The worker celebration and sports activities competitors is simply one of many causes the logistics firm ranks No. 1 on the Greatest Workplaces in Latin America record in 2025.
On the second of Might, 2024, 50 Brazilian nationals arrived in Orlando, Florida, for a singular sports activities competitors. Touring with this nationwide group had been a soccer group, a cheerleading group, coaches, a mascot, and group supporters.
The group was simply one in all greater than 25 nationwide groups from the Americas becoming a member of the competitors over a scorching weekend. Not one of the contributors had been skilled athletes, and lots of had been on their first-ever worldwide journey overseas.
The one factor they’d in frequent? They work for DHL Categorical, the No. 1 firm on the Greatest Workplaces in Latin America™ Checklist in 2025.
Experiences just like the “DHL Americas Cup” are one of many causes 96% of workers working for DHL Categorical in Latin America say they’ve an ideal office. For the everyday firm within the area, solely 68% of workers mentioned the identical.
Workers obtain the white glove therapy when touring to the competitors, two full days of video games, celebrations, meals, and leisure. “They’ve all the things lined when it comes to bills,” says Mirele Mautschke, nation supervisor of Brazil at DHL Categorical. That features air tickets, resort lodging, meals, and apparel.
Round 1,600 workers take part from 25 to 35 international locations, together with greater than 150 workers who volunteer to assist run the occasion. Workers are eligible to take part if they’ve labored a minimum of one 12 months with DHL for at least 20 hours per week and have good efficiency in that interval. The Cup began in 2018 and has gone on to be a biannual, cherished a part of what it means to be a DHL group member.
Workers can attend as members of the soccer or cheerleading group, or journey as group supporters. For every cup, DHL ensures {that a} totally different group of workers are given the chance to have this distinctive expertise with their colleagues.
These workers then return to their residence workplace, impressed and energized. “Individuals return with a distinct power,” Mautschke says, “and so they encourage others to wish to take part within the subsequent occasion.”
A multi-million-dollar funding
What does it value DHL to host the Americas Cup? “It’s round $6.5 million,” Mautschke says, from journey and lodging to actions and services prices for the 1600-plus contributors. That’s simply the price of direct bills and doesn’t embrace issues like workers’ time away from the job.
For DHL, the price is price it due to the worth workers convey to customer support and enterprise operations.
“The whole lot begins with motivated folks,” Mautschke says. “If we don’t have engaged and motivated folks, it’s actually onerous to supply nice service high quality to our clients, which retains the loyalty of our clients and retains our community worthwhile.”
Occasions just like the Americas Cup present workers they’re revered and valued, sentiments captured in DHL’s worker surveys. 9 in 10 DHL workers (91%) in Latin America say that administration exhibits appreciation for his or her onerous work. Solely 56% of workers say the identical at a typical office in Latin America.
A unique form of worker expertise can also be displaying up in productiveness and worker efficiency. At DHL, 92% of workers are keen to go above and past at work, in comparison with simply 64% at a typical office.
Connecting to a deeper tradition
The Americas Cup isn’t held yearly — the following one will happen Might 7-10 in 2026. For DHL, the particular tradition that defines the occasion could be present in many alternative locations past only a magical weekend in Orlando.
“Appreciation Week,” for instance, is a celebration that happens yearly to point out appreciation for workers and provides awards to those that have gone the additional mile to help a buyer.
“We wish workers to thrive of their lives inside and outdoors the corporate,” Mautschke says. “Everybody must be handled with respect and care.”
This deep respect for workers comes from the worth DHL locations on long-tenured workers, one thing that isn’t all the time prioritized in massive organizations.
“It’s frequent to have a protracted journey with DHL,” Mautschke says. Many workers have 30 years or extra of service of their DHL profession, and 95% say they wish to keep of their job for a very long time. That is made potential by DHL’s fixed funding in growth alternatives and a perception that any worker can develop and be taught new expertise.
“You’ll be able to keep within the firm for a few years when you really feel that we’re being challenged, when you really feel that we’re contributing and in addition creating,” Mautschke says. Workers have a person growth plan that will get up to date yearly, and a wealth of inside coaching sources and alternatives to be taught.
At DHL, 9 in 10 workers say they’re provided coaching and growth alternatives in comparison with simply six in 10 at a typical office in Latin America.
Recommendation for others
Whilst you won’t have DHL’s scale or dimension, firms that wish to host an analogous occasion to the Americas Cup can be taught from the worldwide logistics chief’s instance.
1. Guarantee you’ve gotten the infrastructure to succeed
“In case you don’t have the proper planning or the proper folks, it’s unattainable,” Mautschke says of the logistical wants of an occasion just like the Americas Cup. The services in Orlando are one of many causes the corporate hosts the occasion within the U.S., for instance, and yearly, the group is studying and making enhancements.
“It’s necessary to have the proper mindset, to have steady enchancment, even you probably have the experience to carry the occasion,” Mautschke provides.
2. Hold good information of previous attendees
You don’t wish to solely convey the identical workers to a particular group constructing occasion 12 months after 12 months, Mautschke says. A complete attendee record that’s maintained and up to date is essential for guaranteeing equity and equal entry for all.
3. Don’t neglect security
Security is an enormous a part of DHL’s tradition, and its give attention to stopping damage extends to occasions just like the Americas Cup. This implies guaranteeing services just like the soccer pitch or the cheerleading stage have the required circumstances for everybody to securely carry out. DHL even provides a therapeutic massage tent the place athletes can obtain therapy and get medical consideration.
4. Be clear in regards to the objectives on your occasion
“Everybody must be positive there is no such thing as a hidden agenda,” Mautschke says. Workers know that such an occasion is an enormous funding from the corporate and could have questions on what this implies for them and their function.
At DHL, the objective of the cup is straightforward: Present respect and gratitude for workers. “Individuals wish to really feel that they belong,” Mautschke says. For DHL, that sense of belonging is a part of an even bigger technique, the place each worker is empowered, engaged, and delivering their greatest.
The Americas Cup could value tens of millions for DHL to provide. Its true worth to the group could also be priceless.
Begin your journey to succeed in the Greatest Workplaces in Latin America record. Turn into Nice Place To Work Licensed™ right now.
