Pay it Forward this Holiday Season!

From the Linking Promotions and Linking Events office:

As a “thank you” to our clients that allow us to coordinate events for them year round, and thus allowing for our company to constantly flourish, we have decided to demonstrate our gratitude by spreading happiness to those less fortunate. Our biggest project for the holidays is with His House Children’s Home.

His House’s sole mission is to restore joy in the lives of children, whom range in age from newborn to 17. The 230 children served by this program have been abused, neglected and abandoned, and Linking Promotion’s in-house staff is going to help put smiles on their faces by donating some time and some gifts to the children. More information on this program can be found at www.hhch.org

The Linking office has also made arrangements to assist some seniors in wrapping their Christmas presents!

Linking Events has been blessed by the work our clients give us and because their generosity has helped us, we believe it is time to help others! The giving does not just end with the holidays though: we have made it our goal to help others all throughout 2012. Thank you all again, and we wish you a happy holiday season!

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

Linking Teams with UV Vodka for an All-White Affair

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL -- As a kick-off to Halloween weekend, the Marriott Harbor Beach Hotel and Resort hosted the White Party on Friday, October 28, 2011, with the night’s featured liquor of choice being UV Cake Vodka. Guests dressed in white were greeted at the affair by Linking Promotion’s promotional models.

The two girls handed out shots of the headlining liquor mixed with pineapple juice in cupcake wrapper-style shot glasses with unlit birthday candles attached. A common reaction of guests, and much to their surprise, was that the liquor actually did taste like cake mix.

The party featured two fully stocked bars of UV products, including other flavors such as cherry. Buffet style food tables encompassed the room, featuring food from the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale students and Anthony’s Coal Fire Pizza. Live entertainment lasted throughout the evening and two dressed up performers (often spotted in clown costumes and the like) mingled with the guests.

Linking Promotions and Linking Events have handled an account with UV for three years, providing staffing and assisting in growing the flavorful liquor brand. Linking and UV have worked at a plethora of promotional spots, including heavy-trafficked bars and lounges, Bartender Bash in Key Largo, FL, and an upcoming event at the Hard Rock in Seminole, FL.

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. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Begin 2011 Season with Night Practices, Free to Public

TAMPA, FL -- After the lift of the NFL lock-out, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are preparing for the upcoming 2011 season. Their football season has begun with free fan events including training camps, night practices, and home preseason games verse the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins.

Stationed near the Buccaneers’ night practice location at the Raymond James Stadium is the Mercedes-Benz tent, complete with the sleek 2012 SLK 350 and Linking Promotions promotional staff and Linking Events management. The promotional specialists for the events will be responsible for speaking to football fans about the car on location and collecting leads for Mercedes-Benz. Events for the regular season will take place between the months of September and December, and all the preseason events last through August.

For the third consecutive year, the Buccaneers have opened their training camps to the public at One Buccaneer Place. Fans can expect optimal viewing on Field 3, autograph sessions, free parking, a merchandise tent, discounted concessions, and an appearance from the team’s cheerleaders and mascot, Captain Fear. Also, thanks to popular demand, the Buccaneers night practice happened this past Saturday, August 6th. While weather conditions consisted of rain and heat, the sun eventually came out and so did the fans.

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

TD Bank Guerrilla Marketing Campaign

Charlotte, NC - TD Bank has begun a guerrilla marketing campaign in North and South Carolina, and the four-day event in Charlotte, NC has just concluded. A campaign of this nature is effective in reaching many people in multiple areas throughout a major metropolitian city. A team lead and two brand ambassadors were hired to travel together around the city to different supermarkets and highly populated areas, in order to hand out recyclable bags. The three team members spoke to people about the TD Bank branches opening in their area.

This marketing campaign is expanding, and street team activations will be taking place in Florida next weekend.

Consumer responses to the promotion were positive. The children activity books in the bags were a huge success, and because a lot of the chosen activation locations were near supermarkets, the recyclable bags were put to good use. Consumers remarked that they will be switching banks, and that they are excited about the arrival of the branch.

Laila, a field manager for the event, shared some of the consumer remarks and pictures with us. Here’s what some consumers said:
“I'm from New Jersey; I didn't know TD was coming here!"
"I'm going to tell all my Canadian friends that live here that TD Bank is opening up here!"
"We already have an account there; we opened it yesterday!"

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

Mercedes-Benz and Linking Events Head to Katy, TX!

Katy, TX -  Linking Events is attending the Top Chef Tour 2011 in Katy, TX. Linking Events  coordinated the activation for Mercedes-Benz during these events, and provided promotion specialists through their in-house staffing agency, Linking Promotions. On display are the new 2012 SLK 350 and the 2012 CLS c550.

The Top Chef Tour, taking place today in La Centerra and Canyon Ranch in Katy, TX, is meant to replicate the Quickfire challenges from the Bravo show of the same name. There are cook-offs between two contestants, a judging panel, food tastings, gourmet tips and show secrets. There are four interactive shows throughout the day, and the panel consists of local press and a local chef or foodie.

The cars on display, the SLK 350 and the CLS c550, are new cars released this year. The participating dealers include Mercedes-Benz of Houston, Mercedes-Benz of Houston North, Mercedes-Benz of Sugarland and Star Motor Cars, as well as dealer Alex Rodriguez.

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.