Christmas activity for a branch network: how Milleis got its 40 branches playing

Over 700 employees, a head office in Paris, 40 branches across France, and a question every internal communications team asks in November: how do you run a Christmas activity that truly gets everyone involved, and not just the head office? Polina Lagno, internal communications officer at Milleis Banque Privée, tells the story of the digital Christmas challenge she set up, and why the bank is running it again this year.

The project at a glance

• Company: Milleis Banque Privée
• Employees: over 700, at the Paris head office and in 40 branches across France
• Goal: a year-end highlight that gets every branch to take part
• Format: virtual Christmas escape game, 4 episodes of 10 to 15 minutes, one per week in December
• Mechanic: ranking by department, prizes in the bank's colors
• For internal communications: a ready-to-use communication kit, a dashboard, and a game that runs on its own until December 24

Want to see what the Milleis teams experienced?

Play the first episode (free)

10 to 15 minutes, no commitment

The challenge: a Christmas activity that does not only benefit the head office

In a multi-site company, the end of the year always raises the same problem. The Christmas party or breakfast brings the head office together, and the branches watch the photos go by on the intranet. For an internal communications team, this is the opposite of the goal: the moment meant to unite people widens the gap between those who are there and those who are not.

"Our teams are spread across 40 branches in France. I was looking for a highlight that would get everyone involved, wherever they work, and that would build real excitement around the event." Polina Lagno, internal communications officer, Milleis Banque Privée

Why a digital escape game instead of a party

Bringing 700 people to the same place at the same time in December means a travel budget, a time slot that does not exist and branches that have to close. An online format removes all three obstacles at once: everyone plays from their own desk, whenever they want, without leaving their branch.

They still had to avoid the trap of the Christmas video call, where a handful of people talk while everyone else turns off their camera. The virtual Christmas escape game is played without video calls and without a shared time slot: the team spirit comes from the game itself and from the ranking between teams. For other possible formats, see our ideas for remote Christmas activities.

The setup: one appointment per week until December 24

One episode per week, opened at the same time for everyone

The game is split into 4 episodes of 10 to 15 minutes. Every Monday in December, a new episode opens at the same time for the whole company. A missed episode stays open until the end: nobody is left behind.

"One episode per week keeps the whole month of December lively instead of just one evening. And it builds suspense: from one week to the next, colleagues were waiting for what came next." Polina Lagno

A ranking by department to build friendly competition

Everyone plays on their own computer, but each player's time counts toward their team's average. The ranking follows the company's organization: departments, branches, regions or countries. It is what turns a few minutes of play into a talking point for the whole month. To go further on this mechanic, read our guide to organizing a Christmas challenge between departments.

Prizes in the bank's colors

Milleis had planned prizes with its branding for the best teams: Christmas baubles, snow globes and mugs.

"Since we had prizes to give away, we needed a real challenge. The ranking took care of it, and I did not have to organize any prize draw." Polina Lagno

What it took from internal communications

In December, an internal communications team already has season's greetings, the year-end review and the editorial calendar to handle. The Christmas activity must not become one more project.

"I needed something simple that did not require too much preparation upfront, and that would run on its own for the whole duration of the event." Polina Lagno

Before: a ready-to-use communication kit

Announcement email, poster, Teams or Slack messages: the kit provided lets you announce the challenge, then send a reminder with each new episode. All you need to do is share one single link.

During: an online game that runs by itself

Each player receives an email when each episode opens. The hint system lets everyone finish on their own, and the ranking, already formatted, is easy to share on the intranet.

After: a review on the dashboard

Participants, progress, participation by team, ratings and player feedback: all the figures are gathered in the organizer area, ready to be presented to management.

What employees remembered

A successful Christmas activity is also measured by what people say at the coffee machine. Several details stood out for players.

• Immersion: falling snowflakes, Christmas music, a story to follow. You get into the holiday mood right away.
• A game that reflects the company: the logo, the colors and a few references to the bank slipped into the puzzles.
• The easter egg: a hidden nod specific to Milleis, which players enjoyed searching for and talking about.
• Playing alone or in pairs: those who wanted to played as a duo, side by side at one screen or by sharing their screen on Teams.

"I liked that it was customized in our colors, with little references to the company. And the hint system is well designed: everyone can make it to the end." Polina Lagno

The results, and why Milleis is doing it again

The challenge created real friendly competition between branches, and employees praised the activity. For internal communications, the bet paid off: a year-end highlight shared by the head office and the network, with no extra workload during the busiest month of the year.

"Great momentum, and very happy participants. That is why we are doing it again this year." Polina Lagno

Your turn: play the episode the Milleis branches discovered

Play the first episode (free)

10 to 15 minutes, no commitment

5 tips for a successful multi-site Christmas activity

• Choose a digital format with no shared time slot. Between branches, remote work and staggered schedules, not everyone will ever be available at the same time.
• Spread the activity over several weeks. A weekly appointment creates a ritual and keeps the event going all through December.
• Have teams compete against each other. A ranking by department or by site gets colleagues talking who never cross paths.
• Plan prizes, even symbolic ones. A mug or a snow globe in the company's colors is enough to give the challenge some stakes.
• Book early. December is prepared in October and November: it is also when providers offer their best terms.

Are your teams spread across several sites? Our dedicated page on corporate Christmas team building presents the game in detail.

Frequently asked questions

Is it played alone or in teams? Do we need to block a time slot?

There is no time slot to block. Everyone plays on their own computer, whenever they like during the week. The team aspect comes from the ranking: each player's time counts toward their team's average. Those who want to can play in pairs.

10 to 15 minutes per week: isn't that a bit light to run a whole month?

That is on purpose. The activity does not rely only on play time: it relies on the appointment every Monday, the ranking people talk about and the wait for the next episode. A short format fits into a coffee break, and that is what lets everyone play.

We have more than 1,000 employees. Is it suitable?

Yes. The ranking follows your organization (departments, sites or countries) and each player gets an automatic reminder when each episode opens. Our biggest Christmas challenge brought together 3,800 players last year.

How much does a virtual Christmas escape game cost for a large company?

The price depends on the number of participants and everything is included: the episodes, the ranking, the communication kit, the reminders and the dashboard. For 501 to 1,000 employees, plan for €4,990 excl. VAT as a pre-sale price, instead of €6,250. Above 1,000, it starts at €3.75 excl. VAT per participant, with a quote within 24 hours.

Do we need to install anything?

No. This virtual game runs from the computer's browser, with nothing to install. All you need to do is share one single link with your employees.

When should we book?

Bookings are open until November 30 to play in December. Until November 7, the pre-sale offers a 20% discount and customization in your colors (logo, mission name, easter egg).

Play the first episode before you decide

10 to 15 minutes, no commitment: play the Toy Workshop and see what your teams will experience in December.

→ Play the first episode (free)

Going further

• Organizing a Christmas challenge between departments: the step-by-step guide
• Year-end team building for multi-site and multi-branch companies
• 10 ideas for remote corporate Christmas activities