Official Appointments
No other company can boast as many official appointments from sports and cultural governing bodies to provide hospitality. This stamp of approval, combined with our experience and expertise, ensures that you are guaranteed the best seats and the most luxurious facilities.
Why Book Official Hospitality?
In today’s business environment, hospitality is a vital part of building and maintaining client relations. With so many options to choose from and so much at stake, it is essential companies know what they are booking. It is therefore vital that the people booking hospitality understand the differences between official and unofficial providers.
Official hospitality providers are chosen by the event owner or organising body to create, market and sell hospitality programmes on their behalf. This guarantees that everything, from the ticket location to the food and beverage on offer and the level of service provided, is of the highest possible quality. In addition, the revenue generated by these hospitality programmes is then invested directly back into the event or sport as a whole.
Unofficial hospitality providers do not have a direct relationship with event owners and are not require to offer a certain level of service. Hospitality facilities are often located off site, a long way (sometimes even miles) from the event, making it difficult and impractical to both spectate and enjoy the hospitality. Unofficial suppliers usually have to rely on the grey or black market for tickets, therefore their suppliers’ tickets may be of a much lower category than those offered by official suppliers.
In extreme cases, unofficial hospitality providers are let down by their suppliers and left without tickets for their customers. This is highly embarrassing for both the host and their guests and would undoubtedly damage their business relationship.
Keith Prowse only sells official hospitality which guarantees customers the best facilities, official event tickets, great service and peace of mind; as well as ensuring that the money is maintained within the event. Keith Prowse’s knowledge and relationships within the industry mean that customers and their guests can relax and enjoy a day to remember.
Keith Prowse Top 10 Tips to Buying Hospitality
As the UK gears up for a Golden Decade of Sport, Keith Prowse has launched an easy-to-use guide to ensure that corporates buy bona fide hospitality packages.
With the market approaching £1bn and limited regulation of the sector, the lines between official and opportunistic, unofficial suppliers has become blurred:
- Always buy from a supplier who is accredited as an ‘official’ supplier. Think of it as a warrant of quality that has been endorsed by the rights holder of the event.
- Do not be fooled by the telesales call that offers ‘a table that has just become free, as a client has just cancelled’. This poorly conceived sales tactic is overused and often a year ahead of the actual events taking place!
- Be sure to ask the source of the tickets which make up the corporate hospitality packages. Working with the rights holder means that official suppliers will have bona fide tickets sourced directly (and these tickets should always be located together).
- Always check the cancellation policies that have been put in place by the hospitality provider.
- The hospitality industry is unregulated. If you have any doubt whatsoever, contact the host venue directly. They will know immediately who the appointed suppliers are and will be able to verify any questions or queries you may have.
- Do not be taken in by spectacular photography, costly looking brochures and collateral. These do not necessarily reflect what you will get on the day.
- Be price conscious. Do not get sucked into buying the cheapest as low prices don’t necessarily mean value for money.
- Read the contract and check exactly what is included in the corporate hospitality package.
- Ask for the locations of the facilities that make up the package. They should all be close by; be very wary of having to leave the grounds for lunch!
- If you have any doubt at all, ask for previous client recommendations and endorsements.