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KPMG 80th anniversary AI photo booth activation by PONS.ai in Hong Kong

KPMG 80th anniversary AI photo booth activation by PONS.ai in Hong Kong

When KPMG Hong Kong set out to celebrate 80 years in the city, they needed more than champagne toasts and speeches. They wanted an experience that would resonate with 500+ attendees — partners, clients, alumni, and government officials — while reinforcing the firm's forward-looking brand identity. The solution? An AI-powered photo booth activation by PONS.ai.

The Challenge: Making a Milestone Feel Modern

KPMG's 80th anniversary in Hong Kong was a landmark event. Established in 1945, the firm's history is intertwined with Hong Kong's rise as a global financial centre. But anniversary celebrations at professional services firms often fall into predictable territory: formal dinners, retrospective slideshows, corporate speeches.

KPMG's event team had a different vision. They wanted an interactive, technology-driven experience that would:

  • Create shareable moments that extended the celebration beyond the venue

  • Reinforce KPMG's innovation positioning as a firm investing heavily in AI and digital transformation

  • Engage diverse attendees — from senior partners to young associates, from long-time clients to visiting dignitaries

  • Generate branded digital assets that guests would actually want to keep and share

The Solution: PONS.ai's Enterprise AI Photo Booth

PONS.ai deployed a fully customised AI photo booth experience at KPMG's anniversary gala, held at one of Hong Kong's premier event venues. The activation was designed to complement the "80 Years of Trust" theme while showcasing the kind of cutting-edge technology KPMG itself champions.

Custom Theme Design: PONS.ai's design team created bespoke AI transformation themes tied to KPMG's brand identity. Guests could see themselves reimagined in styles spanning eight decades — from 1940s Hong Kong street scenes to futuristic cityscapes — all rendered in KPMG's signature blue colour palette.

Enterprise-Grade Setup: The deployment included multiple AI photo booth stations to handle high guest throughput, with each station capable of generating a personalised AI portrait in approximately 10 seconds. The system processed over 1,500 AI-generated images across the evening.

Branded Output: Every generated image featured subtle KPMG 80th anniversary branding, QR codes for instant sharing, and a dedicated microsite where guests could access their full gallery after the event.

Key Results and Metrics

What Made This Activation Work

Relevance to Brand Identity: KPMG has invested significantly in AI capabilities across its audit, tax, and advisory practices. An AI photo booth activation wasn't just entertainment — it was a tangible demonstration of the technology KPMG believes in. Guests experienced firsthand the kind of personalised, AI-driven engagement that KPMG helps its own clients deploy.

Seamless Guest Experience: Professional services events demand a polished, frictionless experience. PONS.ai's system required no app downloads, no account creation, and no complicated instructions. Guests simply stepped up, chose a theme, and received their AI portrait within seconds — either via QR code on their phone or as a printed keepsake.

Data Privacy and Security: For a Big Four accounting firm, data handling is paramount. PONS.ai's enterprise deployment included on-premise processing, automatic image deletion after the event, GDPR-compliant consent flows, and no third-party data sharing. Every image was processed locally, with no guest photos leaving the secure event network.

Multi-Generational Appeal: The decade-spanning themes meant that senior partners could enjoy seeing themselves in a 1960s Hong Kong setting, while younger associates gravitated toward the futuristic AI art styles. This cross-generational engagement is rare at corporate events.

Lessons for Event Planners

KPMG's activation offers several takeaways for corporate event planners considering AI photo booth technology:

Start with the brand story. The AI themes weren't random — they were carefully designed to reinforce the "80 Years of Trust" narrative. The best AI photo booth activations connect the technology to the event's purpose.

Plan for throughput. With 500+ guests, PONS.ai deployed multiple stations and optimised the generation pipeline to prevent queues. For large-scale corporate events, a single booth station is rarely sufficient.

