@ karsonbutler
@ karsonbutler
From luxury celebrations and incentive travel programs to world-class food & wine festivals, Karson Butler Events brings people together through thoughtful design and meaningful connection creating experiences that linger long after the last toast.
Extraordinary experiences at the intersection of hospitality, food, wine + design.
Extraordinary experiences at the intersection of hospitality, food, wine + design.
Extraordinary experiences at the intersection of hospitality, food, wine + design.
Designing the culinary experience is at the forefront of every event we plan. Our passion for hospitality comes to life through food-driven experiences that celebrate place, people, and craft — from multi-day wine and food festivals to chef’s dinners, wine country excursions, and exclusive culinary collaborations.
Signature programs include Paso Wine Fest, Tyler Florence’s Masters of Fire Festival, and other bespoke events featuring the nation’s top chefs, winemakers, and hospitality innovators.
Founder Amber Karson also teaches in Cal Poly’s Wine & Viticulture Department, where she leads courses such as Applied Wine Hospitality and Food & Wine Tourism, inspiring the next generation of hospitality leaders.
Food & Wine
Travel & Tourism
Travel has always been part of our story. From our home base in California to destinations around the world, we’ve spent nearly two decades helping clients find the perfect setting for their programs — places that inspire, connect, and surprise.
Our work has taken us from the vibrant streets of India to the vineyards of Portugal, the beaches of Costa Rica and the Bahamas, and the mountain air of Aspen, with stops in New York City and beyond. Each destination brings its own rhythm and flavor, and we love weaving those local details into every experience we design. It’s no coincidence that organizations like Visit California and The California Travel Association have turned to us to bring their visions to life.
We design events, marketing campaigns, gifting initiatives, and employee celebrations for clients who value both creativity and precision. As both event strategists and producers, we bring a 360-degree approach to every project — from early concept and program strategy to full-scale production and onsite execution. Having begun our careers with global brands such as Franklin Templeton Investments and Toyota, we understand what it means to answer to a board of directors, deliver to senior executives, and uphold brand standards at the highest level.
Our work is grounded in thoughtful design, strategic alignment, and exceptional hospitality — creating experiences that inspire connection, reflect your organization’s values, and deliver lasting impact.
Corporate
Since our inception in 2008, we’ve had the honor of helping clients celebrate life’s most meaningful moments. From weddings, milestone birthdays, anniversaries, and family reunions to showers, private dinners, and destination celebrations, our clients become an extension of the Karson Butler family.
As strategists, designers, and producers, we bring creativity, thoughtfulness, and ease to every celebration — crafting experiences that feel personal, intentional, and deeply reflective of the people we plan for. Our goal is to create gatherings that are beautifully executed, joy-filled, and unforgettable.
Social
Education has always been central to who we are. As strategists, educators, and mentors, we’re passionate about shaping the next generation of hospitality and retail leaders.
Amber serves as an adjunct faculty member at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, teaching in both the Experience Industry Management and Wine & Viticulture departments, where her courses explore experience design, food and wine tourism, and applied hospitality strategies. She is also a frequent speaker and panelist at national conferences on neuroinclusion, experience design, and the future of travel and events.
Emily shares this commitment to education and inspiration, speaking at national retail conferences on topics like the evolving role of brick-and-mortar in modern hospitality.
Together, we believe sharing knowledge is one of the most powerful ways to elevate our industries — and we’re proud to invest time mentoring students, emerging professionals, and fellow creatives who are shaping what hospitality and retail look like next.
Education, Speaking & Mentorship
Not everything we do fits neatly into a single category — and that’s part of what makes our work so dynamic. Through our family of brands — including Karson Butler Events, The Ah Louis Store, The Outpost, and The Sauer Adobe — we collaborate with clients and partners on creative consulting projects, pop-up experiences, brand partnerships, and curated gifting programs that extend far beyond traditional event planning.
Whether styling a retail activation, designing a culinary collaboration, or developing a custom concept from the ground up, our philosophy remains constant: combine strategic insight with beautiful execution to create something truly unforgettable.
