Good Neighbor Podcast: Frisco

EP 316: Behind the Scenes with Vegas Concepts: 40 Years of Event Planning Magic

• Sophia Yvette

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What makes Debora Accettura with Vegas Concepts a Good Neighbor?

Meet Debora Accettura, the driving force behind Vegas Concepts—a woman-owned event planning powerhouse that's been transforming the Dallas-Fort Worth event landscape for four decades. What began as her mother's vision has evolved into a thriving business that Debora inherited in 2003, bringing her stockbroking sales expertise into the world of creating unforgettable experiences.

"We sell fun," Debora explains, and she's not exaggerating. Vegas Concepts produces around 200 events annually, ranging from elaborate corporate gatherings at prestigious venues like AT&T Stadium to charity galas that raise millions for local causes. The company stands out in a crowded market by offering comprehensive services—everything from red carpet experiences to photo booths and entertainment—all under one contract. They've pioneered high school "lock-ins" for graduating seniors and specialize in creating magical corporate holiday parties that book out months in advance.

What truly sets Vegas Concepts apart is their heart for community impact. Dubbed the "Queen of Fundraising," Debora has developed special formulas that maximize charitable donations during events. Her company's work with the Dallas, Arlington, and Fort Worth Margarita Balls helps fill multiple semi-trucks with toys for underprivileged children each holiday season. "In Vegas, you say goodbye to your money. In Texas, you say it goes to charity," Debora shares, revealing the philosophy that has guided her business for years. With deep roots in family philanthropy—her father was Grand Knight for the Knights of Columbus—giving back isn't just business strategy; it's a personal mission.

To learn more about Vegas Concepts go to: 🌐 VegasConcepts.com

Vegas Concepts
📞 972-438-1800

Speaker 1:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Sophia Yvette.

Speaker 2:

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in need of an event planning company? Well, one may be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Deborah Asitura, with Vegas Concepts. Deborah, how are you today? I'm doing great, super Great. Well, we are excited to learn all about you and your unique business. Go ahead and tell us a bit about your company and how you got started.

Speaker 3:

Yes, I'm the owner of Vegas Concepts Inc. We've been based out of Irving for 40 years. It was a woman-based business. My mother started it and then I inherited it in 2003. So my background was in believe it or not oil and gas stockbrokering. So I have a strong sales background. And then I got into the event planning world. I did years of events with her, but we originated basically for local fundraisers, so we started out just for the causes. Charities and galas are pretty much what set us apart in the industry. Uh, when we first started, there was only three casino companies. Now there's over 50 in dfw. It's very competitive. Um, basically, we do about anywhere from 200 events a year. So we can produce from bringing in all the entertainment, from the red carpet to the props, to 360 photo booths to marquee signs, anything we can bring it all in under one contract. And then we also pioneered what's called the high school lock-ins. Did you ever do one when you were in high school project graduations?

Speaker 1:

No.

Speaker 3:

That's big in Texas I'm not sure if you're from Texas. So basically what you do is, once they graduate, they go into the high schools and then we bring in all the entertainment like digital character, artist, artist, with about seven to a thousand high school kids that just graduated. So you talk about a lot of fun. That's that's fun. And then we also specialize in corporate events. So we sell fun, we sell entertainment and that's basically how we started out. So that's a little background from what we do.

Speaker 2:

Wow, so what you do is very diverse. Is it mainly just the charities and the galas you're talking about?

Speaker 3:

Yes, we do conventions, corporate holiday parties. You know, once we go into the swing into the fall December we're already sold out for the first two weekends in December. We do a lot of Fortune 500 companies and you know we do specialty groups we do a lot of right now. If you're a hundred person guest count for a holiday party we suggest you move Sunday through Thursday to get the most bang for your buck, because Fridays and Saturdays are for the Fortune 500 coming 500 to a thousand groups of. You know guests count.

Speaker 3:

We do a lot of events at Gaylord's, jerry's World, you know Texas, Texas Motor Speedway. We do a lot out at the Frisket at the Star. We partner a lot with all the Omnis and DFW. Um, you know, there there isn't a venue. We haven't been in DFW in the in 40 years. My daughter always jokingly says mom, why do we always go in the back door of every venue? Cause I don't know where the front door is. So, um, but basically, um, you know we've been around a long time. We specialized.

