GoGather worked with one of the global leaders in high-performance roofing and building maintenance solutions to produce their 2025 Sales Kickoff in Puerto Rico.
The event brought together over 300 sales representatives from across North America and Europe, along with senior leadership, for a week of connection and celebration.
Purpose of the event.
This event is a long-standing tradition, running strong for over 50 years, serving as both a sales kickoff and a powerful incentive and team-building experience.
The main goals of this event were to:
- Help sales reps build connections
- Reinforce the company’s work-hard-play-hard culture
- Set the tone for the year ahead
And after a few years of virtual versions and scaled-down in-person gatherings, the team wanted to bring it back with energy and impact.
Challenge #1: Bringing back a legacy event post-pandemic.
After shifting to virtual programming during COVID, the company realized that its event had lost some of its momentum and significance. With new leadership on board and an improved focus on employee culture, they decided to bring in outside event management support for the first time in the kickoff’s history.
This was a big shift for the team, and with a program that’s so deeply rooted in their company’s identity, finding the right partner felt like a high-stakes move.
Solution #1: Building trust through strategic event management.
GoGather focused on building a relationship first.
We took time to align with their internal team, understand the legacy of the program, and show up as a true extension of their brand.
Our event management and logistics team took the lead on planning and execution, ensuring every detail, from attendee arrival to departure, was in sync with their expectations.
With GoGather managing the event strategy, venue logistics, and contract negotiations, their internal team could focus on content and community-building.
Challenge #2: Planning without a clear budget history.
Despite the event’s long history, the company didn’t have a consistent or well-documented budget from previous years. With leadership needing approval on spend, they were missing the clarity they needed to make confident decisions early in the planning process.
Solution #2: Budgeting & reporting for confident decision-making.
GoGather provided budgeting and reporting support, building out a clear forecasting model that outlined different cost scenarios based on their goals. We gave them options that made decision-making easier and more transparent.
Our team also managed all vendor contracts, tracked expenses in real-time, and ensured leadership had the visibility they needed.
Not only did the 2025 event stay on target (with no surprises), but we also set them up with clean data and tracking for future events.
Challenge #3: Location fatigue and limited availability.
Traditionally, this event rotated between Cabo and Cancun.
However, with pandemic-related scheduling gaps, those go-to properties were already booked or starting to feel too familiar to attendees. The team needed a fresh location that still delivered the right mix of value, energy, and sunshine.
Solution #3: Hoteling and site selection with a fresh perspective.
Using our hoteling and site selection services, we opened the door to new destination ideas and negotiated with venues to find the right fit.
Puerto Rico stood out immediately.
It offered ease of travel, no passport requirements for U.S. attendees, and a tropical backdrop that added excitement without adding cost.
Our contract negotiation and venue management support ensured our client got favorable terms and access to the best spaces for both general sessions and activities.
Challenge #4: Balancing business goals with incentive energy.
This event had to serve two crucial purposes: rally the sales team around business goals and reward them for a year of hard work.
Finding the right mix of structured meetings and memorable moments was key.
Solution #4: Agenda design that blends strategy and celebration.
Our project management team put together a well-rounded program that mixed high-energy general sessions with memorable social moments for attendees.
Our event management experts handled all the logistics, including F&B planning, entertainment coordination, and transportation logistics, so every element, from welcome receptions to closing dinners, felt intentional.
We brought in our technical and A/V affiliate partners to ensure that all presentations and live content ran seamlessly.
Post-event outcomes.
Our client’s 2025 sales kickoff brought fresh energy to one of the company’s most meaningful traditions, reminding everyone why it matters.
✅ Leadership gained the insights they needed to plan smarter and raise the bar for future events.
✅ The internal team could focus on big-picture strategy and attendee experience, instead of chasing down spreadsheets and handling every detail.
✅ Attendees reconnected, strengthened relationships, and left feeling motivated and ready for the year ahead.
This event helped recharge the company’s culture. It was proof that when you bring people together in the right setting, great things happen.
Ready to plan your next sales kickoff event?
If you’re gearing up for your next sales kickoff, we’d love to help. At GoGather, our event managers and project teams work closely with you to create a program that fits your goals, gives you full visibility, and takes the pressure off your internal team. Let’s talk about how we can bring your next event to life, without all the stress.
