Solution
The team’s solution was based on a co-located program, with the customer event hosted from Monday lunchtime to Wednesday lunchtime. The sales staff event took place from Wednesday lunchtime until Friday mid-afternoon. This was to drive efficiencies for the client’s own staff who were attending both events, and to consolidate spend with local suppliers, increasing savings.
After a thorough search across a dozen European destinations, the historic five-star Corinthia Hotel in Budapest, Hungary, was selected as the event location.
"As well as being a historic, cultural city, Budapest offers excellent value for money. We have long-standing supplier relationships and global buying power that enable us to negotiate savings, driving substantial discounts compared with the client going direct” said CWT Meetings & Events account manager.
CWT M&E provided specialist attendee management software to allow both groups of attendees to register for the event and accommodation. It allowed attendees to select preferred breakout sessions and scheduling meetings with the host’s executives. Onsite, attendees were able to access the latest web-app technology with details of the agenda, sponsors and networking occasions. A special guest, ex-government secret security service officer was invited to provide a speech, motivating all attendees.
Impeccable event production, from lighting to set design, ensured that the keynote presentations from the CEO were clearly communicated. Sponsors were present to secure new leads in partnership with the software company. Customers were made to feel valued with an invitation to a nearby train museum for a casual evening reception, in the style of a local Hungarian market, complete with local beers, wines and entertainment.
As the successful customer event drew to a close, CWT Meetings & Events deliberately engineered a move up-tempo to start the global sales event. Top production values including staging and high quality audio visual equipment ensured that company leaders could present various strategies and recognize success across the team. An interactive sales training exercise gathered colleagues into cross border teams to drive networking.
The wow factor was provided by a gala dinner, creatively designed by the CWT Meetings & Events team, with a Harry Potter experience. This was hosted again at the railway museum – complete with a Hogwarts Express - where annual incentive scheme winners were announced and rewarded in front of their peers.
