Case Study: BASF - NBC 2025
Katie Rose Crosswhite
Director, Creative Services
At Pinnacle Live, we believe every moment of your event is an opportunity to inspire, engage, and educate. Nowhere is this truer than in the breakout sessions—those often-overlooked spaces where real transformation can happen. Our recent partnership with BASF at the Omni Louisville Hotel is a testament to how creative thinking and seamless collaboration can turn breakouts into the highlight of any conference.
Raising the Bar: Breakouts as Immersive Environments
Event planners today face a familiar challenge: deliver fresh, engaging experiences year after year, even as budgets remain tight and expectations rise. The solution? Rethink breakouts as immersive, branded environments that drive learning and connection—without breaking the bank.
For BASF’s annual conference, our Creative Services team joined forces with the in-house crew at Omni Louisville Hotel to design and produce 12 unique breakout experiences. The results were extraordinary: for the first time, breakout room investment outpaced the General Session by a factor of three. Why? Because BASF saw the value in making every room a destination.
From Game Shows to Winner’s Circles: Creative in Action
Each breakout was tailored to the client’s goals, blending fun with learning in ways only possible in these more intimate settings. Here’s a glimpse at what we delivered:
- Immersive LED Walls: Three rooms featured large LED installations. One became a baseball-themed gameshow, complete with a curved scoreboard and custom trivia about BASF’s latest innovations. Another transformed into a mini-Churchill Downs, with life-sized horse statues and a custom “Corntucky Derby” winners’ wreath. A third provided crystal-clear visuals for hands-on Salesforce demos.
- Interactive Board Games: One room featured a 22’ x 22’ life-sized game board, custom property spaces, and a fully virtual banking system. Our team even dressed in costumes to facilitate gameplay, making learning objectives memorable and fun.
- Sports-Themed Engagement: The “Retail Radness” room brought March Madness energy to the conference, with a custom NCAA-inspired bracket and sports desk for presentations—proving that even a simple projector and screen can deliver big impact with the right creative vision. Another room paired trivia and a basketball shoot-out game, inspired by the Louisville Cardinals, to help coach participants on success in Sales.
Seamless Support, Every Step of the Way
We know that flawless execution is just as important as creative ideas. That’s why we equipped every room with a “Tech Help” button, connecting presenters to our floating techs for instant support—no need for a dedicated technician in every space. It’s a simple, cost-effective way to ensure every session runs smoothly, and every facilitator feels supported.
Enhancements at Every Stage
At Pinnacle Live, we go beyond traditional AV and creative services by sourcing and delivering the experiential elements that make events truly memorable. From local vendor partnerships to specialty activations, our team handles every detail in-house—ensuring seamless integration and a unified vision from concept to execution.
Our value doesn’t stop at breakout rooms. We offer enhancements that elevate every stage of your event. Need presentation design, event videography, or branded signage? Looking for thematic stage concepts or interactive activations? Perhaps a custom gameshow or artist-run activity could transform the typical networking event? Just ask—we’re here to help you unlock new possibilities and exceed attendee expectations.
Ready to Transform Your Next Event?
Breakout sessions are more than just side rooms—they’re opportunities to engage, educate, and inspire. With Pinnacle Live as your creative partner, you can turn every space into an experience your attendees will remember.
Let’s make your next event unforgettable—one breakout at a time.