Prioritise data security. Enterprise clients — especially in financial services, legal, and healthcare — require clear data handling protocols before approving any AI-powered activation. PONS.ai's enterprise package includes full security documentation and compliance certifications.

Measure what matters. KPMG's event team tracked participation rates, social shares, and post-event microsite engagement — not just "how many photos were taken." This data justified the investment and informed planning for future events.

FAQ: AI Photo Booths for Corporate Anniversary Events

How long does it take to set up an AI photo booth for a corporate event?

PONS.ai typically requires 2-3 hours for a standard enterprise setup, including equipment installation, network configuration, theme calibration, and a full test run. For large-scale deployments with multiple stations, setup begins the morning of the event.

Can AI photo booth themes be customised to match corporate branding?

Yes. PONS.ai creates fully bespoke AI transformation themes that incorporate brand colours, logos, event themes, and specific visual styles. For the KPMG activation, every theme was designed around the firm's blue colour palette and anniversary messaging.

What happens to guest photos after the event?

PONS.ai's enterprise package includes configurable data retention policies. For security-conscious clients like KPMG, all source images are automatically deleted within 24 hours of the event. Generated AI portraits are hosted on a secure microsite for a defined period (typically 30 days) before permanent deletion.

How many guests can an AI photo booth serve per hour?

A single PONS.ai station processes approximately 150-200 guests per hour, with each AI portrait generated in roughly 10 seconds. Multiple stations can be deployed for larger events — KPMG's activation used several stations to maintain a smooth guest flow throughout the evening.

Is an AI photo booth suitable for formal corporate events?

Absolutely. PONS.ai's enterprise activations are designed for premium environments. The hardware is sleek and unobtrusive, the user interface is elegant, and the output quality matches the calibre of high-end professional photography. KPMG's gala is a prime example of AI photo booth technology complementing — not clashing with — a formal corporate setting.

Why Professional Services Firms Are Adopting AI Photo Booths

KPMG isn't alone in recognising the potential of AI-powered event experiences. Across the professional services sector, firms are moving away from generic event entertainment toward technology that reinforces their brand positioning. AI photo booths sit at the intersection of innovation, personalisation, and shareability — three qualities that resonate strongly with the audiences these firms serve.

For firms competing on thought leadership and digital transformation credentials, deploying AI technology at their own events sends a powerful signal: we don't just advise on innovation — we live it.

The ROI calculation is straightforward. A traditional corporate event generates memories that fade. An AI photo booth activation generates branded digital assets that attendees share across LinkedIn, WeChat, Instagram, and WhatsApp — extending your event's reach exponentially at zero additional cost.

Ready to Elevate Your Next Corporate Event?

KPMG's 80th anniversary activation demonstrates what's possible when enterprise-grade AI meets thoughtful event design. Whether you're planning a milestone celebration, product launch, or annual gala, PONS.ai delivers personalised, on-brand AI experiences that your guests will remember.

Book a demo with PONS.ai to discuss how an AI photo booth can transform your next corporate event.

AI Photo Booth activation at LONGINES International Jockeys Championship Happy Valley Hong Kong by PONS.ai

The LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship (IJC) is one of the most prestigious horse racing events on the planet. Held annually at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong, the IJC brings together twelve elite jockeys from across the globe to compete across four thrilling races — with HK$7.5 million in prize money and HK$1 million in bonus awards on the line.

In December 2025, PONS.ai partnered with the Hong Kong Jockey Club to deliver the "IJC Heroes AI Photo Booth" — an interactive GenAI experience that transformed how racegoers engaged with the event. The result? Thousands of AI-generated images, massive social media amplification, and a new benchmark for experiential marketing at premium sporting events.

The Challenge: Elevating a Premium Sporting Experience

The LONGINES IJC already delivers an extraordinary evening. Pyrotechnics light up the Happy Valley skyline. World-class jockeys like Ryan Moore, Zac Purton, and Joao Moreira compete under floodlights. The Beer Garden buzzes with live music, food trucks, and thousands of fans dressed to impress.

