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I’m Michal Shapira Gat, just celebrated my 40th, married to Amichai and we have three children. A few months ago, my husband and I decided to embark on a relocation adventure to Athens together with our kids. We left behind careers, family and many good friends that we gathered around us over the years.
When my 40th birthday approached, my girlfriends from Israel announced that there was no way they are not celebrating this big birthday with me, and that they are planning to purchase a plane ticket for a weekend in Athens. obviously I was very touched by this act of love, but suddenly I realised that 35 people are planning to arrive!
As soon as I realised that the event required a well-planned and organised production, I contacted Anat and Yonathan from Sirtaki Events to produce this weekend of birthday celebrations for me. I began our first phone conversation with “Anat, where do I even start?” I realised that I needed to plan an entire weekend and I had never done that. Without even mentioning the budget – I did not plan to produce an event with such a large expense. Anat rested me assured and made me feel that I’m in good, safe hands.
As soon as Michal approached us it was obvious that this was a special event. We had to highlight Michal's character in one weekend together with the uniqueness of the city of Athens, which Michal loves so much.
On our first conversation with Michal, she gave us a list of places that she really loves and would like to include in the event to help guide us, and we went from there.
When Anat asked me: “How do you see this weekend?” I answered that I was dreaming of an urban weekend in Athens – so my friends can see where I live and enjoy everything that this amazing city has to offer.
Anat was amazing and started working with me on planning the schedules and details of the events. Later we went on location tours together to check out the best taverns in the city, the perfect rooftop, the best hotels and spaces to accommodate the main party. It was important to me that all the events were in places that I like and related to, chic places that have a vibe and amazing music. I didn’t want to compromise on anything. I wanted everything to be perfect.
It is important for me to emphasise that I had a limited budget for the entire weekend, and Anat helped me understand that it was possible to organise such an event. She skilfully and professionally prepared an “event package”, meaning cost consideration per person for those participating in the weekend. It was important to me that the cost will be reasonable, meaning that it will be an expense that each one of my friends will be able to afford. Anat knew how to make me feel relaxed, advise me, direct me to things that are really important, give tips regarding upgrades that can make a difference (such as shuttle services from the airport and back, small gifts waiting for guests in the rooms, building a landing page for the event, printing a program and more)
Unlike events held in one hotel or one location, here we sort of created a map of the city. For the guests, we adapted a number of places to stay which are close to each other but offer different price levels and then together with Michal, we created the different events and content around them.
It was important for us to put Athens in the focus as an urban and vibrant city, more cool locations and less museums and history.
A couple of days prior the event I had a panic attack. I was so worried that I will not be able to enjoy the weekend, that my friends would be upset about all kinds of things, that there will not be a happy vibe, that the weather will not be good. Anat immediately understood the situation and was able to calm me down: ‘It will be perfect, I promise’ she reassured me. ’I’ll be there with you and make sure everything runs perfectly’ and so it was.
The weekend was absolutely perfect. There isn’t another way of putting it. Every event on the weekend ended with an amazing feeling. The truth is that even on my wedding I didn’t have as much fun as I did on my 40th party!.
The food was excellent, the vibe was amazing, the schedule was on- point, the decor was beautiful, the music was perfect.
Michal is a sharp, on-point kind of person, and through the whole process her sharpness with her love for good time were what was guiding us in creating the event.
The event actually started once the guests arrived - we arranged transportation from the airport for everyone to their chosen hotels.
On the first evening we met at the ERMU 18 bar for cocktails and snacks on the rooftop.
From there we continued to a Greek tavern restaurant - GEROS TOU MORIA where a private room was waiting for us with a local band that made sure all the guests were happy during the meal, it was important for us to focus on local food while choosing the dishes, making sure the Greek cuisine was the centre.
The next morning we started with a delicious food tour in the city, a lunch break and some free time, and then all the guests met at the NOEL bar where we booked the entire floor just for them, with a bar, food and a DJ that held the main birthday celebrations which went on until the small hours.
if you are dreaming of producing an event in Athens or Greece, don’t hesitate. My tip will be to start with a phone call to Yonathan and Anat.
Weeks after the weekend and my friends are still talking about it. It took everyone a while to recover from this magic that happened in these three days. I have no doubt that this magic was created skilfully and professionally by Anat and Yonathan.
Anat and Yonathan, thank you so much. You are amazing.
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