Combining Italian finesse and Greek hospitality in an elegant manner, we established Philoxenia Events. Our brand is known for its reliability and comes highly recommended as a bar management company for private and corporate events in Greece, Italy, France, and the UK.”
Giorgio Tosato, co-founder, Philoxenia Events
Italian mixologist Giorgio Tosato and Greek event planner Silia Smirniopoulou are the founders of Philoxenia Events, a luxury bar catering company. Philoxenia is based out of London and operates throughout all the top wedding destinations, including Greece, the UK, Italy, and France. Giorgio, whose unique character and personality are irreplaceable, is the face of the brand. Clients choose the company for their special day not only because they desire delicious cocktails but also because they specifically want Giorgio and his team behind the bar. Here, we discuss how the company was first created and it’s success since then…
C&B: “Giorgio, what first inspired you to start Philoxenia Events, and how did your journey in the events industry begin?”
GT: “The creation of Philoxenia Events was based on a shared love for hospitality and excellence in that sector by myself and Silia Smirniopoulou. Philoxenia’s birth came about through a meeting of minds and hearts over a cocktail in one of the world’s most stylish and eclectic cities – London! When we first met, neither of us could have known how symbiotic our mindsets are. The initial idea for the brand came from our passions and interests, developed in London, but also through our mutual love for our respective homelands, Italy and Greece. We spent months developing a way to make our business synonymous with style and elegance. We felt that with our wealth of experience and differing backgrounds, we could provide a determined force and unique choice in the event planning industry, by pulling together our credentials.”
Whoever hires us knows that we have strong Italian influences…and so they want to try our notorious Negronis, no matter what!”
Giorgio Tosato, co-founder, Philoxenia Events
C&B: “What would you say is your typical client profile?”
GT: “Philoxenia focuses on those who appreciate quality cocktails; we work with high profile clients and couples that want to offer a memorable cocktail experience to their guests, rather than just an open bar with spirits and mixers. Our clients are international; they understand quality drinks, are open to recommendations, and desire five-star service. Our clients are individuals who have traveled extensively, visited Michelin-star restaurants, and explored top cocktail bars around the world. They are interested in knowing the story behind each cocktail, the ingredients, and inquiring about the mixologist’s inspiration.”
When it comes to signature cocktails, we do not have a standard list of drinks or a signature Philoxenia cocktail – every drink is tailor made and created based on the client’s favourite ingredients, spirits and culture. Everything is bespoke…”
Giorgio Tosato, co-founder, Philoxenia Events
C&B: “How do you approach the planning process for a destination event to ensure it feels both personal and elegant?”
GT: “The planning process starts with a short questionnaire to discover the client’s preferred spirit and ingredients. As soon as we have the answers, I start working on a bespoke menu with signature cocktails. We then organise a complimentary cocktail tasting – either in our private bar in London or in Athens. The cocktail tasting is the most important step of the planning process. We get to know the clients and the clients get to know the faces behind Philoxenia Events. We build a relationship in advance so that on the day of the event we already know each other. During the tasting the couples/clients will taste a list of different signature cocktail options as well as alcohol free mocktails. They will learn about the story behind each drink directly from the mixologist and will decide the best options for them. Then, the clients are asked to name the cocktails. Each name is something meaningful to them. We ask the couples to tell us more about the special cocktail names, so on the day of the event we can communicate the story to their guests…”
Philoxenia is based on interpersonal relationships and authenticity; our clients want us to set the atmosphere and bring the right vibes to the party. They want us to be part of the event.”
Giorgio Tosato, co-founder, Philoxenia Events
C&B: “What do you consider to be the most important elements to consider when designing a cocktail party?”
GT: “The number of guests, the season, the concept and guests’ culture…”
C&B: “How do you stay updated with the latest trends in event planning and cocktail reception styles?”
GT: “By attending event conferences in different countries, our own personal research and by working closely with other industry vendors! Social media – especially instagram and tik-tok – is also an excellent source of information for latest trends in the industry!”
C&B: “What are some challenges you’ve faced while organising events, and how did you overcome them?”
GT: “Unexpected bad weather is the number one challenge while organising an event; bad weather can affect our transportation, our set up and our service. Having a plan B – and even a plan C – already organised can resolve many of these problems. We once had a case when our portable bar was placed towards the edge of the deck of a beautiful venue on a Greek island, it was July and – as everybody knows – the sun is really shining hot in Greece during July! Minutes before the wedding was due to start and the guests were arriving, we had strong winds and huge waves coming out of the blue onto the deck and on to us making everything wet… our bar, our clothes, the racks with the crystal glasses. We had to find light wooden panels and literally build a wall behind us to stop the waves and then decorate the panels with flowers in order to make them look nice for the photos.”
C&B: “How do you tailor your events to reflect the brand identity of corporate clients?”
GT: “Colours, shapes and aromas are important elements of every brand’s identity. We carefully choose the ingredients we use to create the colour we want the drink to be, we choose the shape of the glassware and the cocktail garnish to match with the philosophy of the brand and we can also include the brand’s logo on details such as the ice cubes and the coasters. We can also create homemade essences to bring memories of the brands special aroma…”
We have a long brand collaboration with the House of Creed, the luxury fragrance company…”
Giorgio Tosato, co-founder, Philoxenia Events
C&B: “Can you share a memorable experience from one of the cocktail receptions you’ve organised that stands out to you?”
GT: “We’re lucky enough to say that each and every event we have produced has been a memorable experience! However, all the cocktail receptions we have planned for our corporate client, the House of Creed – the most famous perfume house in the world – really stand out to us. We have been to incredible venues such as the Painted Hall in Greenwich which looks unrealistic, we have been part of huge productions while working with CREED and we’ve had the opportunity to serve and speak with international celebrities. These corporate events have been a highlight in our career…”
C&B: “What role does teamwork play in executing a successful event, and how do you foster collaboration within your team?”
GT: “Teamwork is everything; all our staff members have been in our team from the very beginning of Philoxenia Events. We choose our staff members based on a common passion for hospitality and the chemistry we have between us during the service. We are not colleagues, but family!”
C&B: “What is your typical outfit/uniform for an event, or does it vary?”
GT: “Uniform, and styling in general, are very important elements for us. We have different uniform options depending on the event’s theme. I personally designed all uniforms and they’re all made using fine Italian textiles. Even our bow ties are hand made. I like to match my attire with the colours of each event so I’ve created a vast collection of suits in different colours and fabrics. We’ve had cases when clients were betting about the style of the suit I’d be wearing on the day of the event. It’s always a surprise!”
C&B: “What advice would you give to someone looking to make a career in event planning?”
GT: “When you start your career in events it is very important to create a large network within the industry by attending as many industry events as possible. Networking events are important. You have to speak about the service you want to provide every day and to different people. Event vendors tend to recommend each other when they have a friendly and trustworthy relationship. It is also very important to make a list with key people that can become your potential clients. People that love to host events who will recommend you to their friends. So our advice is go out, meet new people, speak about your special service, present it in an interesting way. PR and word of mouth is very important in events!”
WEBSITE: http://www.philoxenia.co.uk
