BY SIMONE J. SMITH
“Carnival Oasis is a pass-through lounge. The intention is to stay as long as you’d like.”
I received an email from both Craigg Slowly, and Jackie Clark about their upcoming gifting lounge. I recalled that they had hosted one last year, and from the pictures, it looked like quite the event.
Yes! This year I got that invite. I have never been to a gifting lounge before, but my first experience taught me everything I needed to know. This year’s “Carnival Oasis” Toronto’s 2nd annual Caribbean-inspired gifting lounge was an exclusive event, where invited celebrities, VIPs, and attendees were treated to complimentary products, services, and gifts from some of the most prestigious brands and sponsors. The concept behind Carnival Oasis was to provide a unique and luxurious experience for the attendees while allowing brands to showcase their products and services.
Upon entering, we were greeted by a beautiful young lady, who took time to explain the layout and offerings. I have to admit that I was overwhelmed; it was such an incredible scene. DJ Mars Forever had set the perfect vibe; I saw other guests exploring various stations; as I looked to my right, I saw Pink Cherry, and it looked like there were some fun things happening over there. Sensual toys, hmmm…
Carnival Oasis was designed to create a luxurious and upscale ambiance. The decor, lighting, and seating arrangements contributed to an inviting and comfortable environment. After we collected our exclusive tote bag from Puma, we went back outside to capture a picture-perfect moment at their step-and-repeat wall.
Just like that, we were immersed in an enchanting treasure hunt-themed gifting suite: Shea Moisture, Wagners, Jems, Joico, STMNT, Maneuver, Hudson’s Bay, Clore Beauty, LMNT, Phoneloops, DIY tattoo cabana presented by Inkbox, oh wow!
After collecting all of our goodies, we headed outside. There had been whispers about something happening at Visit Barbados. Something about a complimentary cocktail and rum tasting experience. We walked over and saw that there were other delightful concoctions from Vin Bon, Kraken, Wine Bros, Limin and Vibin, BK Whiskey, and more!
As I sipped my drink, I had a chance to look around, really take in what was happening. Carnival Oasis had attracted some pretty high-profile people: Director of Operations at Artxperiential Projects Shawn Cuffie, Esteemed Author Dalton Higgins, Founder Matrix Mortgage Global, Shawn Allen, and the gorgeous, talented Kapri were just some of Toronto’s elite. Attendees had the opportunity to interact with these celebrities, take photos presented by DLUXE Photobooths, and Pixperience. It was a highly photogenic environment, and attendees were sharing their experiences on social media platforms, which I could see was generating buzz for both the event and the participating brands.
My guest entered to win a hotel stay at Stonefield Resorts in Saint Lucia, and wouldn’t you know it, she actually won. You know what that means; I will be heading to St. Lucia.
Beyond gifts, Carnival Oasis offered an unforgettable brand activation experience showcasing the traditions of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival. Overall, the gifting lounge combined luxury, exclusivity, product exposure, and social interaction to create a memorable and enjoyable time for invited guests. Hopefully they will ask me to join them next year!!
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