Executing a Flawless President’s Club Event in Just 8 Weeks

Learn how Marco helped Gem plan and execute a high-stakes President’s Club event in under two months—providing essential support to an overwhelmed executive business partner.

Picture this: crystal-clear waters, private luxury experiences, and a hand-picked itinerary designed to reward top performers in style. Gem’s President’s Club retreat in Cabo wasn’t just another corporate offsite—it was an unforgettable, high-end celebration of success. 

Gem turned to Marco to make this event seamless, stress-free, and truly special for their top sales associates and their guests. The result? A world-class experience that left attendees feeling valued, connected and inspired.

Offsite Details: 

• 30 top-performing employees in attendance

• 5 vendors managed simultaneously

• 8-week turnaround from payment to retreat

About Gem

Founded in 2017, Gem is the modern, data-driven platform for enterprise-grade talent engagement and recruiting, helping companies attract, nurture, and hire top talent with greater efficiency. By integrating seamlessly with applicant tracking systems, Gem provides advanced analytics and automation to optimize hiring strategies while ensuring cost-effectiveness.

Beyond recruitment, Gem prioritizes employee recognition and retention through high-impact experiences. One of its flagship initiatives is President’s Club—an exclusive, all-expenses-paid incentive trip designed to celebrate and reward top-performing employees. However, planning such an international retreat on a tight timeline presented significant logistical and operational hurdles. To guarantee a flawless execution and an unforgettable experience for attendees, Gem turned to Marco.

The Gem team regularly hosts in-person events to celebrate big business wins. They brought in Marco to lighten the workload for events and create unforgettable experiences for their people. 

“I originally took Marco’s call thinking, ‘Why not?’ Then, during the conversation, I realized this was going to help me so much. Marco is a breath of fresh air, and I felt so much better while planning this event.” - Lindsey Ackerman, Senior Executive Business Partner to the CEO at Gem

The Challenge: Planning an International President’s Club Event—Solo

President’s Club events are high-impact experiences designed to recognize and celebrate a company’s top performers. For Gem, this meant curating an unforgettable retreat in Cabo, Mexico—without a dedicated events team to manage logistics.

Lindsey Ackerman, Senior Executive Business Partner to the CEO, was responsible for organizing the entire event herself. With just eight weeks to plan and a remote workforce spread across New York and San Francisco, she faced three major hurdles:

• Venue Selection – How could she secure the perfect luxury location without an in-person visit?

• Event Scheduling – Could she craft a high-end itinerary that balanced relaxation, team-building, and celebrations?

• Limited Bandwidth – Would she be able to juggle event planning with her other responsibilities?

The Solution: Marco’s Strategic Event Planning & Proactive Communication

"At first, I was only going to call in Marco for a few details. But I wound up using them for everything for this offsite. The Marco team definitely saved me" -  Lindsey Ackerman, Senior Executive Business Partner to the CEO at Gem

With a tight timeline and high expectations, Lindsey needed a partner who could anticipate challenges and execute seamlessly. Marco stepped in to handle every detail, ensuring a stress-free, high-caliber President’s Club experience. Their comprehensive support included:

• Venue & Vendor Coordination – Marco secured luxury accommodations and curated premium experiences to match the prestige of a President’s Club event. Given the importance of making the team feel special, they selected Nobu Los Cabos for its exclusivity and high-end offerings.

• Seamless Logistics – The team managed everything from private transportation to VIP dining and entertainment, creating a smooth and celebratory retreat.

• Personalized Itinerary Planning – Marco crafted a customized schedule balancing relaxation, team bonding, and recognition events, ensuring a world-class experience.

  • Private Catamaran Excursion – Employees and their +1s sailed to an island with an open bar and catered lunch. Once there, they enjoyed access to water sports equipment and snorkeling.

  • Private Beach Party – The group gathered for a sunset bonfire on the beach, accompanied by live music, creating a magical and intimate atmosphere.

  • Exclusive Poolside BBQ – The team enjoyed private access to Nobu’s swim-up bar for a relaxed, high-end pool day.

  • Luxury Spa & Dining Experiences – Guests indulged in massages and gourmet dinners at top-tier restaurants.

“As soon as an event detail was confirmed or changes had to be made, I got a text and an email from the Marco team. There was a ton of transparent communication, and that made me feel so good about the event.” - Lindsey Ackerman, Senior Executive Business Partner to the CEO at Gem

The Results: A World-Class President’s Club Event Without the Stress

"The Gem team loves to be together - everyone always says their favorite part of the year is our in-person company event. Now, Gem and Marco have built a ton of trust and great partnership. I truly trust them to know what I'm looking for. There's no point in me going elsewhere when my trust is with Marco now."-  Lindsey Ackerman, Senior Executive Business Partner to the CEO at Gem

By partnering with Marco, Lindsey successfully executed an unforgettable President’s Club retreat—on time and under budget.

Rather than getting bogged down in logistics, she could focus on what mattered most: celebrating Gem’s top performers and fostering team connection. The impact was undeniable:

• 30 high-achieving employees celebrated

• 5 vendors seamlessly managed

• 8-week execution with zero last-minute scrambles

Gem’s President’s Club event reinforced company culture, strengthened team bonds, and ensured that their top talent felt valued. Looking ahead, Lindsey plans to continue working with Marco for future retreats, confident in their ability to deliver stress-free, high-caliber events.