Case Study: Connecting a global workforce through a multi-city hybrid gala

A leader in cryptocurrency and blockchain services partnered with CTM’s Meetings & Events (CTM M&E) team to bring their annual Gala Dinner to life. With over 2,000 employees worldwide, the customer wanted to celebrate achievements and recognize staff in a way that was engaging, inclusive and memorable.

After hosting a single-location gala in Dubai the previous year, the client sought a format that could connect employees across multiple regions simultaneously, ensuring more people could be part of the celebration while delivering an exceptional global experience.

The brief

Going to market across 16 agencies and event companies to tender for event management services, CTM M&E was selected as the service provider after showcasing how a multi-city hybrid event could bring employees together across borders. The proposed solution delivered a world-class celebration across five cities simultaneously: Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, and Dubai, ensuring every attendee felt part of one global moment.

This meant:

• Coordinating time zones across regions.
• Delivering seamless live streaming.
• Balancing cultural nuances with a unified theme.
• Keeping costs efficient without compromising experience.

The approach

CTM’s M&E team designed a multi-city hybrid gala that blended local experiences with global connection.

Seamless logistics: coordinated across five luxury venues, with synchronised live streaming and multiple test runs to guarantee a flawless experience.

Engaging experiences: attendees joined interactive games via QR codes, enjoyed live performances, and connected across cities in real-time.

Unified creative vision: a bold theme of Bitcoin Memes. Futuristic Anime was expressed through LED lighting, photo booths, costumes and immersive backdrops, ensuring brand consistency across all locations.

Local touches: menus and décor were tailored to regional preferences, adding cultural authenticity while keeping the overall event unified.

Outcomes

The event united 1,700 in-person attendees across five cities and hundreds more virtually, creating a sense of belonging and shared recognition across borders.

Staff feedback was overwhelmingly positive:

• 90% satisfaction rate from post-event surveys.
• Attendees praised the livestream for creating a sense of connection across regions.
• The gala was described as fun, engaging, and inclusive, focusing on staff experience rather than lavish displays.

Why CTM Meetings & Events?

CTM M&E delivers experiences that connect people across borders, cultures, and time zones, creating connected experiences and moments that matter.

The client highlighted CTM’s ability to:

• Provide expert technical support for complex hybrid delivery.
• Deliver innovative solutions that combine creativity, cultural authenticity and efficiency.

Focus on employee engagement, aligning with the founder’s vision for staff-first recognition