MPI Foundation's THE BIG DEAL

Encore Productions and The MPI Foundation team up for “The Big Deal”.

With the support of MPI's partners -- Caesars Entertainment, Hilton Worldwide and Encore Productions -- the sizzle surrounding this Las Vegas themed event went way beyond the tournament. It was networking super-sized!

Encore’s production team provided high quality lighting, visual, sound and live camera support, including flawless transitions between sponsor’s graphics, pre-recorded video testimonials and presentations, live interviews and live poker player action on an enormous screen. Encore’s creative team created the complex event schedule, molded the messages, crafted the script, created custom videos, and coached and rehearsed the poker master of ceremonies. Encore dressed the night for success!

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The odds were stacked in favor of the meetings and events industry as well; all proceeds from The Big Deal went towards funding for scholarships and grants for the MPI Foundation. There was “no limit” to how much fun everyone had! TOP

  • Big Deal ice sculpture - logo of deck of cards carved in ice.
  • Image from The Big Deal 2011, a Las Vegas themed event at the Orlando Hilton
  • Image from The Big Deal 2011, a Las Vegas themed event at the Orlando Hilton
  • Image from The Big Deal 2011, a Las Vegas themed event at the Orlando Hilton
  • Image from The Big Deal 2011, a Las Vegas themed event at the Orlando Hilton
  • Image from The Big Deal 2011, a Las Vegas themed event at the Orlando Hilton
  • Image from The Big Deal 2011, a Las Vegas themed event at the Orlando Hilton
  • Image from The Big Deal 2011, a Las Vegas themed event at the Orlando Hilton
  • Image from The Big Deal 2011, a Las Vegas themed event at the Orlando Hilton
  • Image from The Big Deal 2011, a Las Vegas themed event at the Orlando Hilton
  • Image from The Big Deal 2011, a Las Vegas themed event at the Orlando Hilton
  • Image from The Big Deal 2011, a Las Vegas themed event at the Orlando Hilton
  • Image from The Big Deal 2011, a Las Vegas themed event at the Orlando Hilton
  • Image from The Big Deal 2011, a Las Vegas themed event at the Orlando Hilton
  • Image from The Big Deal 2011, a Las Vegas themed event at the Orlando Hilton
  • Image from The Big Deal 2011, a Las Vegas themed event at the Orlando Hilton
  • Image from The Big Deal 2011, a Las Vegas themed event at the Orlando Hilton
  • Image from The Big Deal 2011, a Las Vegas themed event at the Orlando Hilton
  • Image from The Big Deal 2011, a Las Vegas themed event at the Orlando Hilton
  • Image from The Big Deal 2011, a Las Vegas themed event at the Orlando Hilton
  • Big Deal ice sculpture - logo of deck of cards carved in ice.
  • Guests enjoy Encore's lounge at The Big Deal
  • Guests enjoy Encore's lounge at The Big Deal
  • Image from The Big Deal, a Las Vegas themed event
  • View of the Encore Productions and Hilton lounges
  • The Big Deal combined networking and excitement wrapped up with a World Series of Poker style tournament
  • The entrance to the East Ballroom of the Vancouver Convention Centre welomed guests to the Vegas themed event.
  • The Big Deal offered gaming, prizes, food, hosted bars, entertainment and special appearances by celebrity poker players.
  • MPI Foundation, with the support of its partners, Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah’s Entertainment, Hilton Worldwide and Encore Productions, produced the event.
  • Guests mix and mingle in the Encore lounge.
  • A view of The Big Deal casino and poker tournament theme, without the guests.
  • Host Jack Effel interviews celebrity poker player, Antonio Esfandiari
  • You can't have a Vegas themed event without showgirls.
  • Encore’s production team provided high quality lighting, visual, sound and live camera support, including flawless transitions between sponsor’s graphics, pre-recorded video testimonials and presentations.
  • The Big Deal combined the opportunity for guests to network and watch their colleagues from the meeting and event industry vie for a $10,000 seat at the 2011 World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas.
  • Shelley Sechopoulos and winner, Kevin Hinton
  • Poker tournament player, D.R. Smith
  • D.R. Smith celebrates.
  • David Dubois
  • Darryn Cray, Executive Producer at Encore Productions
  • Mike Massari, Carrie Henderson, Bill Dayton, and Darryn Cray.
  • Danny Treece and David Dubois
  • The Big Deal provided great networking opportunities, delectable hors d’oeuvres, and several open bars. (And let's not forget the martini luge!).
  • Guests mixing and mingling.
  • Encore's Joel Scheile and Rob Stout swap cards with a guest.
  • Freddie 'O' Onsaga and the rest of the Encore team provided high quality lighting, visual, sound and live camera support, for live interviews and poker player action presented on a multitude of multi-sized screens throughout the ballroom.
  • Susan Kashani and friend
  • Shelley Sechopoulos
  • Phil Cooper, Carrie Henderson, Bill Dayton and Larry Lee
  • Pat Moore
  • Phil Cooper and Bill Dayton
  • Janel Organo

When Encore productions states “Your story...Well Told”; they mean it! As a Professional Event Planner, my experience working with Encore was extremely satisfying. From the very beginning, the Encore team worked as an extension of my team, providing ideas, expert advice and solutions. Their team consists of some of the best, most experience producers and crew that I have worked with and the latest in equipment and technology. Whether you are planning a Conference, Meeting, Gala or Special Event, I highly recommend Encore Productions. They will help you tell your story!

-- Bettyanne Sherrer, CMP ProPlan Conference Planners

Thanks so much to the entire Encore Productions team for making our inaugural event, The Big Deal (World Series of Poker tournament) an enjoyable experience. You provided more than we could have asked for. The team brainstormed and co-created the event with us from the inception of the idea to the very end. When you create and plan an event FOR the event industry, your event has to be perfect. We simply could not have pulled off such a successful event without Encore Productions’ very talented team of professionals. We value your partnership and can't wait to get started with the creative planning for next year’s event as well as continuing our partnership. If anyone has an event they need produced, I will definitely tell them they have to contact Encore Productions if they want their event to be flawlessly produced. Thanks for everything!

-- Marcia Williams, former MPI Foundation Director of Operations

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