experiential events sets world wide same sex history

Calgary, Monday, January 21, 2008 - experiential events, with offices in Calgary, Vancouver and Victoria, won an 'Oscar' of the special events world on Friday evening in Atlanta, Georgia.

experiential events, was presented a GALA Award by Special Events Magazine for BEST WEDDING IN THE WORLD under $1000 per guest in front of a black tie gala at the Georgia World Congress Center. For the first time in history the BEST WEDDING CATEGORY was awarded to a SAME-SEX wedding.

The Gala Awards have been given by Special Events Magazine, the premier industry publication since 1986. They recognize the finest work in special events worldwide in a variety of categories from best lighting and technical direction to best catered event. For the 2007 Gala Awards, the magazine received 330 entries in 35 categories from Canada, China, Denmark, England, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, Spain, United Arab Emirates and the United States. Members of the Special Events Magazine Advisory Board, made up of leaders in the event profession, spent three days in October selecting 104 finalist events. Nominated entries went through three rounds of judging.

Kenneth Kristoffersen CSEP, President and Creative Director of experiential events, and Hanan Chebib, Senior Calgary Event Architect accepted the award on behalf of the company. "This is the most prestigious award in the special event industry and to be recognized in this way is an honour for our entire team" he said.

"More importantly, to have the environment of love, that was created for the grooms, acknowledged as the Best Wedding in 2007 sets a precedence of acceptance that many can learn from. At experiential events we are committed to changing the world and people's lives, one experience at a time."

Started three years ago, experiential events is now producing some of the largest corporate, social and fundraising events in Calgary for an impressive list of clients. In the fall, the company expanded and opened offices in Vancouver and Victoria, with Toronto set to come onboard very soon.

In the past three years experiential events has won Best Event Produced for a Corporation in Canada, Most Outstanding Event over $300,000 in Canada, Best Event for a Private Individual in Canada, Most Outstanding Logistical Achievement in Canada, and Best Team Effort in the World. Kenneth is a two-time Canadian Event Producer of the Year and has been sited by Canadian Event Perspective Magazine as "Best in the Biz". He has also won numerous other national and international awards as former president of another event management company.