Inspire EX was awash with new event ideas and innovations

The Inspire EX, the business and special events trade show took place Monday 18 August to Tuesday 19 August at the Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island. Torrential rain and wind attempted to dampen the show but to no avail. Thousands of visitors braved the conditions to experience the re-branded show, and they were not disappointed.

The show opened with an inspiring, high energy presentation by John Daly, the guru of special events, with a portfolio including events for Tom Cruise, Porsche, the Olympics and even the Pope.

The exhibitors certainly came to the party with impressive displays by Doltone House, AV1, Sydney Prop Specialists, ExhibitionCo, Angelic Events & Design, Decorative events & Exhibitions (DE&E), ATP, Engagency, Pop up studio and Merlin Events.

The first day of the show closed with networking drinks and fantastic entertainment by Rosie Henshaw & The Bees and Elly Oh and Carlos C Major from The Voice, organised by Apples and Pears.

Those looking for creative inspiration for special events were provided this in droves at the Hosted VIP Buyer dinner on the Monday evening, when the City of Sydney Venues Town Hall put on a dazzling entrance, starting with a haunting pipe organ melody and the hall lit up in blue colours and dry ice smoke covering the ground. Restaurant Associates, together with Sydney Town Hall Head Chef, Dominique Heitz, created a mouth watering culinary feast of oysters, sea urchins, lobster starter washed down with Champagne and amazingly succulent beef main with red wine crowned with lavish deserts. Decorative Events & Exhibitions (DE&E) created a breath taking design for the elongated dining tables, with intricate centrepieces featuring textured layered vignettes. In keeping with the ‘land to sea theme’ the ocean was symbolised with the creation of beautifully haunting tendrils of aloe vera accented with mirror reflective surfaces. The elongated hakea pods of the Australian natives atop raw timber slices represented the land emerging from the bluest of sea mists to literally stop guests in their tracks.

Guests were then welcomed into the vestibule to enjoy Australian inspired desserts and cocktails. DE&E showcased their new design trend ‘Sunburnt Australia’. The design evoked a real a sense of the Australian bush set within the eucalyptus leaves as the sun starts to set. DE&E’s design incorporated their new raw timber range of cocktail and tapas tables as well as their timber cabana structures drawing upon the earthy tones of the outback. The new timber range was complimented with a colour palette of rich dusty orange, dense greens of the Australian bush, and a deep charcoal grey that represented the silvery clouds that loom above threatening to break into a summer storm.

If you missed Inpsire EX because a submarine wasn't available to get you there in the terrible weather, don't worry! We're already planning next year's show.

Inspire EX 2015 will take place 17 and 18 August, at the Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island.