Debut Event at Fort Lauderdale's New Waterfront Plaza

Jessica: Experience and preparation were everything. Our Central Services Creative and Experience Design teams built a complete design plan without ever seeing the finished space. They anticipated infrastructure needs, mapped power requirements, and designed flexibility into the layout so we could pivot once details were confirmed on site.

At the same time, our local team conducted multiple site visits as construction progressed. Each visit helped us turn uncertainty into actionable planning.

Jessica: They were essential. Designing for “a scene unseen” requires confidence and expertise. Because the team planned ahead for multiple scenarios, we were able to make real‑time adjustments—like repositioning the DJ and eliminating cable runs—before guests ever arrived. From the guest perspective, everything felt intentional and seamless.

Jessica: As the space was brand new, there were still many questions. PRA stepped in as the connector between the client, the convention center, and all vendor partners, advocating for responsibilities and resolving details as they emerged. In many ways, we were building the framework as we went.

Jessica: The Welcome Dinner was designed around a vibrant Citrus Garden concept—sun‑soaked, energetic, and distinctly Fort Lauderdale. Lawn games, a DJ, and the waterfront backdrop created a welcoming, destination‑forward experience. Later in the program, the Awards Gala in the Convention Center’s new ballroom delivered a polished, celebratory close. Both events felt perfectly matched to their settings.

Jessica: Being first requires confidence, trust, and deep operational knowledge. You have to know enough to ask the right questions, anticipate what hasn’t been tested yet, and stay adaptable. This project showed exactly what we do best: deliver exceptional experiences even when the environment is still evolving.

Jessica: Collaboration and preparation. Our teams anticipated challenges, leaned on expertise across PRA, and stayed flexible through constant change. Hearing afterward that it was the best awards dinner the client had ever had—that’s the payoff.