Event Pfizer Plan of Action (POA) and Our Path Forward events
Venue JiuHua Spa and Resort Beijing
Company Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
Agency Off-Site Connections China (OSCC)
Group size 3,000
Date April 28
The brief
Pfizer China hosts two large-scale internal events per year to highlight staff achievements and celebrate success. The company organised its four-day conference internally, but it wanted Off-Site Connections China to plan a full-day awards ceremony and celebration on the last day called ‘Our Path Forward’.
Challenges
Off-Site Connections China was responsible for the production, entertainment, stage build and multimedia presentation on the day. However, managing 3,000 people at one time was the major challenge.
“We had to seat the delegates in the venue for the daytime business session,” says Anna Patterson, OSCC’s general manager of events for Greater China. “In the evening, these same delegates became 3,000 excited fans who were waiting for the creative staff performances and a concert-style event from Xui Wei and Wang Fang – two of China’s leading pop stars.”
Pfizer had a 12-person organising committee and OSCC had its own on-site team of 20 staff handling logistics, show production, entertainment and food and beverage. “Working in a large venue with many different elements and activities taking place simultaneously can be tricky, but we did it successfully by having allocated tasks and teams on-site,” says Patterson.
Execution
There was a pre-production timeline of six weeks prior to the show. The day began at 8.30am with delegates entering the themed ballroom and witnessing the opening act – the Laser Goddess stage show.
“We had colour-coded areas so people knew where to sit,” says Patterson. “It was an eye opener to have such a high-tech show early in the morning. The Pfizer group really got into it. The laser show then revealed the ‘Our Path Forward’ tagline and logo, while Pfizer’s VIPs came out on stage. This signalled the start of the event.”
The awards ceremony was held in the afternoon. Awards were given to 1,800 staff, with the 160 major winners individually featured in a hi-tech photo mosaic that merged their images with the company logo as they came on stage. This reinforced the theme of everyone being united as one company and one team. After the dinner, the group returned for the pop concert.
Comment
“Off-Site Connections China took our event to a new level of international production. It was a pleasure working with their team and we look forward to our next POA event,” says Jessica Jin from Pfizer’s sales team.
Hong Yi from Pfizer says: “From the beginning of the day with the Laser Goddess kickstarting the show, to the guest speakers and awards ceremony, all delegates enjoyed the day and said the production was of international standard and the best event to date.
“The effort behind the scenes of all crew as well as constant communication with the Pfizer taskforce was instrumental to a smooth show and a highly successful and memorable event for all employees and VIPs.”