When the historic Hotel del Coronado prepared to unveil its grand reopening, EPIC Entertainment Group was entrusted with creating a celebration worthy of one of the world’s most iconic resorts. The challenge was not simply to produce a large-scale event, but to reimagine the "wow" factor for a live event activation. The result was a 12-hour immersive journey that transformed the entire property into a living story, one that honoured the hotel’s past, embraced its present, and projected its future.
Traditionally, major live events are anchored by a central performance or finale moment. This production disrupted that model by weaving together multiple entertainment zones, atmospheres, and narrative beats into one seamless guest journey.
Every touchpoint—from music and design, to food, scent, and wellness—was curated to contribute to the storytelling arc. This holistic approach represented a new philosophy that live entertainment is not about scale alone, but about coherence, immersion, and emotional resonance.
One of the most innovative aspects was the layering of sensory experiences. Entertainment was not confined to sight and sound; it engaged taste, touch, and scent in unexpected ways. Guests encountered an immersive scent bar, cigar activation, and botanical cocktails designed as edible works of art. Handcrafted wire crowns, curated lounge vignettes, and tactile props blurred the line between décor and interaction. These details ensured that the event went beyond passive observation to active participation, making the experience memorable in ways traditional shows cannot replicate.
Equally innovative was the narrative structure. Instead of isolated performances, the day unfolded as a time-travel journey. Guests encountered living statues representing different eras of the hotel’s history, ballerinas serving champagne in birdcages, and electric violinists bridging classical and contemporary. Afternoon activations such as rooftop DJs, synchronised swimmers, and floating performers carried the atmosphere into the present and future, while the evening culminated on Windsor Lawn with gourmet food stations, intimate lounges, a live concert by country star Chayce Beckham, and a breathtaking seven-minute fireworks finale. This narrative cohesion created a rhythm across 12 hours of programming, allowing guests to feel they were moving through chapters of a story rather than attending a series of unrelated acts.
Behind the beauty was a significant technical and operational feat. Coordinating dozens of performances across multiple zones of a historic property required precision. Each entertainment was engineered with unique soundscapes and lighting environments that avoided bleed and allowed for seamless transitions. High-profile talent integration added another layer of complexity, with Brooke Shields, Aaron Paul, and flamenco guitarist David de Alva woven into the program. Their appearances required careful scheduling, AV support, and live stage management, all seamlessly executed without disrupting the immersive flow. Outdoor unpredictability introduced additional challenges, requiring redundancy in power, weather mitigation, and communications systems to preserve the atmosphere regardless of conditions.
What set this production apart even further was its guest-first philosophy. Many large-scale events sacrifice intimacy and care for grandeur, but here the opposite was true. The event atmosphere was designed not only to impress, but also to indulge and comfort. Shaded lounges, spa-inspired touches, micro-massages, and wellness-inspired activations were integrated into the entertainment, ensuring guests experienced luxury alongside spectacle. This approach represented a shift in how events are defined—not only by fireworks or celebrity moments, but by how holistically the senses, emotions, and well-being of the guest are considered in the creative design.
In the end, the reopening of Hotel del Coronado embodied the spirit of the Spectacular category by redefining expectations of scale, artistry, and innovation. It was a 12-hour living performance that transformed an entire resort into its own stage. It extended live entertainment into every sense through scent, taste, and touch. It delivered a narrative journey that connected heritage with vision. It showcased the orchestration of multiple zones, celebrity talent, and live performances with flawless technical execution. Guests did not simply attend an event; they became part of an unfolding story that honoured history, celebrated the present, and inspired the future. This production stands as a benchmark for how creativity, design, and production excellence can merge to deliver innovation in live entertainment at the highest level.
Partners
- The Hotel Del Coronado
- A-Max Entertainment
- Jeff Leatham Flowers
- Archive Rentals
- Bright Event Rentals
- Caesar Event Rentals
