Why choose us ?
Mary Hofstetter, Director
With over 25 years of experience in creating and producing high profile quality events, implementing important development strategies to grow businesses, consultancy, public relations, branding, store & product launches, press and social media, Blue Heron Productions can create for you or your company a tailor-made event with the best in entertainment, a symposium with top organizational know-how or advise you on new strategies. Based in Geneva, but with wide experience throughout Switzerland, Geneva, Zurich, Basel, St. Moritz, Gstaad and London.
Whether your focus is on music, dance, fashion, polo, golf, a symposium or simply a great company party, Blue Heron has extensive experience from the concept to the finish, including detailed budgeting, logistics, artists, invitation and program design, securing co-sponsors, press and social media. We would be pleased to create for you or support you in what you would like to achieve, your vision and DNA is always at the center of what we do.
Blue Heron has extensive experience in producing events with dance, the Bolshoi, Shen Wei Contemporary Dance Troupe, celebrated flamenco dancers such as Joaquin Cortés and Pintango; music, artists such as Zucchero, the Buena Vista Social Club, the Jersey Boys and CHICAGO the musical, fashion, with top brands such as Dior, Ralph Lauren, Chinese Guo Pei, winner of the MET Gala, and film premieres. We often use multi-media, combining film, music and fashion to offer your guests a night they will remember!
We have created multicultural events tributes to a countries’ artists, fashion, cuisine, film and décor-China, Brazil, Thailand, Africa, Russia, Turkey, the Middle East, Morocco, Africa and America. We worked closely with the Royal Families, Government Officials, Ambassadors and Cultural Attaches to ensure the authenticity of the “tribute” to their country. Do you have clients from a country that you would like to express your gratitude or attract? Celebrating their culture is a definite winner!
Corporate Social Responsibility?
CSR is the key focus of companies today. Blue Heron Productions has worked extensively on humanitarian, environmental and conservation causes, creating events that incorporate a special message to create awareness and/or fundraise to protect our precious world.
With a multilingual team and excellent contacts, we can ensure that your event or strategy will have a homogenous, smooth-running feel, with a common thread running through it from the beginning to the end.
A tightly controlled budget, with synergies and cost-sharing through co-sponsors and barter agreements will reduce your costs and develop new clients for you. We can give you support to install your VIP corner or other installation when requested on-site or work closely with your in-house teams giving them the necessary support that they need.
Blue Heron Productions offers you the maximum possibilities for the best quality, cost-effective event that you will be proud of.
History
Blue Heron Productions specializes in the creation, production and execution of Private, Corporate and Charity Fundraising events, Product & Store Launches.
Events are custom tailored to our clients’ needs.
Blue Heron Productions is a Geneva-based company that has produced events internationally and locally.
We offer in-depth knowledge and experience.
From 1996-2004, Mary worked as Director of Fundraising for the British Red Cross of London primarily through high-profile events and partnerships. She grew the British Red Cross’s top entertainment gala, The British Red Cross Ball from 300 guests to 1’200 the first year, increasing funding by eight fold. She was then offered the position as Fundraising Director in 1996 which she held during 8 years. Mary expanded each year, creating new exciting events with a team of motivated volunteers, attracting top donors to the charity. Within two years, Mary created their first annual Fashion Show Gala in collaboration with the Editor of British Vogue; the first fundraising Polo Tournament and the Scottish Rock-n-Reel Gala. Each event, due to its success, became annual events, providing the British Red Cross with not only additional, stable income, raising over £9 million and greatly developed their donor base for their humanitarian aid projects and Emergency Appeals.
In 2002, Mary was invited to create the first major high profile Red Cross Ball in Geneva, Switzerland the birthplace of the charity. Setting up offices, database, volunteer committees, and using her in-depth knowledge and contacts in the world of entertainment. The first gala, starring the Italian pop star Zucchero, sponsored by JP Morgan Private Bank, Bvlgari, the five-star Hôtel Beau-Rivage, was attended by Royalty and VIPs and over 800 guests was an instant success, raising nearly CHF 1 million. It became their most important annual fundraising gala, as well as a key date on the international social calendar. During 12 years, Blue Heron Productions was the exclusive Producer and Director of the Red Cross Ball.
