2023 Wrapped: DCi’s Top Event Highlights From This Year
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he ultimate goal of any event is to turn passive attendees into active, engaged participants — fully immersing your guests in an experience from the high-energy entrance to the grand exit. One way to achieve that goal is through gamification: the practice of weaving game design elements into non-game contexts, like a corporate off-site.
“By introducing challenges, goals, rewards, and moments of friendly competition, guests are encouraged to explore the event more fully, interact with one another, and stay energized throughout the experience,” DCi experts explain. Here, our top-notch event production team shares a handful of recommended gamification strategies to keep guests engaged at your next event.
1. Foster Friendly Competition
Now that you’re in an exciting new destination with the office in the rearview, take this opportunity to encourage a little (friendly!) competition between employees. For a past Americana-themed program, DCi brought the crowd onto two pickleball courts in the middle of San Diego’s Petco Park, giving guests of all skill levels the chance to pick up a paddle. Another stadium event with a healthy dose of competition? A standout game-day experience at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, where we channeled electric energy with penalty kicks, racing simulators, and other sports-inspired activities.
2. Test Guests’ Knowledge
Trivia is one of our go-to team-building activities. For corporate events, it’s worth considering ways to tie your questions to the event’s overall purpose, such as trivia focused on company culture or fun facts about the new destination you’re all exploring together. “Interactive trivia is most effective when strategically woven into sessions, receptions, or transitions rather than standing alone,” DCi experts explain. Be sure to give your guests a heads-up on any themes so they can do a little studying in advance!
3. Get the Group Moving
Looking to get your guests up and on their feet? Scavenger hunts will have your group moving, chatting, and working together, whether the activity is powered by a mobile platform or built into the physical environment. Another way to encourage exploration: a fair or festival-inspired activation, like a past DCi State Fair-themed experience in Texas. As guests weaved their way through the sprawling area, they were never far away from grandiose props, a bespoke saloon, or a booth inviting them to step right up for a classic carnival game or two.
4. Find Opportunities for Networking
Games give everyone in your group a chance to get to know one another and form connections outside of the traditional office environment. To help break the ice, consider hosting a problem-solving game or a timed mission for your group (think: an escape room or code-cracking puzzle). By focusing on shared success rather than individual competition, you’ll help people bond as they work toward a common goal.
5. Stick to a Theme
The best games at corporate events feel both on-brand and on-theme. For example, at a previous 90s-inspired event, DCi transported the group back to the iconic decade with nostalgic arcade games like Pac-Man and Atari’s Pong. Plus, when orchestrating a Las Vegas casino experience, our team crafted more than a dozen custom games — from spin-the-wheel to code-breaking missions — designed to let attendees test their luck and earn exciting prizes.
6. Provide Strong Incentives
Speaking of exciting prizes, motivate your group to give these games their all with thoughtful rewards — perhaps in the form of a custom gifting suite. Over the years, DCi has helped companies show appreciation for their teams by curating themed gifting pop-ups with unique goodies, branded swag, or destination-themed gifts. Whichever incentives you offer, DCi experts caution against planning winner-take-all competitions. Consider ways to include the whole group instead, such as offering tiered rewards to all participating teams.
7. Keep the Rules Simple
While we’re always on board for a challenge, a word of advice from our event-planning experts: Keep your games of choice simple, accessible, and low-pressure for the best chance of engaging and delighting your guests. “Overly complex rules or heavy games can slow down momentum and create frustration if guests don’t immediately understand how to participate,” the DCi team explains. “If the instructions require too much explanation, the moment is usually lost.”
Ultimately, the most successful event gamification doesn’t feel like a game at all — but rather, a seamless extension of the experience.
Need a hand weaving game elements into your next event? Our team of destination management experts is here to help. Reach out today to share your event vision.