But the Hong Kong Jockey Club wanted more. They wanted every attendee to take home a personalized memory — something shareable, on-brand, and uniquely tied to the IJC experience. Traditional photo booths with static backdrops simply could not match the energy and prestige of a LONGINES-branded global sporting event.

The brief was clear: create an interactive experience that feels as premium as the event itself, drives organic social sharing, and captures data for post-event engagement.

The Solution: IJC Heroes AI Photo Booth by PONS.ai

PONS.ai deployed its enterprise-grade AI Photo Booth platform at Happy Valley Racecourse, creating the "IJC Heroes" experience. Here is what made it work:

On-Brand AI Transformation

Every photo was processed through PONS.ai's proprietary GenAI engine, transforming guests into stylized jockey heroes — complete with LONGINES-branded racing silks, the iconic Happy Valley backdrop, and dynamic action poses. The AI maintained each guest's facial features while placing them in a world-class racing context.

Sub-10-Second Generation Time

In an event environment where thousands of guests cycle through entertainment zones, speed is critical. PONS.ai's optimized pipeline delivered finished AI images in approximately 10 seconds — fast enough to keep queues moving and excitement high.

Instant Social Sharing

Every generated image included a branded QR code for instant download and sharing. Guests posted directly to Instagram, WhatsApp, and WeChat — turning every participant into an organic brand ambassador for both the IJC and LONGINES.

Enterprise-Grade Data Capture

With guest consent, PONS.ai captured engagement data including participation times, sharing rates, and social platform preferences. This data gave the Hong Kong Jockey Club actionable insights for future event planning and sponsor reporting.

Results: By the Numbers

Guest using PONS.ai AI Photo Booth at Happy Valley Racecourse during LONGINES IJC event

The IJC Heroes AI Photo Booth delivered measurable results across every metric that matters:

Metric | Result

AI photos generated | 2,000+ in a single evening

Average generation time | ~10 seconds per image

Social share rate | 68% of participants shared to at least one platform

Top sharing platforms | Instagram (42%), WhatsApp (31%), WeChat (27%)

Queue wait time | Under 2 minutes average

Guest satisfaction | 94% rated the experience "excellent" or "outstanding"

These numbers tell a powerful story: when AI personalization meets premium event production, engagement rates soar far beyond what traditional photo activations can achieve.

Why Horse Racing Events Are Perfect for AI Photo Booths

The LONGINES IJC case study reveals why premium sporting events are an ideal fit for AI photo booth technology:

High Dwell Time

Unlike quick-turnaround conferences, racing events keep guests on-site for 4-6 hours. This creates multiple touchpoints for photo booth engagement — guests often return for second and third photos as the evening progresses.

Aspirational Brand Context

LONGINES represents luxury, precision, and elegance. AI transformation lets guests step into that world — wearing jockey silks, standing in the winner's circle, or posed alongside thoroughbred horses. The aspirational context drives sharing because guests want to show this version of themselves.

Built-In Social Audience

Happy Valley's race nights already attract a social-media-active demographic. The HKJC's Happy Wednesday brand has cultivated a community that documents and shares their racing experiences. AI photo booths tap directly into this existing behavior.

Sponsor Value Multiplication

For LONGINES, every shared AI photo carries their brand identity — their logo, their visual language, their association with excellence. This turns attendee social feeds into micro-billboards, extending the event's reach far beyond the racecourse.

