New York’s event venue landscape demands excellence at every turn, where exceptional client experiences aren’t optional but essential for survival. Behind some of the city’s most prestigious spaces stands Gianluca Sardo, whose strategic vision has transformed venues into unforgettable destinations. Through his emphasis on passionate teams, cutting-edge technology, and carefully cultivated partnerships, Gianluca has established a management approach that consistently elevates events beyond client expectations.
Building Brand Ambassadors at Every Level
When asked about the secret to his venues’ continued success, Gianluca points to one critical factor above all others: the people. “We try to be competitive by hiring the right people and creating a great team,” Gianluca explains. “The trick is the team because they’re our brand ambassadors, from the dishwasher to the president – everyone is part of this journey.”
Rather than pursuing a team full of individual stars, Gianluca prioritizes passion and collaboration. “I love having people with passion who want to work together and help each other. If you don’t have passion, everything else can be learned, but without passion, it’s impossible to create a great team.” This approach extends beyond just hiring practices. Gianluca emphasizes giving team members a clear vision for their career development. “It’s not just about doing the day-to-day job but seeing what their future looks like,” he notes, explaining how this forward-thinking mindset helps maintain team cohesion and excellence.
Leading Through Technology Investment
Today, technology plays an increasingly vital role in creating memorable experiences. Gianluca has positioned his venues at the forefront by making significant investments in audiovisual capabilities. “Technology creates experiential situations – VR and all these technologies need to be in your space,” Gianluca says. “You need to invest, and of course these things aren’t cheap. You need to create a budget for them, but the final result and experience that clients have when walking through your venues is unbelievable.”
These investments have paid dividends in client retention. “We have a very powerful LED wall that we bought last year. We invested a lot of money on that project, but when you have this type of AV in-house, you don’t need to rent it. You can create any type of experience.” The venues also recently upgraded their lighting package, which Gianluca notes is crucial for creating atmosphere.
Orchestrating Seamless Experiences
Behind every successful event lies careful coordination between numerous vendors and partners. Gianluca likens this process to conducting an orchestra. “The partners you have – all the other vendors – are part of the events, from the caterers to the florists to the planners. It’s not just the venue or the AV, but the combination of all these vendors together,” he explains. “They can be united as an orchestra that plays seamlessly together.” Gianluca emphasizes the importance of developing a trusted network of preferred vendors. “Create a list of partners or preferred vendors for your venue. It’s something you need to have to rely on them because, at the end of the day, outside it’s your name that’s on display.”
When asked about common mistakes venue owners make, Gianluca offers insight from his own learning curve. “You cannot do everything. You need to be selective. You need to be good at certain things and be a pro at that,” he advises. “If you’re a pro at something, you’re going to be successful because people will find you for your expertise in that specific field. Trying to do everything is not going to work out long term.”
Gianluca also stresses the value of industry relationships, even with competitors. “Create good networking outside the venue, even with competitors. I don’t see anyone as a competitor – I see everyone as an opportunity to learn something from them.” These collaborative relationships create a referral network that benefits everyone. “It’s a two-way street. When we’re booked, we’ll send clients to a friend’s venue, and vice versa. At the end of the day, there are clients out there for everyone.”
Connect with Gianluca Sardo on LinkedIn to explore his insights on event venue management and industry innovation.
