Creative Event Production Immerses Achievers in Artful Celebrations

In competitive cultures, incentive travel is a status symbol. Luxury can be bought, but experiences must be earned. That’s why a global tech company gathering high achievers and their families felt their audience deserved more than a beautiful destination. Welcoming guests to Marbella, Spain, should unlock a journey of discovery, designed to delight their senses and feed their passion for the brand.

Leaders wanted the incentive trip to authentically connect a sense of celebration to the host country’s cultural treasures. The organization tasked Hartmann Studios with enriching the experience so each attendee felt appreciated and connected.

Capturing the spirit of southern Spain began with a welcome event held on site at METT Hotel & Beach Resort Marbella. Activations went well beyond standard check-in hospitality, with extra touches that previewed the special moments to come. Guests could unwind from their travels with local Spanish food tasting experiences, live performances and a dazzling display of fireworks and sparklers.

Thoughtfully designed spaces maintained a sophisticated environment while catering to a multi-generational audience. Many partners accompanied winners and more than two dozen children joined the fun. Hands-on art stations and boutique gifting services highlighted the region’s artistic traditions. Guests could go from painting their own castanets to watching Spanish folk singers and dancers incorporate the instruments into vivid flamenco dances. Innovative staging, which seamlessly extended atop the pool, offered unique perspectives.

Event space planning makes room for artistic activations

Marbella Arena, an eye-catching midcentury icon designed by Spanish architect Luis María de Gana y Hoyos, served as the canvas for an artfully over-the-top farewell event. Guests entered the former bullring anticipating classic drama and discovered a customized interior that drew them into an artistic journey. Under a tented dome, the space transformed into a sensational (and sometimes surrealist) celebration inspired by the works of legends like Picasso, Miró, Dalí and Gaudí. Dominating the heart of the arena: a dazzling geometric bull sculpture. Created especially for the event, it provided a focal point as guests explored the space and the abundance of opportunities within.

Participants encountered art projected onto every surface and vibrant music that amplified an avant-garde atmosphere. They rubbed shoulders with roaming performing artists and got involved in painting, sculpting, assembling and composing their own pieces. From a central Andalusian lounge, observers could catch entertainment from singers, modern Spanish dancers and an electronic violin virtuoso while grazing on fusion fare. Each zone encouraged social connections as a well-curated incentive program built to a crescendo.