Chicago House came to HGA looking for travel inventory that could anchor both a paddle drop and a live auction without forcing them to commit cash up front. The team built a single custom Euro-Pass package — flexible enough that one bidder's "yes" could trigger a full-room moment — and paired it with the Amalfi for 4 package as the live-auction headliner.
With Chris Hensley on the stand, the Euro-Pass produced a $15,000 paddle moment that reset the energy in the room. From there, the Amalfi package sold twice in the live auction at $12,000 each — a back-to-back sale that's only possible when the auctioneer reads the room and the auction company can deliver a second slot the same night.
Why it worked
- A custom-built Euro-Pass meant the centerpiece package was tied directly to Chicago House's audience, not pulled off the shelf.
- HGA's consignment model meant zero risk — Chicago House paid only the reserve on items that actually sold.
- A multi-winner-ready package (Amalfi) gave the auctioneer a second sale to capture the underbidder's budget.
Final scoreboard: more than $39,000 raised from three travel items in a single night, with no inventory risk to the organization.