Super Bowl XVLII - Space Babies Sneak Peak

Exactly 72 hours from 6:30 PM Today January 31, 2013 a football will be kicked off at the New Orleans Superdome and an estimated 130 million people will be watching the biggest game in American sports.

The Super Bowl has become somewhat of a national holiday. Family and friends all gather with unimaginable amounts of food and drinks to spare, to cheer on their conference team! Super Bowl XLVII will be presenting the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers. With an audience that amounts to be almost half of the population we can only imagine the media and advertisement possibility. A simple 30 second commercial can cost a few billion dollars. Not only is the game talked about for the next couple of months but the commercials have also become just as popular as the game itself. KIA recently released their sneak peak commercial (below) and as we all know, KIA has the power to surprise!

Linking Events Sets Up Activation for Brumos at the Jacksonville International Car & Truck Show

The Jacksonville International Car & Truck Show is a premier showcase of the newest model year import and domestic vehicles, which includes a wide range of types, from cars to vans to hybrids. Representatives for car brands are on site ready to answer any questions about the vehicles, and Linking Promotions has staffed product specialists for the local Brumos Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche dealership. The event takes place February 17-19, and Linking Events staff and product specialists are at the location, the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, to begin set up for the three day event. The second load-in of cars is now complete and staff is putting the finishing touches on the vehicles to make them sparkle! Guests are expected to arrive tomorrow at noon.

The convention center, located in downtown Jacksonville, FL, opened in 1986, and was built to incorporate Jacksonville’s Union Stadium, which was part of a railroad station. The venue is located in the LaVilla neighborhood, which was once an important railroad hub. Additional square-feet were added to the structure to renovate it into what it is used for today. In the future, there are plans to convert the convention center back into its roots as a railroad terminal when the Florida East Coast Railway is reopened.


Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingevents.com. 

Fashion Funds the Cure: An Inspiring Event for Children with Cancer

For the second year in a row, Linking Events will be joining Mercedes-Benz for their activation at the 9^th Annual Bright House Networks Fashion Funds the Cure in Tampa. The event is presented by Neiman Marcus and Mercedes-Benz, and features a fashion show of young models that have battled cancer. The models will be escorted by local celebrities, all there to support the Pediatric Cancer Foundation. The store will be closing for this private evening of shopping, dining and a fashion show featuring spring season trends. The event will occur on February 29 and will be hosted by Carson Kressley of “Dancing with the Stars” and “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.”

 A similar event, Rally on the Runway – Fashion Funds the Cure, will take place March 24 in Atlanta for its third year. Linking Events will also be there organizing and detailing the event logistics for the Mercedes-Benz activation. This event is hosted by the Rally! Foundation for childhood cancer research, and is sponsored by Mondavi Winery and Mercedes-Benz. Twelve young cancer survivors and battlers will model the runway alongside professional models at this event hosted by honorary chair Curtis Lofton of the Atlanta Falcons.


Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingevents.com. 

Linking Events Coordinates for Mercedes-Benz at Multi-Day Outback Bowl Celebration

At the conclusion of the regular season of college football, a wave of bowl games was kicked off. On January 2, 2012, The Raymond James Stadium in Tampa welcomed the 3^rd pick from both the SEC and the Big Ten for a match up in the Outback Bowl. The game resulted in a win for Michigan State over Georgia in triple overtime, for a final score of 33-30. The game, however, was preceded by a multi-day celebration at which Linking Events was proud to act as the liaison on behalf of Mercedes-Benz for the various activations, ranging from the gala dinner, parades and brunch.

December 30, 2011, the MetLife/Mercedes-Benz hosted Gridiron Gala was a prestigious, invitation-only affair that donned a fluorescent light display and entertainment for hours. The following morning began with the UnitedHealthcare Children’s New Year’s Eve Parade and a pep rally featuring 20 marching bands. Mercedes-Benz vehicles joined the parade, and Tampa mayor Bob Buckhorn made an appearance with the sleek E-class cabriolet. Game day morning, the Outback Bowl Corporate Tent Village featured 5,000 Bowl sponsors, and Linking Events managed the tent for Mercedes-Benz. There was a private brunch and entertainment for this invitation-only event.


Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingevents.com. 

Spend New Years Day with Mercedes-Benz and the NFL

MIAMI -- The Miami Dolphins and New York Jets rivalry extends as far back as the merger of the American Football League and National Football League, when the two teams were placed in the AFC East conference, assuring they would always meet twice a year. Earlier this season, the teams met in week 6 for Monday Night Football on October 17. The score reflects a Miami Dolphins loss, with only six points on the score board verse the New York Jets 24. The teams will be reigniting their heated match-up on New Years day, with a 1:00 p.m. game time here in Miami’s Sun Life Stadium.

Mercedes-Benz will be in attendance of the exclusive pre-game tailgate, which will begin early in the morning on January 1^st. Linking Events is managing the activation and its sister company, Linking Promotions, is responsible for coordinating the promotional specialists that will be actively generating leads for Mercedes-Benz. The activation will be located in the recently opened Joe Robbie Alumni Plaza, a shrine located at Gate C that pays homage to original owner, Robbie, and nine Dolphins legends. This Walk of Fame features the names of greats Don Shula and Dan Marino, among others, on bronze plaques. Mercedes-Benz vehicles will be parked for viewing at this Sun Life Stadium tribute space.


Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingevents.com. 

KIA Motors and Linking Promotions Go Golfing

ORLANDO, FL -- Set up by the 18th hole, Linking Promotions product specialists Georgia and Elaina were prepared to represent the popular car brand KIA at a golf event in Orlando, FL. The two girls spent five days at The Villas of Grand Cypress Golf Resort talking to golfers about the KIA Optima and the KIA Sorento. The girls studied the ins and outs of the vehicles in order to be prepared to answer questions about the vehicles. There were also branded KIA key chains to give out to those interested in the cars.

Georgia, a Linking Promotions brand ambassador, promotional model and product specialist, described the event as "pleasant," commending the excellent weather and good turnout. Her most recent position was as a hostess for an event with the Orlando Magic on December 13. Georgia noted: “It was the perfect demographic, and the people seemed to have a genuine interest in the cars.”

Georgia says that most of the attendees enjoyed the panoramic sunroof and the heated and cooled seats in the front as well as the back.  “There are a lot of options in cars that are normally only in luxury vehicles and usually costs $20,000-$30,000 extra,” Georgia said.

Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingevents.com. 

Linking and UV Vodka at a Black Tie Gala

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL -- The annual Winterfest Boat Parade is just around the corner, and to kick off a season of festivities and holidays, the Seminole Hard Rock hosted the Premier Beverages Winterfest Black Tie Ball on December 3.  This party has the reputation of being the largest holiday gala of Ft. Lauderdale. Prior to the large-scale event, featuring dancing and entertainment, the JM Lexus Welcome Reception featured an expansive Fidelity Investments silent auction.

UV Vodka joined the party, featuring an icicle-inspired bar, and offered up samples of their celebratory Cake Mix flavor vodka. Linking Promotions provided promotional models for the event that mingled with guests and represented the UV brand.

UV has been a great example of the services Linking Promotions and Linking Events can offer, with requests ranging from staffing events to assisting in the marketing and promotional planning of a brand.

Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingevents.com. 

Linking and Chevy Work with NASCAR

Miami Beach, FL – Between 8^th and 9^th street in Lummus Park on Miami Beach, sponsors of the 2011 NASCAR Ford Championship Weekend filled the sand on Thursday November 17 and Friday November 18. For the second year, the Outdoor Fan Festival featured many interactive booths, an outdoor bar and this year Blake Shelton performed a free concert on the beach. Linking Promotions provided eight enthusiastic promotional models for the interactive Chevy car display, which featured four of the company’s cars – including a stylish Corvette and the flashy convertible Camaro – alongside two race cars.

