How Mystery Games Are Transforming Networking at Hospitality Business Events
Networking is often the most talked-about benefit of business events, and the most quietly dreaded.
Forced conversations. Endless small talk. Trying to remember names, titles, and faces while smiling through exhaustion. For many hospitality professionals, networking feels less like an opportunity and more like a performance.
At BEST STAY, we decided to challenge that model.
In this interview, we speak with the creator of the immersive mystery game designed for Best Stay by Terrible Creations to understand why traditional networking fails, and how structured play can create deeper, more natural business connections.
Many people say they dislike networking at business events. Why do you think that is?
Because it feels forced, you know you have “to be all you can be”, charming and listen, and talk and be friendly and smile, and it is often very energy consuming and overwhelming. If you are not a “born” networker often leaves you feeling drained and confused with who was who, and who said what and more often than not not feeling you achieved very much.
What makes a mystery game suitable for a business event?
Playing a game, a structured game with a clear set of rules, boundaries and goals reframes us, and gives us structure. Structure gives us safety, and when we play, we experience emotion, when we experience emotion we connect with people around us that are also experiencing them.
State of play is a state of comfort and curiosity, collaboration on something simultaneously trivial (a game investigation) and yet intriguing creates a space of comfort and problem solving which creates connections and foundations for lasting relationships.
How does this type of game support introverts or people who feel uncomfortable in large groups?
It is simple and yet complex, but to keep it simple and short. A well designed and run game it is a safe space in which no one is who they truly are in real life, and by leveling the “playing” field by taking everyone out of their comfort zone, it is far less likely to be completely steamrolled by a loud confident extrovert.
What if someone has never played a game like this, or doesn’t know anyone at the event?
Makes no difference, mind you I am talking exclusively about our (Terrible Creations) games, we invest a lot of effort and design time, to make sure that our experiences are truly welcoming and beginner friendly.
No knowing anyone just makes it better and easier to meet all the new people-
From a business perspective, what are the long-term benefits of participating in this kind of experience?
Oh, there are so many it's difficult to start somewhere. From advancing soft skills, relationship building, problem solving skills to simple quality of life by enjoying yourself in a usually business environment…
Some still see games as “fun but not serious.” How do you respond to that?
The whole concept of fun is just for the children is unhealthy, antiquated and not the best concept. From a mental to physical and emotional health perspective, when we alienate ourselves from the “play” mindset we are no longer problem solving or innovating, we are no longer exploring life. I am not saying go around and play games all day long and ignore work, far from it. Go about your life, adult around as much as you need, but leave room in your life for curiosity, exploration and play. Play as much as you can, with your friends, with your children, with your peers.
People who say I am not for playing, or I refuse to play are not growing, they are not growing and advancing, they are stagnating in a comfortable bubble, and as we know every bubble bursts at some point.
At Best Stay, networking is not left to chance. It is designed.
The mystery game isn’t entertainment layered on top of the program. It’s a strategic tool that transforms how people meet, talk, and connect, without pressure, without scripts, without forcing outcomes.
In an industry built on human connection, hospitality leaders deserve networking experiences that reflect how relationships actually form: through shared moments, trust, and curiosity.
That’s why at Best Stay, networking doesn’t start with “What do you do?” It starts with doing something together.
And that’s where real business relationships begin.