a21

Proud moment for the a21 team as our CEO, Brett Friedman, is featured in Forbes in the latest “Grape Digression 2024” article by No?l B. Brett’s insights into the future of events offer a glimpse into his strategic approach to cultivating meaningful engagement and innovation in our industry. At a21, we’re committed to setting new standards and crafting experiences that resonate, and we can't wait to share more successes with you. Explore the full article to see how Brett’s leadership is shaping our vision. https://lnkd.in/eE-QGnTH

Our team just wrapped up four dynamic days at the New York City Wine & Food Festival, surrounded by some of the city's best culinary talent and iconic flavors. a21 was honored to play a role in this year’s event, contributing to the culinary program, sales & partnerships, and brand engagement to make 2024 a standout year for NYCWFF. We’re grateful to everyone who made it such a success—already looking forward to 2025!

Last month, a21 was proud to support When We Gather, Dwyane Wade’s inaugural Miami festival, celebrating his Miami Heat legacy and our city’s culinary culture. Presented by Frito-Lay, When We Gather brought together a sold-out crowd to enjoy local chefs’ creations, culinary demos, and wines from Wade Cellars. It was a day of flavors and community, made even more special by Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union joining in. Special thanks to our marketing, brand engagement, culinary operations, and partnerships & sales teams for bringing this unique event to life.

Authenticity in events is all about creating genuine connections, personalizing experiences, and staying true to the values of your audience. An insightful article by BizBash explores the critical role of authenticity in events. It draws on perspectives from seasoned industry professionals, underscoring how genuine connections and tailored experiences enhance every gathering. This focus is integral to every event we orchestrate, from creating engaging brand experiences to incorporating interactive activities that resonate with the audience. Check out the full article below: https://lnkd.in/edJkEBN7

What an unforgettable weekend at Chefs For Farmers Houston! Our brand engagement, culinary operations, and partnership & sales teams worked together to create an incredible event connecting farmers, chefs, and local communities. Over 30 partners participated, offering guests exclusive dinners, top-tier BBQ, and creative cocktails. The event was a true celebration of Texas food and drink, with engaging builds and hands-on experiences that kept the energy high throughout the weekend. A huge thank you to everyone who attended and supported the festival. Next up: Dallas the first weekend in November—looking forward to doing it all again! Learn more at chefsforfarmers.com

We’re excited to announce a significant addition to the a21 team as we continue to expand our reach across the culinary, arts, and live experience industries. Kris Moon, the former president and COO of the James Beard Foundation, will be joining a21 as our first-ever Chief Operating Officer in January 2025. With over 17 years of leadership and expertise driving programmatic growth and revenue achievements, Moon will oversee company operations, lead our executive team, and collaborate with CEO Brett Friedman to drive strategic asset acquisition and our global expansion into Canada and Europe. This is a pivotal moment for a21, and we’re confident that Moon’ experience and vision will contribute to our continued success and growth. Welcome to the team, Kris!

Just over one week ago, we wrapped on our fourth year as producers of the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, a four-day spectacle consisting of an Intimate Dinner Series and three themed days of walk-around Tasting Tents. Our team of over 20 event operations, marketing, sales, brand engagement, and partnership members worked from dusk til (well-past) dawn to ensure another year of success. ?In one weekend, we saw… - Over 9,500 festival attendees - 4 Intimate Dinners & Brunches, featuring big names like Scott Conant & Kardea Brown - 40+ chefs serving up over 240K portions of their best bites - 7 chef demonstrations on the Publix stage - 60+ partners, including Infiniti and Goya Foods - Nearly 100K organic social impressions? - And so much more Thanks to everyone involved in another successful year of the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for next year.

Earlier this month, New York City’s Pier 36 saw the Art on Paper fair return for its 10th year. Within its 70,000 square-foot space, more than just paper-based artwork was showcased; live printmaking workshops were held, flamenco dancers graced the showroom floor, and a lineup of books brought an interactive touch portion to the overall festival. Our very own Kelly Freeman, fair director and head of our AMP division, contributed to two major art publications reviewing & recapping the event. Read what she had to add below in Hyperallergic and The Art Newspaper. https://lnkd.in/ePa8J5vf https://lnkd.in/ePDfArzH

From one city to the next, our Heritage Fire tour is an ode to locals, following a consistent format that brings together chefs, farmers, sommeliers, distillers, brewers, and barkeeps to serve up an unforgettable culinary experience. The same was true for our inaugural Heritage Fire stop in Louisville, featured in this BizBash article highlighting our approach and the essence of the tour. Read more below. https://lnkd.in/efiK8rpT

Cheers to our latest successful build for Pernod Ricard's Código Tequila by our Brand Engagement team! We proudly planned, designed, and executed Código Tequila’s debut in travel retail at two of the busiest airports in the U.S.—New York’s JFK and Las Vegas’ Harry Reid. These high-impact builds resulted in thousands of daily impressions, strategically reaching travelers and boosting brand visibility. The success of these installations has not only exceeded expectations but has also influenced Código's overall brand image moving forward. A huge shoutout to our talented team for bringing this vision to life! If you're in Las Vegas now through September 14th, you can even check it out yourself.