Promotional models ran the booth; they collected leads through a computerized system, which asked surveyors a series of questions to determine interests and favorite cars. Once complete, anyone that took a survey was given a Chevy t-shirt as a token of appreciation for participating. Two girls managed the photo taking – people were welcome to pose in front of the decked out race cars and get their picture taken by our models.

Throughout the two days, the girls worked together to collect over 1,000 leads. The event welcomed travelers from all around the world, and proved to be a great success!


Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingevents.com. 

Know Your Grapes, Miami Wine Fair Coming Soon

Understanding the types of grapes used in wine and their characteristics is vital for any relevant knowledge of wine. There are over 5,000 types of wine grapes, and each type gives wine its distinct flavor. Here we will discuss the most commonly known grapes and wines:

- Auxerrious grapes are used to make Malbec wines, and produce a fruity, soft and neutral wine.
- Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are known to make wines that taste like blackberries, and when aged, produce a good red wine because of the large amount of tannin.
- Chardonnay grapes make for a fruit-like wine, and often times have oaky characteristics.
- Merlot has less tannin that its red-wine counterparts, and often has soft flavors of cherry and honey.
- Pinot Noir grapes are used for red wines, but without their skins, they are sometimes used as a white ingredient in Champagne. Pinot Gris is a clone of this grape.
- Riesling grapes can vary in flavor, depending on how long they have been on the vine. The flavors vary from a dry, crisp, fruity wine to a honeyed, musky wine.
- Sauvignon Blanc, produced primarily in California and France, makes for a crisp, light white wine.
- Zinfandel grapes can produce either Red Zinfandel, when the skins are left on, or White Zinfandel when removed, and its taste ranges from fruity to spicy depending on age.

Sommeliers and wine enthusiasts around the globe always recommend trying as many different types of wines as possible. Wine fairs are happening throughout the country around this time of year. The Miami Wine Fair is fast approaching, and Linking Promotions is happy to staff hostesses for this great event for the past few years.

Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingevents.com. 

The 2010 Fiesta Tour: McDonalds Music Experience

Nationwide - Late last year, our sister company Linking Promotions worked with McDonalds during their ‘Fiesta Tour: McDonalds Music Experience Tour 2010’. Linking Promotions handled staffing for the nationwide tour, providing brand ambassadors in cities and states including Chicago, Connecticut, Dallas, Denver, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, New Jersey, and Miami.

The Fiesta Tour by McDonalds featured a traveling 50-foot exhibit that included a walk-through display of unique artifacts and memorabilia loaned by Latin musicians on the Red Carpet. The aim of the trailer was to be the “Ultimate Latin Music Moment” that included memorabilia from concert moments, special events and award shows. Inside the trailer, there was also an education wall where viewers could obtain information about the RMHC® /HACER® Scholarship Program. The Fiesta Tour featured a live DJ, music kiosks, kiddie area, and a photo center.

Linking Promotions staffed this large-scale promotion with bilingual males and females. One of the companies specialties is staffing for Hispanic Marketing, and has staffed many events of this nature. Because of the large amount of traffic, brand ambassadors were asked to be outgoing, proactive and knowledgeable on the event.

Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingevents.com. 

Mercedes-Benz for a Good Cause!

Miami, FL - Linking Events recently worked with Mercedes-Benz at the PGA Saks Fifth Avenue for a Leukemia and Lymphoma Fundraiser. The event was sponsored by Mercedes-Benz and the artist and wife of the President of Mercedes-Benz, Petra Lieb, met with guests and auctioned off her paintings. Saks Fifth Avenue donated 10% of everything sold during the event.

Besides Lieb’s paintings being auctioned, people could bid on a few more items. These include: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week tickets for Miami Swim, donated by Mercedes-Benz; $1000 worth of healthy Mediterranean cuisine catering; and a privately hosted wine party for 30 guests.

Linking Events was in charge of the activation for the Mercedes-Benz display. Promotional specialists were present to greet guests, invite them to enter in a Mercedes-Benz giveaway, and show guests the vehicle.

Be sure to visit our website at www.linkingevents.com.