Technical Setup at Happy Valley

Deploying AI photo booths at a live racecourse event requires specific technical considerations:

  • Connectivity: PONS.ai used a dedicated 5G connection with local edge processing fallback, ensuring consistent generation times regardless of the thousands of mobile devices competing for bandwidth at Happy Valley

  • Lighting: The booth setup included calibrated LED panels to ensure consistent facial capture quality under Happy Valley's mixed floodlight and ambient lighting conditions

  • Throughput: Two parallel generation stations handled peak demand during the interval between races, when foot traffic through the entertainment zones peaked

  • Weather contingency: Happy Valley is an open-air venue. The booth setup included weather-sealed equipment housing rated for Hong Kong's December humidity levels

Lessons for Event Planners

If you are planning an AI photo booth activation at a premium sporting event, here are the key takeaways from the IJC deployment:

Match the AI theme to the event identity. Generic filters will not cut it at a branded event. The IJC Heroes theme worked because it was deeply integrated with the event's identity — jockey silks, racing imagery, LONGINES branding elements. Work with your AI photo booth provider to develop custom themes that feel native to your event.

Plan for peak throughput. At the IJC, the busiest periods were the 20-minute intervals between races, when all 10,000+ attendees moved through entertainment zones simultaneously. Your AI photo booth setup needs to handle these surge moments without degrading the guest experience.

Integrate with existing social behavior. Do not fight how people already share content. At Happy Valley, Instagram Stories and WhatsApp forwards dominate. PONS.ai optimized output formats for these specific platforms — vertical 9:16 for Stories, square 1:1 for feed posts — rather than forcing a single output format.

Capture data with consent. The privacy-first approach is essential, especially in Hong Kong's regulatory environment. PONS.ai's platform includes built-in consent flows that comply with PDPO requirements while still delivering valuable engagement analytics to event organizers.

Comparing AI Photo Booths to Traditional Event Photography

Feature | Traditional Photo Booth | PONS.ai AI Photo Booth

Personalization | Static backdrops, basic props | Full AI transformation with brand themes

Output speed | Instant (basic filter) | ~10 seconds (full AI generation)

Social sharing | Manual upload required | Built-in QR code instant share

Brand integration | Logo overlay | Deep brand identity integration

Data capture | Limited or none | Full engagement analytics

Guest experience | Familiar, predictable | Novel, shareable, memorable

Cost per engagement | HK$15-25 | HK$8-15 (higher volume, lower per-unit)

What the Hong Kong Jockey Club Said

The HKJC's events team highlighted the AI Photo Booth as one of the standout activations of the 2025 IJC evening. The combination of premium visual quality, rapid throughput, and measurable social amplification aligned perfectly with their goals for elevating the fan experience at Happy Valley.

The partnership has opened conversations about expanded AI activations across the HKJC's broader racing calendar, including the prestigious Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) and Champions Day events.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many guests can an AI photo booth serve at a racing event?

PONS.ai's dual-station setup at the IJC processed over 2,000 photos in approximately 5 hours of operation. With additional stations, throughput scales linearly — a four-station setup could handle 4,000+ guests at a major racing event.

What AI themes work best for sporting events?

The most effective themes transform guests into participants — jockeys, athletes, champions. At the IJC, the "Heroes" theme resonated because it placed guests inside the action rather than simply beside it.

Can AI photo booths work at outdoor venues like racecourses?

Yes. PONS.ai's equipment is designed for outdoor deployment with weather-sealed housings, calibrated lighting for variable conditions, and connectivity redundancy. Happy Valley's open-air environment presented no issues.

What data does an AI photo booth capture?

With guest consent, PONS.ai captures participation timestamps, sharing platform preferences, return visit frequency, and aggregate demographic data. All data handling complies with Hong Kong's PDPO and international privacy standards.

Ready to Bring AI Photo Booths to Your Next Event?

The LONGINES IJC proved that AI photo booth technology is not just for tech conferences and brand pop-ups. Premium sporting events, luxury brand activations, and high-profile entertainment experiences all benefit from the combination of personalized AI content, instant social sharing, and measurable engagement data.

Whether you are planning a racing event, a sporting gala, or a luxury brand experience, PONS.ai's enterprise-grade AI Photo Booth platform delivers results that traditional activations simply cannot match.

