CASE STUDY
Flichella, a boogie wonderland to remember
The client
Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) is one of the largest global travel groups. The company owns multiple leisure and corporate brands across 24 countries and employs over 15,000 people worldwide. The Australian-born company’s purpose is ‘to open up the world for those who want to see’.
The event
Every year, FCTG runs Flichella, an end-of-financial-year conference and celebration that brings all its Aussie employees together. Each year brings a new theme, and in 2024, FCM Meetings & Events went all in with Boogie Wonderland. Transforming the accessible, blank canvas of the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) into a glittery indoor festival. Before the celebration, dedicated brand meetings formed part of the conference, allowing teams an opportunity to connect, share updates and plans, hand out awards, and build excitement — the perfect warm-up for the night ahead.
The details
Goals & Objectives
FCM Meetings & Events kicked off planning 12-months in advance, taking care of every detail, from creative concept to group travel, on-the-ground coordination, and execution. The end-to-end service kept FCTG's goals front and centre:
Organise brand meetings before the festival, which allows teams to connect, plan and receive updates.
Recognise the work of FCTG’s Australian teams and unite everyone.
Keep sustainability in focus by choosing catering and decor that has minimal environmental impact.
Prioritise employee safety and wellbeing with secure travel, chill-out zones, a sensory space, and on-site assistance.
Offer something for everyone by catering to diverse tastes, ages, and preferences.
Serve up seamless and accessible food and drinks, ensuring no one spends time waiting in line.
Our Approach
Theming & Design
FCM Meetings & Events brought Boogie Wonderland to life, leveraging every inch of the venue’s open space, and creating two distinct zones that reflected the festival’s spirit. One hall, boogie, was all about high energy, with a dance floor beneath sparkling disco balls and a stage with three giant screens. The other hall, wonderland, dialled it down with a laid-back adult wonderland feel, with cool blue and purple lighting, aerial displays, and interactive activities inviting employees to unwind and have some light-hearted fun.
The team was tasked with crafting a memorable, festival-style theme, so along came Boogie Wonderland. The theme became such an important part of the event, woven into every aspect, from pre-event comms, collateral, signage, and in-venue branding. It set the tone for an experience employees were talking about long before the event invite had even hit their inboxes.
- Sabrina Gruenbaur, Events Leader
Brand Meetings
The pre-celebration brand meetings were a must-have part of Flichella, blending business with festival to make the day truly impactful while everyone was in town. FCM Meetings & Events supported the conference element by sourcing dedicated areas and organising AV, styling, and catering. Every detail was covered, allowing leaders to focus on celebrating their teams, providing updates, recognising the year that was and planning for the year ahead.
Activities & Experiences
Once the meetings wrapped up, it was time for Flichella to turn it on. Guests were treated to a spread of Aussie, Mexican, Italian, Greek, and Asian food, ice cream carts courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland, plus festival-worthy drinks from bars scattered throughout the venue.
The entertainment kept the boogie zone buzzing, with MC Hans and much-loved Australian performers Baker Boy, Sneaky Sound System, DJ Wildflower, and Bag Raiders hitting the stage. The sponsor-run dance-offs and dress-up competitions were crowd favourites, with employees laughing and cheering each other on.
The wonderland zone was packed with activities, too. The Fiji Airways chill zone offered a quiet space to recharge, while the Humm90 silent disco allowed guests to groove out to tunes of their choice. Other highlights included Sabre's 360 photo booth, the Europ Assistance glitter station, and cash grab activation that raised funds for the Flight Centre Foundation. And let’s not forget the silver arcade. Pinball, ping pong, air hockey, you name it.
The arcade was definitely a standout, providing a nostalgic yet modern touch and connecting people from all walks of the business. We wanted every guest to feel engaged and excited, whether enjoying their music in the silent disco, tearing up the dance floor, or challenging each other in a friendly game. The variety of experiences made sure there was something for everyone, and that's what made Flichella 2024 so special
- Sabrina Gruenbauer, Events Leader
Logistics & Safety
FCM Meetings & Events went above and beyond to ensure the event was safe, and enjoyable experience for everyone.
We had a dedicated first-aid team on-site, roaming Flichella Guardians to assist, and a sensory break-out room for anyone who needed a quiet space.
We also took great care in managing all transport and accommodation. With attendees travelling from all over, we worked closely with hotels, airlines, and transport providers to ensure smooth arrivals, departures, and movement to and from the event. Charter flights or group bookings were arranged for out-of-town teams, while dedicated coaches helped our Gold Coast people travel to and from the event safely.
- Sabrina Gruenbauer, Events Leader
To make the journey part of the experience, staff were stationed at Brisbane Airport to personally welcome guests as they arrived and show them on their way. Key airports were branded with Flichella signage, and over-the-speaker announcements helped guests feel excited and ready to kick off the event with their team.
Challenges
The BCEC is a big venue, and while it offered great flexibility, it made meeting to festival transitions tricky to contain. This was tackled with clear signage, guided paths, and plenty of staff to help move attendees between areas.
With no single hotel big enough to accommodate all guests, the team worked with 23 hotels across Brisbane and set up a buddy system to ensure all travellers had a place to stay.
With so many moving parts, a dedicated event app kept everyone in the loop. Providing itineraries, hotel allocations, and real-time updates via push notifications.
To avoid long food lines, a grab-and-go system with clear dietary labels was set up, ensuring that everyone quickly had easy access to what they needed.
Managing crowd control and safety during high-energy activities was key, so signage, stationed security, roaming custodians, and plenty of hydration stations through the venue were used
Outcomes
All FCTG brands were able to communicate plans and results clearly and effectively with all employees in a successful face-to-face conferencing session.
The theme was a hit, with 99% of attendees dressing up in sequins, feather boas, and boogie outfits.
The arcade stole the show, with everyone from all corners of FCTG getting in on the fun.
Attendees were in awe of the aerial displays and the theming throughout the venue.
77% of respondents rated their Flichella experience as excellent.
Sponsors were thrilled to be part of the event, which featured branding, onstage presence, crowd engagement, and activations throughout the event and pre-event.
It really felt like I was at a full-blown festival. The atmosphere, the vibe, and the entire event were just over-the-top in the best way possible. Every detail was thought out, from the decor to the activities and performances.
I really enjoyed the brand meetings, too. Having an opportunity to meet multiple teammates I had never met before, and all being on the same page with what's to come. You could tell that everyone involved put in so much effort to make it unforgettable and informative. I can't wait for next year
- Flichella 2024 Attendee