In 2003, Mary went on to launch the first high profile gala for the Swiss Red Cross in Zürich, featuring top fashion with Christian Dior, a client she had collaborated with in London. In 2006, she launched their first gala in Basel, where ballet and the arts were the main focus. Launching the three key cities of Switzerland, Geneva, Zürich and Basel gave the Swiss Red Cross an important annual income to fund their aid projects and extended in a significant way their donor base raising over CHF 8 million.
In 2005, Blue Heron Productions Sàrl was established, developing its clientele into private events and symposiums. We are proud of the longevity with which we have worked for our clients. Blue Heron organized for Jet Aviation, one of the world’s leading aviation companies, during eight years, 2005 to 2012, exciting cultural events to entertain their clients and colleagues during the most important global business aviation exhibition, the European Business Aircraft Exhibition (EBACE). Each year a new venue was discovered by their clients: the Grand Théâtre, the Musée Ariana, the Château de Coppet, Golf Club de Bonmont, and many more. Fine dining, culture and entertainment were the key focus. Blue Heron had the privilege of organizing their launch of their new FBO at Geneva Airport.
In 2009, Blue Heron Productions was invited to create awareness through events for a rare children's immune disease, Sanfilippo. We launched the first Children's Fashion Gala in aid of the Sanfilippo Foundation. The format was a Sunday Brunch and models were the children and their parents. Given the success of the first edition held at the 5-star Hôtel Beau-Rivage, three successful years followed, resulting in the first European Conference held in Geneva, uniting all the rare children's diseases.
In 2010, Maxime Laperrouze, having graduated from Event Management School joined the Blue Heron Team. Maxime played a vital role in the management of the major events. During 8 years, Maxime provided the clients with in-depth experience in event management, including the creation of the visual concept of invitations and programs. In 2018, Maxime spread his wings into a new career. "I was very grateful for Maxime's loyal and excellent support over these years" - Mary Hofstetter.
Important launches, such as the Foundation Jan Michalski for Literature & Arts was organized by Blue Heron in 2013 for over 500 VIP guests with entertainment from the world of literature and theater. Food was created and served by the famous Michelin star Chef Benoit Violier and his brigade from the Restaurant de Crissier. On Sunday a public event for 2’000 guests was held in a tent featuring a theatrical production.
From the snowy alps of St. Moritz, where we created a private event for Van Cleef & Arpels to Gstaad, where we organised a VIP event during one of the world’s largest hot balloon festivals in Châteaux d’Oex followed by a private dinner and concert for the beautiful Sommets Musicaux, we have experience both in indoor and outdoor events.
In 2014, Blue Heron Productions was engaged to re-launch the largest and most prestigious American International Club (AIC) outside of the United States. Mary worked as Director of Development, expanding the AIC into the Canton of Vaud, doubling its territory and Corporate Partners, sponsors grew from one to twenty five. Maxime organized a multitude of events, speaker's conferences, Thanksgiving and the celebrated July 4th Independence Day. By 2016, the club had been successfully re-launched with all marketing materials including logo, website, annual program re-designed resulting in an increase of 20% in new membership.
Geneva, being the Centre of international conferences, Blue Heron organized for three years during the World Health Assembly (WHA) important global symposiums for The Nippon Foundation in 2015 and General Electric Healthcare in 2016 & 2017.
Blue Heron is currently working on its 4th year of creating prestigious events for Patara Fine Thai Cuisine, located at the Hotel Beau-Rivage Geneva. Celebrating the important Thai festivals, Loy Krathong Patara and Songkran, the Thai New Year, Patarahosted a full house featuring top Chefs from Thailand, exquisite performers from Thailand, organised together with their Director, Pascal Brautt.
During 2019-2020, Blue Heron organised the Panthera Africa Sancturay, South Africa, a high-profile gala to raise funds for wildlife conservation,scheduled for the Autumn 2020. The Gala has been delayed due to the corona virus.
We hope to have the pleasure of creating or supporting your next event to ensure its success leaving your clients and guests with memories that last a lifetime.
Why the name "Blue Heron Productions"?
Coming up with Blue Heron as our title came from the heart. Born in Florida, I was always surrounded by blue herons. They represent for me elegance, singularity, tranquility and determination. Theses birds have unique feathers that go from a deep blue to a blue grey. Although blue herons are in the stork group, they do not have the same characteristics which sets them apart from the rest.
Arriving in Switzerland, I was delighted to discover grey herons thrived. This is what I hope, that our company can offer our clients, events that are unique, that can stand on their own, creative and elegant as the blue heron, yet equally adaptable to our clients' needs.