Current Events

Creative Events Tops Off New Headquarters

Creative Events and Rentals has topped off their new 60,000 square foot corporate headquarters and warehouse off Alico Road in South Fort Myers. The building is being glassed in and interior work is making progress towards a grand opening later this year.

Creative Events is a local company specializing in event planning and a wide array of equipment rentals.

According to George Ghanem, president of Creative Events and Rentals, it will be the largest event-planning and rental facility in Florida and will feature an exterior with a Mediterranean–style design and inside will offer clients a 6,000 square foot showroom.

“The new building will have loading docks capable of loading over 10 trucks simultaneously, including large transport trucks, a full laundry facility to clean, press and package linens for client use, a state-of-the-art cleaning facility for dish and glassware and utensils, that will allow automated monitoring for proper temperatures and cleanliness,” said Ghanem. “In addition, we will have a small manufacturing area for design and production of linen for special orders and our original designs, as well as a paint booth for changing the colors of various products based on client preferences.”

Ghanem said there will also be a manufacturing workshop for the design and production of theatrical props and a showroom with a tent and various other objects, including advanced light and sound systems, such as next generation intelligent lighting. A conference room for available for use by caterers and event and wedding planners, so they can bring in their client and show them the full array of products.

“We are also very excited to have an advanced video system, with video conferencing in order to work with our destination clients,” said Ghanem.

The new headquarters will allow Creative Events to conduct business throughout the state of Florida as well as adjacent states. It will accommodate up to 75 employees and Ghanem said Creative Events and Rentals will be adding 20 new positions with expansion.

The new facility is located at 8030 Supply Drive, off of Alico Road. It is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2008.

Established in 1973, Creative Events & Rentals is the largest event planning and management company in Southwest Florida, handling every detail of your events from tents to invitation to decorations and staging.

Creative Events and Rentals are currently headquartered at 12090 Metro Parkway in Fort Myers. The phone number is 239.768.6393.

Creative Events Reaches $1 Million Mark for Charitable Giving

Creative Events & Rentals has reached the $1 million mark for local charitable donations since January 2002.

The list includes a diverse group of more than 90 local beneficiaries cutting across the entire area of Southwest Florida. Among the recipients are the American Cancer Society, the Edison Ford Winter Estates , the Naples Children and Education Foundation, and FGCU.

According to George Ghanem,CERP, president of Creative Events and Rentals, giving back to the community to improve the quality of life in Southwest Florida is one of the company’s guiding principles.

“We have always been committed to helping make Southwest Florida the best possible place to live,” said Ghanem. “A few months ago we tallied the contributions we have made and realized that it was just under $1 million, which made us feel pretty good. Now we topped that mark. It makes life better for local residents and in turn is good for the local economy.”

Creative Events is a local company specializing in event planning and a wide array of party equipment rentals. The company has invested heavily in Southwest Florida by building its new 60,000 square foot corporate headquarters and warehouse off Alico Road in South Fort Myers. When completed later this year, it will be the largest event-planning and rental facility in Florida.

Ghanem said an event planning and rental company is a great platform for making charitable contributions, which include cash donations, sponsorships and in-kind donations, a sentiment that was echoed by others.

“Creative Events and Rentals has been a great friend to us,” said Jim Eldridge, logistics chairman for the local American Cancer Society Relays for Life. “They provide tents, tables, chairs, lighting, a stage and many other things at a large discount. On top of that he makes a cash contribution that has grown every year and continually give additional materials and labor for free as the event unfolds.”

Eldridge said Creative events has been a sponsor for the past five years for Relay for Life events held in Naples, Golden Gate, Bonita Springs and Estero.

“The main Naples event takes two and one-half days to set up and another day to tear down,” said Eldridge. “George has shown a strong commitment to our success.”

Ghanem is a graduate of Bonita Leadership, and was appointed to the Special Events Committee of the City of Bonita Springs by the City Council. He recently chaired the Fourth of July Celebration and is proud to be an integral part of Celebrate Bonita and Holiday in the Park. He is a board member of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber, and just completed as chair of the Chamber Remodeling committee, and is currently chair of Taste of the Beach. He also has been appointed a board position on the bonita Springs Chamber.

“We are involved with local governments, children’s charities, churches, athletic clubs and mental health groups just to name a few types of groups we help,” said Ghanem. “Our goal over the next six and one-half years is to continue to give back to the community, and continue to focus our efforts on quality of life”

Creative Events and Rentals are currently headquartered at 12090 Metro Parkway in Fort Myers. The phone number is 239.768.6393. They are moving late summer to 8030 Supply Drive, fronting on Alico near Gator Road.

January 14, 2008
Creative Events Ghanem Named Panel Member

January 12, 2008
Creative Events Wins President’s Image Award

January 10, 2008
Creative Events Ghanem Featured Speaker

January 03, 2008
Creative Events Staff Earn CERP Designations

October 9, 2007
Creative Events Breaks Ground On New Headquarters

Creative Events and Rentals has broken ground on their new 60,000 square foot corporate headquarters and warehouse off Alico Road in South Fort Myers.

Creative Events is a local company specializing in event planning and a wide array of equipment rentals.

"The new building will have loading docks capable of loading over 10 trucks simultaneously, including large transport trucks, a full laundry facility to clean, press and package linens for client use, a state-of-the-art cleaning facility for dish and glassware and utensils, that will allow automated monitoring for proper temperatures and cleanliness," said Ghanem. "In addition, we will have a small manufacturing area for design and production of linen for special orders and our original designs, as well as a paint booth for changing the colors of various products based on client preferences."

"We are also very excited to have an advanced video system, with video conferencing in order to work with our destination clients," said Ghanem. The new headquarters will allow Creative Events to conduct business throughout the state of Florida as well as adjacent states. It will accommodate up to 75 employees and Ghanem said Creative Events and Rentals will be adding 20 new positions with expansion.

"We expect 20-30 percent annual growth in our revenue over the next few years," said Ghanem. "We have found that the market is demanding greater and more sophisticated offerings, from designs to quality materials. Clients have turned to the East Coast for these options. This facility will help keep that business in our community and help build our local tax base, create good jobs and expand our donations to local charities. We have given hundreds of thousands of dollars in discounts, donated services, and labor support and volunteers over tthe years here, and will continue to do so."

According to the September 2006 article in the New York Times, Event planning is now a $3 billion industry that has evolved from mom and pops operations to large-scale professional operations.

"Corporations and high-end clients expect a high degree of professionalism and the ability to pull off large-scale events. They are getting ideas not only from New York and Los Angeles, but also from Paris, London and Hong Kong. Event planning has become a global business and Southwest Florida is a very cosmopolitan place with people from all over the world and companies like the Ritz-Carlton operating here. We will enhance their services while maintaining the highest quality of standards." The new facility is located at 8030 Supply Drive, off of Alico Road. It is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2008.