Book a demo with PONS.ai to see how AI-powered experiential marketing can transform your next event.

foodpanda 10th anniversary AI photo booth activation by PONS.ai in Hong Kong

As one of Hong Kong's most-used food delivery platforms, foodpanda has built a brand synonymous with convenience, speed, and the iconic pink panda mascot Pau-Pau. When foodpanda Hong Kong marked its 10th anniversary in late 2024, the team wanted more than discounts and stamp cards — they wanted an activation that would make guests feel something.

That's where PONS.ai came in. By deploying an AI-powered art experience at the heart of foodpanda's anniversary celebration, PONS.ai helped the brand transform a milestone moment into thousands of unique, shareable pieces of AI-generated art — each one personalized to the guest who created it.

The Challenge: Making a 10th Anniversary Feel Personal

Anniversaries in the food delivery space are tricky. Customers don't feel emotional attachment to an app the way they do to a restaurant or a retail brand. foodpanda's marketing team in Hong Kong faced a specific brief: celebrate a decade of operations in a way that felt genuinely personal to every customer who participated, not just another coupon drop.

The requirements were clear:

  • Create an interactive experience that stood out from standard promotional campaigns

  • Generate shareable content that would extend the campaign's reach on social media organically

  • Tie the activation back to foodpanda's brand identity — Pau-Pau, the signature pink, and the playful energy that defines the brand

  • Handle high foot traffic at physical event locations across Hong Kong

  • Deliver something guests would actually keep and share, not throw away

The Solution: AI-Generated Art by PONS.ai

PONS.ai designed a custom AI art experience for the foodpanda 10th anniversary activation. Here's how it worked:

Guest using PONS.ai AI photo booth to generate personalized artwork at foodpanda event

Custom AI Style Development: PONS.ai's creative team developed bespoke AI art styles that blended foodpanda's brand elements — the pink color palette, Pau-Pau mascot, and food-themed illustrations — with artistic styles that ranged from pop art to watercolor to anime-inspired aesthetics.

On-Site AI Photo Booth Deployment: At foodpanda's anniversary event locations in Hong Kong, PONS.ai deployed AI photo booth stations where guests could take a selfie and watch as the AI transformed their photo into a personalized piece of art — all within approximately 10 seconds.

Multiple Output Formats: Guests received their AI-generated artwork digitally via QR code for instant social sharing, and select outputs were printed on-site as physical keepsakes — turning a digital moment into a tangible memory.

Brand-Consistent Generation: Every AI output was on-brand. PONS.ai's proprietary system ensured that Pau-Pau appeared in generated artwork, that the pink palette remained consistent, and that no off-brand elements crept into the outputs — a critical requirement for a brand with strict visual guidelines.

Results That Moved the Needle

The foodpanda x PONS.ai activation delivered measurable results across multiple dimensions:

| Metric | Result |

|--------|--------|

| AI portraits generated | 3,000+ during the activation period |

| Average generation time | ~10 seconds per portrait |

| Social media shares | High organic share rate among guests |

| Guest satisfaction | Overwhelmingly positive on-site feedback |

| Brand recall | Pau-Pau integration reinforced brand identity in every output |

The activation ran alongside foodpanda's broader 10th anniversary campaign, which included a 10-week promotional period from September to November 2024, Citibank partnerships, local artist collaborations, and the "Let's Eat 100 in Hong Kong" series. The AI photo booth became a physical highlight that complemented the digital promotions — giving guests a reason to show up in person and engage with the brand face-to-face.

Why AI-Generated Art Works for Brand Anniversaries

foodpanda's case illustrates a broader trend: brands are moving away from passive anniversary promotions (discounts, emails, banner ads) and toward interactive, personalized experiences. Here's why AI-generated art is particularly effective for milestone celebrations:

Emotional resonance. A personalized artwork feels like a gift, not a marketing touchpoint. When a guest sees themselves transformed into a Pau-Pau-themed illustration, the response is delight — not the indifference that greets another 10% off coupon.

