Case study
Stars align together for IM Group in Monaco
A STUDY OF HOW BI WORLDWIDE DELIVERED AN 867-DELEGATE CELEBRATION FOR IM GROUP, WITH EVERY EMPLOYEE INVITED
F ifty years is a milestone that
any business would be proud to reach. For IM Group, it was an opportunity to celebrate this achievement and the individuals, past and present, who shaped the organisation over five decades, and to bring them together for an experience unlike anything the company had attempted before.
Founded in 1976 by entrepreneur Lord Edmiston, IM Group, previously International Motors, has grown from its automotive roots into a diverse family of businesses spanning property, philanthropy and commercial ventures, while keeping close to the values and culture that have defined it from the beginning. The anniversary marked an important moment in the company’ s story and, as managing director Andrew Edmiston leads the next generation of the family business, IM Group wanted to honour its heritage while looking ahead to the next chapter of its journey.
With employees working across multiple businesses and locations, opportunities to come together as one organisation can be rare; the 50th anniversary presented a unique moment to gather the wider IM Group family for a shared event.
IM Group partnered with BI WORLDWIDE to create a celebration that would recognise the contribution of its people, showcase the company’ s journey and create memories that would last long after the event itself had ended. At the heart of the brief was a simple belief: IM Group’ s success had been built by its people, and its future would be shaped by them, too.
As Andrew Edmiston said at the outset:“ We need to remind people that our history is full of overcoming challenges, people working together in teams.”
Simple idea, powerful meaning The event theme,‘ Together | Stars’, carried a deliberate pause between the two words, inviting reflection on both individual contribution and collective achievement.
The theme also reflected the enduring connection between the Subaru brand and the Pleiades constellation.
From first communications through to the final evening in Monaco, the event theme provided a meaningful thread running throughout the entire experience.
Every member of staff received an invitation, regardless of role or seniority, with each guest encouraged to bring a plus one.
“ There ' s not many businesses these days that would invite every single member of staff and a guest to celebrate together,” said Jade Ball, head of events at BI WORLDWIDE.
Monaco – a place‘ like nowhere else’ To mark such a significant occasion, the destination needed to feel extraordinary, and Monaco provided the perfect setting. Over four days, 867 employees and guests travelled from across the UK and overseas to the iconic Fairmont Monte Carlo hotel, positioned between the Mediterranean coastline and the Principality’ s world-famous street circuit.
The timing added an extra layer of excitement. As the Monaco E-Prix brought the city’ s streets to life, delegates enjoyed a front-row seat to the action. Guests were able to watch world-class motorsport unfold against a backdrop of superyachts, sunshine and sweeping sea views. BI WORLDWIDE secured all 500 bedrooms at the hotel, becoming the first agency to deliver a complete bedroom buyout at the Fairmont Monte Carlo. The result was a unique sense of exclusivity.
Looking back and looking forward While the weekend was rooted in celebration, it also served as an important platform for the future of the business.
22 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / ISSUE 145