We had the good fortune of connecting with Vanessa Castellanos and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vanessa, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I spent many years as the Director of Events for a few iconic South beach hotels, and these years managing corporate events and weddings led to a generous list of clients that I had built strong relationships with. Once I realized that my clients would benefit more from my ability to offer additional services such as venue scouting, event planning in other cities, and travel among other things, I launched  my own business, VC Projects. VC Projects allowed me to work on projects that I was passionate about and refine my skills as an independent business owner.

What should our readers know about your business?

I created VC Projects in Miami out of my living room during the pandemic. It was during this time that I was able to dive deep into the business plan, strategy, and branding. The pandemic forced me to believe in myself and take a risk that I was hesitant to make for many years, and it is the best decision I ever made.

It wasn’t easy. The company was developed around the idea of social gatherings when parties and events were prohibited. Despite the slow start, I knew that the pandemic would end eventually, even though it felt like it dragged on for much longer. So I focused on building a company delivering services for the post-pandemic world, and it forced me to be flexible in my offerings.

Now our clientele mainly come from referrals of our loyal customer base and satisfied customers. One of my favorite things about the company is that we can cover such a large variety of services that our clients end up coming back for different services. We planned one client’s destination wedding in Mexico from the beginning until execution, and it was an amazing event that was executed perfectly. The client reached out a few months later, and we planned her corporate holiday party in Miami and her husband’s 40th Birthday as well.

Our clients become our family and that is what makes this a rewarding career.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

My favorite thing about Miami is exploring it by day! The city is absolutely gorgeous with so many things to do in nature and in the city.

One of my favorite activities is to bike from Brickell over to Key Biscayne to The Boater’s Grill, which is a Spanish restaurant overlooking No-Name harbor. Grab your favorite Paella to fuel your bike ride back to Brickell!

If you’re a fan of the Arts, I would plan a day of Museum hopping. Starting out at the Bass Museum in South Beach, we would head to the Perez Art Museum in Downtown Miami followed by lunch at their amazing waterfront restaurant Verde. Next, we would visit the Design District for more Art Galleries and amazing shopping. We would finish with the Rubell Museum and cap off the evening with dinner at Leku, which is a fabulous modern Basque restaurant in the museum.

But you can’t visit Miami without enjoying its vibrant nightlife! I would recommend The Tea Room at The East Hotel in Brickell, a speakeasy set in a high rise with amazing views of the city. If you still have the energy, the nightlife in the Design District or South Beach can carry your evening late into the night depending on your preference of music and venue.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
In my career, two managers in particular believed in me, inspired me, and encouraged me to keep growing. Gilberto Garcia-Tunon, who now runs his own hospitality business in Miami, and Karan Kakar, a hospitality professional and the current General Manager of the Nautilus by Arlo.

Website: www.vc-projects.com

Instagram: @vc__projects.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-castellanos-miami/

Image Credits
Photo of the Bride and Groom are by Masson Liang

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