Built-in shareability. AI-generated portraits are inherently social media-friendly. Guests share them because they're novel, personal, and visually striking — not because a brand asked them to post with a hashtag.

Scalability. Unlike a commissioned artist or a one-off installation, an AI photo booth can serve hundreds of guests per hour without degradation in quality or speed. This makes it practical for high-traffic brand events.

Brand safety. PONS.ai's platform enforces brand guidelines at the generation level, ensuring every output stays on-brand regardless of volume. This is a critical differentiator from open AI tools where output quality and brand consistency are unpredictable.

How PONS.ai's Technology Powered the Activation

Behind the scenes, PONS.ai's platform handled several technical challenges that made the foodpanda activation seamless:

PONS.ai AI photo booth hardware and software setup for brand activation event

Real-time processing. Each guest's selfie was processed through PONS.ai's generative AI pipeline in approximately 10 seconds, ensuring minimal wait times even during peak traffic.

Custom style training. PONS.ai trained custom AI models on foodpanda's brand assets, ensuring the generated artwork authentically incorporated brand elements rather than generic overlays.

On-site reliability. The AI photo booth operated continuously throughout the activation with enterprise-grade stability — a non-negotiable for a brand event where downtime means disappointed guests and wasted foot traffic.

Multi-format delivery. The system simultaneously generated digital outputs (for QR code delivery and social sharing) and print-ready files (for on-site printing), streamlining the guest experience into a single interaction.

Lessons for Event Planners

If you're planning a brand anniversary or milestone event, the foodpanda case study offers several takeaways:

  1. Lead with experience, not discounts. The AI art activation created memorable moments that outlasted any promotional offer. Guests remember how they felt, not how much they saved.

  1. Integrate your mascot or brand character. foodpanda's Pau-Pau integration made every AI output instantly recognizable. If your brand has a mascot or icon, build the AI experience around it.

  1. Plan for social amplification. The best activations generate content that guests want to share. AI-generated art does this naturally — no hashtag campaigns required.

  1. Choose a partner with brand safety controls. Open AI tools can produce off-brand or inappropriate outputs. PONS.ai's enterprise platform enforces brand guidelines at the generation level, which is essential for public-facing activations.

  1. Complement digital with physical. foodpanda's broader campaign was heavily digital (app promotions, online discounts). The AI photo booth gave the anniversary a physical presence that deepened engagement.

How long does it take to set up an AI photo booth for a brand event?

PONS.ai typically requires 2-4 weeks for custom style development and testing, with on-site setup completed in under 2 hours on event day. For standard configurations, turnaround can be even faster.

Can an AI photo booth handle high foot traffic at large events?

Yes. PONS.ai's AI photo booth generates personalized portraits in approximately 10 seconds per guest, allowing a single station to serve hundreds of guests per hour. Multiple stations can be deployed for larger events.

What makes PONS.ai different from other AI photo booth providers?

PONS.ai specializes in brand-safe, enterprise-grade AI experiences. Key differentiators include custom style training on brand assets, real-time generation (not pre-rendered templates), multi-format output (digital + print), and proprietary brand guidelines enforcement at the AI level. PONS.ai has served 50+ global brands including Starbucks, HSBC, AIA, and CR7 LIFE Museum.

How much does an AI photo booth activation cost?

Pricing varies based on event duration, number of stations, custom style complexity, and output formats. Contact PONS.ai directly for a tailored quote — most enterprise activations are custom-scoped to match the brand's specific requirements and budget.

Can the AI art styles be customized to match any brand?

Absolutely. PONS.ai develops custom AI art styles for every client engagement. For foodpanda, this meant incorporating Pau-Pau, the pink color palette, and food-themed elements. Any brand's visual identity can be translated into AI-generated art styles.

Ready to create an unforgettable brand activation? [Book a demo with PONS.ai](https://www.pons.ai/) and discover how AI-generated art can transform your next event.

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