How We Delivered a 100-Person Digital Treasure Hunt in Hawaii Without Being On-Site

Pluralsight’s incentive group was in Maui at the Andaz Wailea Resort.

Stride were managing the trip and needed a team building activity that could run smoothly within the resort, without relying on AV or a live setup.

We delivered a fully customised Remote Host Digital Treasure Hunt, remotely managed from Ireland, with 100 participants navigating the resort, completing Hawaii-themed challenges, and competing live on their phones.

Event Overview

• Client: Stride (event agency, on behalf of Pluralsight)
• Location: Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, Hawaii
• Attendees: 100 (incentive group with partners)
• Activity: Remote Host Digital Treasure Hunt
• Format: Mobile-based, location-led gameplay
• Customisation: Pluralsight branding and Hawaii-specific content

The Challenge: Running Team Building in Hawaii Without AV or Setup

The brief came with clear constraints.

• No live briefing on the day
• Limited AV setup on-site
• A last-minute and evolving plan
• A premium incentive setting where the activity needed to feel relevant

Stride were managing the wider event, so the activity also needed to fit cleanly into the schedule without adding complexity.

The Approach: Remote Delivery with Pre-Recorded Briefing

To remove on-site friction, everything was handled in advance.

• A full briefing was pre-recorded and shared through the client’s conference app
• Participants could not access the game until the official start time
• No live facilitation or AV setup was required on-site

The event was managed remotely, with full control over gameplay, scoring, and direct communication with the client throughout.

The Experience: A Digital Treasure Hunt Built Around the Resort

The game was designed specifically for the Andaz Maui resort.

• 12 pre-assigned teams, with 7 to 8 participants per team
• Teams moved around the resort to unlock tasks
• Challenges were tied to specific locations across the venue

The content was fully customised and included:

• Hawaii-themed trivia and local knowledge
• Photo challenges using the surroundings
• Short video tasks focused on creativity and team interaction

Participants submitted content directly through the app while tracking progress on a live leaderboard.

The leaderboard updated in real time and was hidden in the final 20 minutes to hold suspense before the results.

All teams finished at a set location on the hotel lawn, where the final task was unlocked.

The Result: 100 Participants, 88 Submissions, Strong Competition

• 100 participants across 12 teams
• 90 minutes of continuous gameplay
• 88 photo and video submissions created during the event

Top team scores:

• 1st place: 894 points
• 2nd place: 832 points
• 3rd place: 792 points

The scoring kept competition tight throughout, with final positions only confirmed at the end.

Despite the constraints, the event ran smoothly with:

• No reliance on AV
• No on-site facilitation
• Full remote delivery from Ireland

Why This Format Works for International Incentive Trips

Running team building abroad comes with the same challenges every time.

• Limited setup time
• Unreliable AV or venue constraints
• Groups that don’t want anything overly structured
• Pressure to deliver something that feels worth it

This format solves for that.

No setup required on-site - Pre-recorded briefings remove the need for staging or coordination on the day.

Built around the location - Tasks are customised to the venue and destination, so the experience feels relevant.

Simple for participants - Everything runs through mobile devices, with clear instructions and live scoring.

Flexible under pressure - Works even with late changes, shifting schedules, or limited infrastructure.

Proven engagement - With 88 photo and video submissions and tight scoring across teams, participation stayed high throughout the 90-minute experience.

Planning an International Event or Team Building Abroad?

If you need a team building activity that works without complex setup, we can deliver it.

Our Remote Host Digital Treasure Hunts are:

• Fully customised to your location
• Easy to run with no on-site production
• Designed to keep participation high from start to finish

If you’re planning an event abroad and want something that runs cleanly, we can help.