Inland Real Estate Group was looking for a way to boost employee morale and increase camaraderie between departments. The company owned the building they resided in and thought that a company picnic during the week would provide a welcome break and possibly their goals. The event was a huge success and employees immediately began to talk about how nice it would be if it were to be an annual event. The Vice President accepted the request with one condition: next year’s event had to be even “bigger and better.”

1. Include a philanthropic component so that everyone could play a role in raising money for a charity
2. Be more interactive
3. Be more visually compelling
4. Reduce stress involved with planning

Tasty Catering went to work and took advantage of it being an Olympic year by adopting the Olympic theme for the event. The theme provided the employees with an opportunity to compete and have fun during the week leading up to the event. Inland chose The Wellness House to be the recipient of the monies raised from the picnic. This charity offers psychosocial support, education and information, as a complement to medical treatment to cancer patients, their families and friends.

In order to make the event more interactive without substantially increasing the cost of the event, all games were grouped together to form an “Olympic Stadium.” Guests competed in Baggo, Quarterback Challenge, Hole in One Golf Putt and Pop-a-Shot. A dunk tank was located adjacent to the “Stadium” and “Olympic Village” where employees could pay to submerge their favorite executive. A caricaturist was also added for those who want a keepsake from the day.

The Olympic theme provided a springboard for not only the philanthropic and interactive goals to be accomplished, but it also provided stimulus for improved visual impact of the event. The primary color palette of the Olympic rings made signage more compelling. Dining tables were dressed with alternating colors of the rings. Buffet tables incorporated an Olympic “torch” created with an infusion of red and yellow orchids.

Results

The tremendous success of the first annual Inland Real Estate Group picnic in 2008 posed the question of how could it be topped in 2009. The team went to work adopting an Olympic theme for the event. The theme provided the company with a stress free opportunity to integrate a philanthropic element, be interactive and be visually compelling. The event was described by the Vice President as a “gold medal” picnic.