Hollywoodbets 2022 Las Vegas & New York Incentive Trip

15 years ago, Hollywoodbets implemented the international incentive trips. A small group of Team Members are chosen to travel overseas and experience a new country. The criteria for this group is based on their dedication to the brand, innovative ideas, living out the Hollywoodbets values, and their amazing work ethic. Hollywoodbets incentive trips are extremely unique, as any Team Member is eligible to be selected, no matter their job title or seniority. Since 2007, over 151 Team Members have travelled to Las Vegas, while an additional 143 have travelled to Dubai, taking the total to 294 Team Members that have been on a Hollywoodbets rewards trip.

Historically, incentive travel is not something that is implemented in many South African businesses, and this is what makes the Hollywoodbets incentive trips so special. Hollywoodbets offers annual rewards trips and other travel opportunities for employees to major destinations, such as Las Vegas, New York, and Dubai. Recently, 20 individuals from the #PurpleTeam embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime incentive trip to New York and Las Vegas, where they had the opportunity to explore the two cities by going sightseeing, as well as attending the annual Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas, where over 24?000 industry professionals and 300 exhibitors were in attendance.

In true Hollywoodbets style, the Team was sent off to the airport from the Hollywoodbets Umhlanga Team Support offices with music, dancing, streamers, and famous landmark impersonators; Elvis, the Statue of Liberty, and Vegas show girls.?

The first leg of their America trip started off in the “City That Never Sleeps” New York, where the Team stayed for the first few days. Sponsorship Coordinator, Roxane van der Byl , shared her excitement about going to New York.

“New York has always been the number one place I wanted to visit, and it didn’t disappoint. It sounds like a cliché, but it’s just like the movies. Exactly like that. The way everything happens, the way everything looks.”

A few of the Team Members had never been overseas before, and Area Manager, Xola Ntshiza , said “Being in America was a massive highlight, New York was amazing, Vegas was amazing, so for me, the entire trip was a highlight and thoroughly appreciated.”?

With so much to see in New York in only a few days, the Team managed to squeeze in as much sightseeing as possible. The Team enjoyed ticking off many bucket list experiences in New York, from seeing the Statue of Liberty, cycling through Central Park, and touring the Empire State Building, to riding the subway and visiting the 9/11 memorial.

Senior Paid Specialist, Genelle Semathree , shared that the Team was staying only a few blocks away from Times Square and so when they met in the morning to start their day of adventuring, they were able to see all the lights, billboards, and street performers.?

Brandon Dhanookdhari CA (SA) , Group Financial Manager, shared his thoughts on their time in New York.

“Overall, it was an awesome experience. Going to America is obviously a different experience for South Africans, seeing the way the country operates, and how fast-paced everything moves. Times Square was obviously a big highlight for everybody, as well as the Liberty Cruise. The 9/11 Memorial is quite a surreal thing to go to and feel that effect. People were mourning there so it was quite an experience.”

The next stop for the Team was Las Vegas! After landing from their flight from New York, the Team was collected by a limo and taken to their hotel to freshen up, before they started their sightseeing journey. The Team spent time exploring the famous Las Vegas Strip, where Hollywoodbets Marketing Coordinator, Michelle Bain , shared that it was like another world.

“Each hotel has its own feature; whether it be a fountain or ‘The Rainforest Café’.”

In true Vegas style, the streets were lined with casinos, hotels, wedding chapels, street performers and impersonators. After exploring the Las Vegas Strip, the Team was incredibly fortunate to attend a Katy Perry concert, as well as watch a Cirque de Soleil show, which according to the Team, were both incredible.?

After a few days of exploring and sightseeing, the Hollywoodbets Team attended the annual Global Gaming Expo (G2E 2022), where they were joined by over 24?000 other industry professionals and 300 exhibitors, from over 105 different countries and regions. Here, the Team was exposed to over 70 educational sessions where top gaming industry professionals, from various business categories in the gaming network, were on show to define the future of gaming and provide actionable insights for today’s trends and challenges.

Mobile Regional Manager, Mosebjadi Pearl , shared her experience at the G2E Expo.

“What stood out for me and got me intrigued was the new holographic concepts. Because, I thought, with mobile growing and us tapping into big mobile events, having a holographic touch would be ideal. It would be a great tool to entice punters to participate in any other promotions we might be running.”?

Not only did the Team get to learn about new and exciting concepts in the gaming and gambling industry, but the they were able to see what level other industry professionals operate on and learn more about their data reconciliation methods and systems. The Team was excited to bring home the wealth of knowledge they gained at the Global Gaming Expo which they can potentially implement at Hollywoodbets, as well as continue to grow the relationships they built through networking at the conference.?

Wrapping up the Team’s two-week American trip, our #PurpleTeam returned refreshed, revitalised, and ready to bring everything they learnt and experienced back to Hollywoodbets. This incredible incentive trip is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that all Team Members that have been on before, will cherish forever.?

“It was awe-inspiring. It opened my eyes to a lot and made me think that nothing is impossible. It just takes a small idea, plant the seed and you don’t know where it’s going to head. It all starts with the smallest idea, and if you just believe in that idea and have the will to see it through, I think that’s where great things happen,” said Roxanne.

Our #PurpleTeam looks forward to the next international incentive trip where 46 Team Members will be travelling to Dubai, where they will get to visit the world's tallest building, Ferrari World, a desert safari, and so much more!