Nicole E. Lakatos has had an exhilarating couple of years. She manages all the gathering spaces and group bookings for Anthology Events, the in-house events company for downtown Detroit’s historic Book Tower, which recently reached the end of a seven-year, $400 million renovation by its owner, Bedrock. Anthology Events is under the umbrella of Philadelphia-based Method Co. Hospitality, for which Lakatos is director of events.
Lakatos began her career working as a waitress at Detroit’s Elwood Bar & Grill, owned by Jim and Chuck Forbes, while attending Wayne State University, also in Detroit. That led to her taking a job in the late 1990s developing the Forbes’ real estate holdings, which include the iconic Gem Theatre and Colony Club, into a private event and hospitality business.
“I basically started their events program with them,” she says, noting the company rebranded as Forbes Hospitality in 2022. Shortly after, she was recruited for her current position. Starting nine months ahead of the Book Tower reopening in June 2023, Lakatos was on the ground floor of launching several of its meeting venues: The Conservatory Ballroom, Linden Room, and the interior and exterior of Kamper’s Rooftop Lounge.
“We host [everything from] small executive groups of 20 to strolling receptions of 275 guests in The Conservatory Ballroom and the Linden Room, [connected spaces that have] a beautiful skylight and views of the Detroit River,” she says. “I call it urban elegance. It has this feeling of an indoor garden surrounded by the city landscape, and at night, it’s beautiful.”
Flaunting the spaces for many types of events has been exciting, she says—especially when put in the context of Detroit’s exploding appeal. “[Last year] was the first year we were open for one full year and the responses were great—people not only shared they couldn’t believe how beautiful and exquisite the building is, but also [their surprise at] how much Detroit had to offer,” Lakatos says. “Yes, I can talk about how wonderful this property is, but Detroit is part of that story, too. Detroit is something to showcase.”
She says the best part of her work is meeting people and hearing their stories. “I love getting to know people and building relationships,” she says. “That’s what makes you want to produce and execute incredible experiences—especially in a corporate market. You want to achieve everything [your clients are] wanting to achieve and surpass those expectations.”
