Case Study: Expedia Ping Pong Challenge Show

Expedia | Virtual Event | Global Teams

The Brief

Dan Savage, Head of Talent Acquisition at Expedia, discovered Big Smoke Events after attending a team-building webinar where our host Adrian Leigh appeared as a guest speaker.

Looking to bring together globally based colleagues, Dan wanted a fun, active and inclusive virtual experience – something that would energise teams, encourage participation and feel genuinely different from the usual online social events.

The Solution

We delivered our Ping Pong Challenge Show, a high-energy virtual experience designed to get people moving, laughing and competing together from their own homes.

Participants received ping pong kits ahead of the event, allowing everyone to take part fully in a series of fast-paced challenges led by our expert host. The kits are set up on your home tables – the nets just clip on making it inclusive for everyone. The show combined skill-based tasks with playful competitions, making it accessible for all abilities while keeping the energy high throughout. There are 5 rounds of ping pong based challenges, a trivia round, and a live leaderboard throughout the show!

The novelty of the format, combined with live hosting and interactive challenges, ensured everyone felt involved – whether they were seasoned players or complete beginners.

The Result

The event was a huge hit with Dan and his team, delivering an energetic and memorable way to connect colleagues across different locations.

An added bonus was that every participant kept their ping pong kit, allowing the fun to continue long after the event – at home or back in the office – and setting the stage for future Ping Pong Challenge Shows.

A standout example of how an active, well-designed virtual event can bring global teams together in a genuinely engaging way.

About the Author: Francesca Hubbard

Founder, creative force, and the heart behind our people-first culture. Fran built Big Smoke from a weekend hobby into 2,000+ events through warmth, detail, and genuine fun.