AGC Part 2

AGC is finally over... after months of planning. The secretariat refers to the event as our ECA. Despite the tons of work landing on our desks daily, there's the endless amount of follow-ups to do for the big day. The Ascott Global Conference is an annual gathering of Ascott's senior management. This year's "lucky" host was KL. The secretariat comprised representatives from the various functions and yours truly was the "selected" one from Brand & Marketing. Horror stories of how previous years' secretariat suffered and toiled unfolded right till the very end of the conference.

Held from 17 - 19 March in KL, the AGC was more like an "anticipation-of-the-CEO's needs" event. I was overall in charge of the gala event, the finale to the entire conference (not forgetting my involvement in 2 task force topics which were presented during the conference). Long story short, the 2 1/2 day conference went well and the gala was a success. Highlights included the saga of our CEO's coach ride, the near-catastrophic group photoshoot and the embarassing cha-cha during the gala.

The entire planning brought me closer to some of my colleagues. We were a great team despite some strange characters within the group. The KL team was wonderful and I must say, I have lots of yuan with them. Ascott KL was my first overseas assignment after I joined TAG and the AGC brought me back to KL a couple more times. Tony, Shereen etc were fantastic - always rising to the occasion no matter how last minute some plans were.


Behind-the-scenes

As for me, I got to know some really good vendors in KL. Our event organiser was very good and the emcee I chose (with fingers crossed) didn't disappoint. CEO actually went to her personally to compliment her for being "wonderful with the crowd". I'm never comfortable with event organising. I'm so used to seeing and approving stuff before it goes to print, or materialises. With events, you don't see the end product until the event proper - and I don't like that feeling. From the conference backdrop design, to the selection of the emcee and entertainer, I was glad I made the right choices and they all didn't disappoint. Many of my colleagues said this was one of the best conferences and AGC gala; if not the BEST :-) Flattery or not, it surely made the secretariat feel really good that our efforts didn't go to waste.


Gloria the event org & Angie the emcee

After the first conference day, I returned to the apartment exhausted. I received an email from Mr Ong that evening. He sent me a really cute video with a note "thought this will cheer you up after a hard day". That was all I needed to forget all that stress... come to think of it, Mr Ong was there at all my "first conference" - RIL, Swissotel and now, Ascott!


The B&M(ers)

The gala evening came and it was really gratifying that the secretariat was given a standing ovation for a job well-done. Despite my embarrassing moment on stage when the secretariat Chairman pulled me onto stage to do a cha-cha! Argh... I have two left feet, I can't dance for nuts! OK, I guess that was additional entertainment that evening.


The Secretariat with the CEO & their standing ovation


Sabo Cha-cha



And for those who noticed, I wore my Tan Tan again (since it's a different crowd). I had brought a strapless number but figured I'd better go for the safer option since I was going to be running around quite a bit. So these pictures may seem a little familiar :-)

Until the next AGC...