Exceptional events aren’t accidental—they result from strategic, intentional collaboration among four core creative disciplines: planning, décor, catering, and AV/production. This high-impact, conversation-driven session unites leaders from each discipline to explore how early communication, shared creative direction, and unified problem-solving produce seamless, elevated, and memorable guest experiences.
The session will be moderated by Cecilia Lavin, ILEA International President 2025–2026, who will guide the discussion, deepen cross-functional insights, and highlight how global standards and collaborative best practices continue to evolve within the live events industry.

Representing event planning, Christian Seidenstuecker, Founder & CEO, JOKE Event AG, will reveal how planners serve as the central architects of the event vision—balancing creative ambition, stakeholder alignment, budget realities, timelines, and vendor dynamics.

Representing décor and design, India Rhodes, CSEP, Partner, Wilkinson Rhodes will highlight how visual storytelling, experiential environments, color palettes, installations, and scenic elements must integrate seamlessly with catering, production, and venue requirements.

Representing catering, Steve M. Moore (AFFAIRS to Remember / AFFAIRS at the Fox) will unpack how menu strategy, bar design, service patterns, and guest flow influence—and are influenced by—décor, AV, layout, and the planner’s overall creative direction.

Representing AV/production and entertainment, Robert Vega Jr, Owner, VEGAs Event Group—an award-winning AV entertainment company—will demonstrate how lighting, audio, video, rigging, effects, and show direction elevate the story when aligned early with designers, caterers, and planners.

Together, these voices offer an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at what happens when creative disciplines collide early, communicate authentically, and innovate collectively. Attendees will walk away with a practical framework for cross-discipline collaboration that minimizes friction, maximizes creativity, and enhances the guest experience from first impression to finale.