Record breaking revenue meant that 2005 was a resounding success for the Beijing office of Weber Shandwick. The 2005 Annual Party and Employee Award took place on January 11 to celebrate the market’s achievements.

The party was attended by colleagues from IPG agencies: Weber Shandwick, GolinHarris, Powell Tate, and Future Brand. All guests came decked out in traditional Chinese costumes to match the party theme: "One Night in Beijing" (also the name of a Chinese pop song). The party was held in a 250-year-old palace that once belonged to a Qing dynasty prince; giving an air of royalty to the proceedings. 

The party and award ceremony was attended by CEO, Harris Diamond; Weber Shandwick president, Andy Polansky, and president Asia Pacific, Andrew Pirie. Harris and Andy traveled half the globe to witness ‘how fun is done’ in Beijing!

The annual Employee Award, as voted by Weber Shandwick colleagues went to David Liu, managing director of the Beijing office, who has also been honored by Weber Shandwick at a global level as the manager of the year. This announcement was made personally by Harris Diamond and Andy Polansky on the night.

Other awards presented on the night, (also voted by colleagues), included: Most Creative Award, Sam Zhao; Best Media Relations Award, Grace Li; Best New Comer Award, Guan Shaoqing; and Best Shepherd Award, Vanessa Seow.

Apart from the official proceedings, the guests kicked back and enjoyed themselves with a host of fun activities. There were performances by the various practice teams: the corporate team dressed up in Vienna-style masks; the men on the technology team dressed up as geishas while the tech team ladies dressed up as ninjas. The consumer team had the audience in stitches as they performed a song and dance that rivaled American Idol.  The night ended with a competition to see who would dress up their colleagues in the craziest outfits possible.

The Beijing team lived up to the saying "work hard, play harder." Some well deserved fun was had by all and the event started off 2006 on an extremely high note for the team.