28th March to 30th March, 2025 

Client: NICO Group

Assignment: Event Coordination, Event Management

Solution: From March 28 to 30, 2025, NICO Group hosted a high-impact Directors’ Retreat at Sunbird Livingstonia and Waterfront Hotels in Salima. The retreat was designed to foster leadership excellence, strengthen collaboration, and celebrate the achievements of the Group’s top leadership. Mirage PR successfully managed and executed the event, working closely with NICO from planning through to delivery and post-event wrap-up.

The retreat began on Friday with Directors arriving throughout the day and being warmly welcomed at two reception points. A creative welcome activity involving a colour-by-number elephant painting was used to spark interaction, with numbers drawn also intended for team selection. Although the evening’s Braai Masters Competition saw an adjustment due to turnout, the Directors enthusiastically formed their own teams. The beachfront dinner that followed featured live music, fun games, and an engaging cooking competition led by CEOs as team head chefs. Teams competed using shared ingredients and braai stations, and winners received Malawi watches while the judges received appreciation gifts.

Saturday began with a morning aerobics session attended by 25 participants, despite minor delays due to music equipment. A timely and well-attended leadership conference followed, where the Group Managing Director and Board Chairman delivered key messages on leadership, commitment, and unity. In the evening, a Sundowner Cocktail eased into the Golden Gates Gala Dinner. Dressed in black tie, the Directors participated in an interactive fish tasting game called “Big Fish, Small Fish,” which emphasized strategic thinking in changing markets. The Gala featured inspiring speeches and entertainment, including a standout performance by Kell Kay, who personalized his songs to reflect NICO’s journey, followed by an open dance floor that extended into the night.

Sunday began with another aerobics session and a group photo, followed by tailored leisure activities. Directors had a choice of a game drive at Mkuyu Game Ranch, horseback riding, mountain biking, a guided self-drive tour at Kuti Game Reserve, or spa treatments at the Waterfront Garden. These included express manicures, pedicures, and massages. All activities concluded by 1:00 PM, after which the Directors enjoyed lunch and checked out. The retreat successfully blended strategic engagement with relaxation, reinforcing the theme of “ONE NICO” and positioning the Group as a unified, high-performing force in Malawi’s financial sector.

Highlights of the campaign

  • A total of about 70 Directors attended the retreat for the entire three days.
  • The Directors fully immersed themselves in all of the activities at the retreat beginning from painting all the way to the Sunday activities, and expressed genuine enjoyment.
  • There was ample brand presence at the event and a considerable number of directors commended the aesthetics, i.e., stage, lighting, etc.
  • The Braai Masters Competition encouraged teamwork while still encouraging the competitive spirit, and the participants continued to discuss and make references to it the whole weekend.