Speaker 3:

I was telling you about casino fundraisers but they call me the queen of fundraising because I've designed a formula that works. Have you ever gone to the Margarita Balls? Okay, there's a gala. It's called the Dallas Margarita Ball, the Arlington Marallas margarita ball, the arlington margarita ball and the fort worth margarita ball. They actually have one in houston and austin too. So you have to bring a toy to the gala. It's always the third weekend in november, um, and it's right before thanksgiving. You have to bring a toy or donate $35 to $100. It's totally up to you.

Speaker 3:

In Dallas they probably fill two to three semis of toys that go to local charities in the Dallas market. So if a kid needs a toy, you know they bring Christmas. Same with Arlington does the same thing and so does Fort Worth. So Fort Worth is always the first weekend in December. They kind of stepped away from. I used to jokingly say Dallas is the single ball, arlington's the couple ball and now Fort Worth has really stepped up. I mean they probably got about 2,500 people that attend. Arlington probably has about 1,000, a solid 1,000. And it's a great charity. It's for local kids, for underprivileged people that don't get a toy under the tree and they make sure they do. And I think Dallas still gets 1,000 bikes every year. So yeah, I mean it's, it's really cool. So to see something like that really opens your heart and we raised $4 million last year.

Speaker 3:

One of my galas is it's called the Touchdown Club and I know everybody in the Metroplex has heard of a football team, a high school football team called South Lake Carroll.

Speaker 3:

So I would love to do this for Frisco and bring in a really fun fundraiser for their football team Because, let's face it, their football team, Because, let's face it, friday Night Lights in Texas is huge, but that's one of the things we do and I spend an enormous amount of time with my charities because I'm literally only live for three to four hours, so I have to maximize the time. I have to maximize the time, so we come in with a complete kit designed for fundraisers. We do specialty sales. I have showgirls that are decked out. We do a lot of children or galas, so my showgirls aren't like the Vegas showgirls, where they're showing a lot. Mine are more tailored, sophisticated looking, but they're still showgirls, aren't like the Vegas showgirls, where they're showing a lot. Mine are more tailored, sophisticated looking, but they're still showgirls and they will solicit everybody in the room for a donation and we maximize the time that we're there and all the money goes for a great cause.

Speaker 2:

Wow, and all the money goes for a great cause, wow. And where does your heart for helping others really come from? I know we've basically surpassed all the questions I usually ask, but I really love your heart for helping people. Like, really, where did that come from?

Speaker 3:

Well, my father was the Grand Knight for the Knights of Columbus so we did a lot of casino parties in Catholic churches and basically my entire family is always given to charities throughout. You know I do something called AMBUX, a local charity I give to. You know I'm very involved with, like, the Dallas Police Department. All the police departments hire us for their poker tournaments and that is a huge charity fund. I mean you talk about having fun. It's very competitive and people enjoy to come in and have fun. I sell fun for a living, so people love to go. Well, in Vegas you say goodbye to your money. In Texas you say it goes to a charity. So you just have to have a big heart. So one of our things is we really recognize local charities and raising money and right now it's a hard time for a lot of them to raise funds. So to give back to your community is probably the number one thing that we're known to do for the last 40 years.

Speaker 2:

Wow, Now we don't have time for any more questions, but I do want to say this where can our listeners go to learn more about Vegas Concepts?

Speaker 3:

Our website is VegasConceptscom and you can follow us on Instagram and Facebook at Vegas Concepts. So we'd love for you to join us, and we are getting into technology, so we're going to go live on Facebook at all the fall galas this year, so wish us luck.

Speaker 2:

Well, Debra, I really do appreciate you being on the show today and we wish you and your business and all the charities you help the best moving forward.

Speaker 3:

Thank you Appreciate it.

Speaker 1:

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnpfriscocom. That's gnpfriscocom, or call 469-221 9345. 9, 3, 4, 5.