visit: http://www.gatewaycenter.com/RockYourReceptionContest.html

Snow Day at Gateway

While our director was out of town on vacation, the staff decided to "pull a prank." We built a snowman in her parking spot. It turned into a fun team-building experience. We worked together to create this snowy, and short, masterpiece!

"Pranks" are encouraged at Gateway Center, which leads to a fun work environment. The staff works hard every day. So, it's important to let off a little steam every now and then.

Our staff has learned from experience that employees that play together, stay together.