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Executive Summary
As part of the Banking CEE Expo 2024 in Budapest, I organized an exclusive gala dinner on the Danube River - an evening designed to deliver a wow experience despite major external challenges.
The event took place during Hungary’s EU Presidency Summit - one of the busiest diplomatic weeks of the year - which caused inflated hotel prices, road closures, and heavy traffic disruptions.
Instead of competing on convenience, I decided to compete on experience, transforming the gala dinner into a moving, luxury event aboard a fully renovated riverboat.
With 100 attendees, live buffet service, and a sailing route passing Budapest’s iconic landmarks, the gala dinner became a highlight of the entire expo, widely praised by sponsors and delegates for its originality and flawless execution.
Key Highlights
- 100 attendees, Including event speakers and sponsors
- Venue: Luxury two-deck riverboat, fully renovated and customized for dining
- Catering: Live buffet station rising from below deck, creating a “wow” reveal moment
- Duration: 2.5 hours of sailing along the Danube, with Budapest skyline views
- Timing: Coincided with Hungary’s EU Presidency week - full city lockdown
- Experience: High satisfaction from sponsors and delegates; described as “unforgettable”
Process
- Venue Scouting & Selection
- Original plan: Host gala dinner at the InterContinental Hotel (expo venue)
- Challenge: Competing with the EU Presidency Summit meant overcrowded hotels and limited availability
- Solution: Shifted focus to experience-driven venues and identified a high-capacity, fully renovated riverboat within walking distance of the InterContinental
- Concept & Experience Design
- Goal: Create a unique, memorable evening that justified the logistical effort
- Developed a sailing dinner concept with panoramic city views and dynamic lighting
- Coordinated a live buffet reveal, where the food display emerged from below deck, creating a theatrical effect