It was a party that no one wanted to leave—one that left all 520 guests wishing for more. The three-day Engage!23 Summit luxury business symposium at The Boca Raton was more than a fête; it was also a moment to be inspired by the wedding industry’s most creative and talented professionals. The 43rd Engage! event capped an impressive 2023 series of events hosted in Sicily, Paris, and Montenegro, and culminating at The Boca Raton, a destination the two founders of Engage! selected for its exceptional hospitality and design creativity. “There is nothing easy about hosting, let alone impressing 500+ of the world’s top luxury wedding and event planners—and they knocked it out of the park!” says Engage! co-founder Rebecca Grinnals of The Boca Raton’s attention to detail.
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Events That Inspire
An over-the-top symposium at The Boca Raton showcases captivating ideas for the wedding and event industry.
Leaning into the overarching theme of “A New Golden Era,” which alluded to the destination’s own revitalization, the Engage!23 Summit was focused on honoring The Boca Raton’s unique history while also keeping the moment contemporary, elevating service, and enhancing all the countless property amenities and activities, says Tia Azzara, the Assistant Director of Catering at the property. Using the property’s entire 200-acre space, Azzara and Engage! were given an expansive campus to provide various delights.
“From a Yacht Rock welcome party extravaganza to an elegant golf luncheon (aptly themed, as part of ‘Caddyshack’ was filmed here) to dancing the night away each night in our many iconic event venues, we truly leaned into the property itself—and no detail was left unturned,” Azzara says.
The idea was to keep guests in awe from Summit’s first moment until its last. The welcome night party included a 500-piece drone display that shone brightly across The Boca Raton’s skyline, showcasing a choreographed performance featuring nautical images inspired by Yacht Club that mesmerized guests who mingled at Harborside Pool Club’s lawn and pool.
Mizner Center’s elegant setting served as the perfect background for Engage!’s speaker sessions and meetings. In addition, Azzara and Boca By Design, the in-house design and décor company, incorporated The Boca Raton’s many other spaces to coalesce the summit, including the Grand Ballroom, which served as the site for the final gala evening, a showstopping one by all accounts.
Throughout the entire three-day event, attendees, speakers, and members of the media were encouraged to wear “Boca Pink,” a nod to the resort’s best-known hue and allusion to its former nickname The Pink Palace. But when it came to the event’s gala, it was all gold. “Gold never goes out of style, so it was an easy transference to honor our own roots and do what we do best: host world-class events,” says Azzara. “Our new golden era was personified with this elegant and sophisticated dinner, all while maintaining a chic and contemporary vibe, which is the direction that the hotel has taken. Boca By Design was instrumental in each event, alongside a talented team of designers and vendors who executed each detail with precision and the most discerning design elements. This gala was truly iconic and the culmination of an awe-inspiring three days of exceptional events and activations around every turn.”
And another special moment of the gala? A surprise performance by rapper and Sunshine State native Flo Rida. Though keeping this major performer a secret from 500 attendees was a challenge, the team pulled it off—and the results paid dividends. The hour-plus-long performance had the entire crowd energized and belting out lyrics from the dance floor, and the concert kicked up a notch when Flo Rida invited attendees up to the stage to join him.
There was even an after-party at the iconic Cathedral room that went late into the evening as guests danced the night away while laser-light shows illuminated the dance floor. As Azzara says, “It was an amazing way to conclude the Engage!23 Luxury Wedding Summit hosted at The Boca Raton.”
Throughout the three-day event, the culinary team worked closely with Engage! members and The Boca Raton’s events team. Chef Andrew Roenbeck, vice president of culinary operations and group executive chef, worked tirelessly to ensure that every menu item was well conceptualized, unique, and had the wow factor. “This is one of the best features of our property,” Azzara says. “We have the ability to create experiences—from the food to the décor—that are distinct to each event and create lasting impressions and memories.”
The feeling was echoed by Engage! co-founder Kathryn Arce. “The reimagined resort was the perfect playground for our discerning group of luxury wedding industry professionals to reflect, relax, recharge, and get re-energized for the 2024 season,” she says. “The Boca Raton offers it all: stunning venues, sun, sea, and sand, and so many activities and incredible dining options. The on-site event teams provided exceptional support every step of the way, and Boca By Design delighted our guests with creative and innovative event designs.”