Our special guest is a native from Chilibre, Panama, as a child he was surrounded by nature, and that same experience is reflected in many of his designs and events. His humility and simplicity are as great as his achievements.
Preston Bailey is considered the Wedding Guru and a recognized creator of assemblies and installations worldwide. In each event, he transports his clients and guests to natural landscapes worthy of a magical poetic realism.
Despite living most of his life in New York, he loves Panama and wants his experience to transcend and watch his country in the place it has always deserved.
As a wedding and event planner that has work around the world, what would be the elements that allow a tourist to have a memorable experience of a destination through an event?
“I have been very lucky to be in many countries around the world. What Panama has that makes it incredibly unique are three mayor elements that all of my clients are always looking for: beautiful nature, very wonderful and hospitality people, and our food. Those are the elements they look for when looking for a location. Panama has all three”.
How can an event change positively the perception of a visitor about a destination and its multiplying effect?
“I have live most of my life in New York, every time I come into the airport in Panama I have a sense of calm, I feel I can relax. I have sent a lot of my friends to visit Panama and when they come back, they not only come with wonderful memories, but with new properties bought in the country when visiting. They go to Panama and they want to live there or retire, Panama is a very well kept secret.
In New York, most of the events are happening outdoors and Panama has to promote its outdoors beauties. Most events will be held outdoors, at least for a while, Panama has beautiful nature to show where it can held events. El Valle would be one of those beautiful places to have big and amazing outdoors events. San Blas is another unique place with nature and wilderness, it would be a place I truly suggest. Everybody that goes loves it. I want to be Panama’s publicist, I could make Panama have the place it deserves in the tourism industry worldwide”.
What steps do you suggest the country take so that it can work towards becoming a major international events center, and especially by having a new convention center?
“One of the things that separates a lot of countries from the rest besides having the event spaces and other amenities is one thing…specializing in excellent service. Most of the clients I work with are high end clients, that are looking for the best of the best of the best. And I have been in Panama and I think that if Panama specializes more in service, it can make a big difference.
If I had to put together Panama’s stand in an international fair I would take there the country’s amazing nature, have people get immerse and explore the natural beauties of Panama and the interior. The mountains, the lakes would portray it in an immersive way”.
You know what it is to start from zero and position your brand in such a competitive industry as events, how can Panama do to reopen an event industry that has not yet opened due to the pandemic?
“If you ask me how I got here today, I truly concentrated in things that are different, not necessarily better than anyone else, but something that is different and unique, and fresh. My luxury clients want that. The first thing I would do is to first see what truly exist and how you could change it to make it more unique. My brand has two distinctive qualities I try really hard to find things that are different, not always I am successful, but I try, and secondly I am a little bit over the top in beauty, I love beauty. Growing up in Panama with the rain forest, it’s beauty and generosity , a lot of my work represents my experiences as a child seen the trees and beautiful nature when growing up in Panama. There is a part of that, that is in my conscious that is represented in my work”.
You have developed and organized events for global companies such as Apple, Coca Cola, Mercedes Benz, AOL Time Warner, Macy’s, Citigruop. What would you suggest Panama to attract large corporate events for the new Amador Convention Center
“The Panama Convention Center is one of the assets of the city. I don’t know exactly what the convention center offers, but I know what these companies are looking for. They are looking for a place that has some sense of identity, a place where they bring in their event creatives and can transform it into something that is different and unique, they also are looking for hotels that they know their guests will be taken care of properly. I do think the convention center is a wonderful area but I also think if you can create different layers that will take you to the ultimate goal, create a five star experience for this corporate clients. Luxury sells, specially for these large corporations , they are either entertaining the top investors, or they want for them to have this amazing luxurious experience”.
You live in New York, a city historically vibrant in activities and events, how the events industry there can catch people’s attention and create the desire to come and visit the city again?
“New York is full of activities, here people have seen it all and done it all. For that reason everybody who is in the world of design and entertainment every single time we have an event, it has to be completely different. The main reason is because New Yorkers are a very difficult judge, they will come up to you and say, “hey Preston come on, we saw this already”, is very important that each event feels fresh and has a lot of warmth and hospitality. That’s what keeps driving me and New York City forward”.
If you had the opportunity to hold a corporate event in Panama, where would it be, why and what would you do at the event to leave a memorable mark on each Visitor.
“I want to transform the convention center, I want to get into that space and create the most beautiful and incredible setting with beautiful trees and tons of orchids, have people come in to this big space and feel this amazing transformation, that would be my goal. It’s a space waiting to be transform”.