Additional Services
Our House of Brands
Amber Karson & Emily Butler
Business partners for nearly two decades, twins Amber and Emily are re-defining what modern hospitality looks like.
Raised in a one-stoplight farm town, they launched their company in Washington, D.C., in 2008 before returning home to California — building a brand that blends East Coast sophistication with West Coast ease. Today, their work spans the globe — from destination events and incentive travel programs to retail concepts and creative collaborations — all grounded in their signature blend of thoughtful design and genuine hospitality. Now recognized leaders in the experience industry, Amber and Emily have been featured by The Today Show, The Washington Post, Town & Country, Martha Stewart Weddings, Glamour, BizBash and more. Once named among Special Events Magazine’s “Top 25 Young Event Pros to Watch,” they continue to shape the future of hospitality as educators, speakers, and advocates — never forgetting where they came from or the values that continue to guide their work.
Amber Karson Founder & CEO
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Founder and CEO Amber Karson is an industry leader with more than two decades of experience designing luxury programs at the intersection of food, wine, travel, and hospitality. Before launching Karson Butler Events, Amber led global meetings and special events for Franklin Templeton Investments, overseeing complex international programs and cross-cultural experiences around the world.
Today, Amber guides the vision and strategy of Karson Butler Hospitality Co., blending thoughtful design, operational excellence, and an unwavering commitment to authentic hospitality. A Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), she has been recognized nationally for her innovative approach — named one of Smart Meetings Magazine’s 2024 Meeting Professionals of the Year and recipient of multiple university and industry awards for mentorship and community impact.
An alumna of Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business, Amber serves on the university’s Experience Industry Management Department Advisory Council and teaches in both the Experience Industry Management and Wine & Viticulture departments, where she has developed courses in Strategic Event Planning, Experience Design, and Hospitality Management. She is passionate about shaping the next generation of industry leaders through hands-on learning and inclusive design.
Amber also serves on the San Luis Obispo County Events & Festivals Strategy Working Group and the Downtown SLO Association Events & Fundraising Committee, where she champions community-driven initiatives and sustainable practices that strengthen the local economy.
When she’s not leading her team or teaching, Amber finds inspiration in her garden, exploring historic architecture, and enjoying the rolling green hills of California’s Central Coast with her vizsla pup, Ferris.
Emily Butler CCO
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Chief Creative Officer
As Chief Creative Officer, Emily Butler leads the creative direction and guest experience strategy across all divisions of Karson Butler Hospitality Co. — from experiential design and brand activations to retail and product curation. Known for her intuitive understanding of how people gather, shop, and celebrate, Emily brings an unmatched eye for detail and a deep appreciation for the emotional journey behind every experience.
Before co-founding Karson Butler, Emily worked in Brand Management at Toyota and Lexus headquarters, where she developed national marketing campaigns and led teams of over 100 brand ambassadors. That foundation in large-scale storytelling and customer engagement continues to inform her creative leadership today.
Based full-time on California’s Central Coast, Emily oversees Karson Butler’s retail and gifting division — The Ah Louis Store and Ah Louis Outpost — recognized for its curated selection of gifts, entertaining essentials, and signature sense of joyful hospitality. Her trend-forward eye and thoughtful approach to design have positioned her as a tastemaker in both the events and retail industries.
A graduate of California State University, Chico (B.A. in Psychology) with a Professional Meeting & Event Planning Certificate from Cal State Long Beach, Emily combines behavioral insight with creative artistry to craft experiences that feel purposeful, modern, and deeply human.
Our Team KB Family
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Our talented team is at the heart of everything we do. From leading onsite experiences to managing day-to-day operations at The Ah Louis Store, they deliver the thoughtful service and attention to detail that define the Karson Butler experience. Together, we become a seamless extension of your project team — your guests will feel the KBHC difference.
Let’s Collaborate.
We love partnering with clients, creatives, and brands to bring meaningful experiences to life. Whether you're planning an unforgettable celebration, looking for expert guidance, or dreaming up something entirely new — we’re ready to listen, create, and make it happen together.
970 Chorro St
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
hello@karsonbutlerevents.com
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