Hays Specialist Recruitment, Elite 2024

The brief

Hays Specialist Recruitment tasked us with delivering their annual incentive trip, ‘Elite 2024’, across three consecutive weekends for 50 top performers from across EMEA, Germany and the Nordics. The programme needed to recognise and reward exceptional performance, create networking opportunities, offer a memorable, luxury-led experience – with sustainability woven into every touchpoint. The challenge came in balancing legacy and luxury, delivering the ‘wow factor’ through a responsible and memorable experience for all.

Our approach

We co-designed a unique 4-day itinerary that delivered consistency across three weekends while giving each of the 50 attendees a personalised, premium experience.

Malta was selected for its blend of unspoilt coastal beauty, cultural depth and growing credentials in sustainable tourism. Working closely with Hays, we designed an itinerary that celebrated achievement while sticking closely to their ESG goals.

That meant:

Choosing a five-star hotel with sustainability certifications
Consciously selecting menus with locally sourced ingredients and a healthy balance of plant-based items
Minimising travel impact through prioritizing direct flights from airlines that promote the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and other low-emission local transport
Partnering with local suppliers to showcase the best of Malta’s food and drink

Thanks for making this Elite the best I have ever experienced… I will never forget this trip and the lovely events – whether it was the 25 bottles of wine on the beach, walking barefoot through the city in heavy rain, or the unforgettable boat trip. Just amazing.

Alex Heise

CEO, Germany and CEMEA

The Result.

From start to finish, the experience was designed to leave a legacy – for guests, for communities and for the planet:

Arrival & Welcome
Guests checked into the Westin Dragonara Resort, an eco-certified hotel, perched on a breathtaking rocky peninsula, before enjoying a poolside BBQ. An opportunity for senior leaders to give thanks to the hard work and dedication that won these top performers a place on the trip.

Culture & Connection
The group then explored Malta’s historic Three Cities by electric vehicle, on foot and by boat, enjoying an immersive, low-carbon cultural tour – rewarded with a much-needed treat from the branded ice cream cart at the end! These thoughtful branded touches throughout made the group feel recognised and rewarded. Lunch took place at family-owned winery, Ta’Betta, known for its locally sourced cuisine and scenic views. Later that evening, attendees relaxed over rooftop cocktails and dancing.

Celebration at Sea
Finally, the group set sail on a traditional Turkish Gullet for a day of music, sea swimming and sunshine. That night, we hosted a farewell dinner at a private Maltese farmhouse with Maltese family-style cuisine and a final celebration under the stars. Throughout each event, logistics were seamless – from multi-language registration to on-the-ground support. All attendees had to do was relax and live in the moment.

The event delivered across all metrics – proof that luxury can (and should) come with a conscience.

What we achieved: