On 24 June 2022, we at Italian Special Occasions DMC & Events had the honour to organise the staff anniversary celebration for the European Space Agency (ESA).

Due to the uncertainty of Covid-19, the company gala dinner in Rome, Italy, was confirmed only two months before the date. For our team, it was an intense but genuinely energising and inspiring experience! And we couldn’t be prouder of the extraordinary evening we planned and the testimonials left by our prestigious Client!

Today we are happy to retrace this corporate event in Rome, from the concept behind the gala dinner to the choice of a beautiful venue for the staff anniversary, from the striking corporate entertainment to the thoughtful gift awarded to the employees.

Purpose and theme of the company gala dinner in Rome

staff anniversary celebration in Rome italy

After four years apart, ESA wanted to celebrate and reward its staff with a special meeting. The agency, which was established in 1975 to explore and use space for the benefit of humankind, invited active employees with 20, 30 and 40 years of service.

About 500 delegates from all over the world gathered in Rome, Italy, where the 2022 ESA Staff Anniversary theme was “Ode to the stars”. A beautiful and appropriate name for the stars light the way for the scientists and astronauts at ESA, allowing them to find answers to the many questions about the universe. But the evening was not only an ode to the stars in the sky but also to the people who make ESA unique – they were also the stars of the company gala dinner!

The perfect venue for the staff anniversary

company gala dinner in Rome italy

The Italian Special Occasions DMC (ISO DMC) team organised this corporate anniversary in Villa Aurelia, a fabulous event venue in Rome.

Like our philosophy of only accepting and working on a few bespoke events throughout the year, Villa Aurelia is rented out on an exclusive basis. On the evening of 24 June 2022, we transformed it into a dreamy and magical venue suspended between the sky, ancient Roman vibes and a contemporary atmosphere.

We set up different outdoor spaces for the event, including the Lemon Garden as a cocktail and lounge area and the Secret Garden for dinner.

authentic event dinner and award ceremony in rome italy

The moon and the stars were the protagonists of all the spaces. We placed a giant moon 3 meters in diameter as the enlightening and inspiring background. At the same time, the trees were illuminated with a starry effect, and torches lit the entrance for a magical impact. A beautiful design set with chairs and sofas by Fontana D’Arte added a touch of modernity, while the elegant architecture of Villa Aurelia provided the ancient flavour of Rome.

An unforgettable dinner and award ceremony

corporate award ceremony in rome italy

Organic wine and local food from the Lazio region – where Rome is located – were the top choices for a sustainable approach to catering.

The staff anniversary evening started with a lively cocktail and group pictures with the Director General of the European Space Agency, Josef Aschbacher.

The magical gala dinner was next, enriched by live music and spectacular acrobatic shows revolving around the moon and fire.

corporate entertainment gala dinner italy rome

The cherry on the cake of what was already an unforgettable night was the exclusive gift made by ESA for its staff: a specially created perfume named “Ode to the stars”, awarded to every participant at the end of the event.

This was a touching and satisfying moment even for us at ISO DMC: our team had the pleasure of handing out the gifts, and every ESA employee thanked and congratulated us on the organisation!

European Space Agency Staff anniversary event in rome italy

The ISO DMC staff was there from A to Z to ensure that everything ran smoothly before, during and after the event. It was a magical corporate experience, where people were happy to meet in person again. The vital element of human contact was highlighted even more by the outstanding show, music and catering during the dinner.

Some testimonials by the European Space Agency Staff

I hope you are doing well and that you managed to recover from the intense and hot Friday event! I want to thank you for all the efforts you have put into the event, and I am now glad this is a job done and that guests were happy.
Zineb

Good morning everyone! I would like to thank you all for your contribution yesterday to making it an unforgettable event for our colleagues. I heard a lot of very positive comments, and everyone had a good time. And a big thank you to Laura and her team!
Lucy

They did an excellent job and were always there the minute we called for anything! It was a pleasure working with Laura, Daniela and the rest of the team! Un grazie enorme a tutte per la grande professionalità!
Susan


We couldn’t be prouder of our work, and it was a great pleasure and honour to work side-by-side with the ESA Team to make their staff anniversary celebration unique and unforgettable!

To the European Space Agency: thank you once again for choosing Italian Special Occasions DMC & Events!


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