Bosses at Keith Prowse said that businesses are already receiving telesales calls offering corporate hospitality tickets to the men’s 100m finals at the World Athletics Championships in 2017 – even though official suppliers are yet to be selected.
“As yet the official suppliers have not been appointed,” said Andrew Hodgkins, managing director of Keith Prowse. “Any purported ‘corporate hospitality packages’ are therefore speculative and should not be purchased under any circumstances. The rights holders of every event will have key official suppliers and authorised suppliers who are appointed for their business integrity and ability to fulfil their obligations.”
The UK’s so-called Golden Decade of Sport in the will see Britain take centre stage as a host of sporting events, starting with 2012’s Olympic and Paralympic Games, followed by the Champions League Final in 2013, the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and the Rugby Union World Cup in 2015. The World Athletics Championships in 2017 is the latest addition to the decade which concludes with the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019.
How to purchase corporate hospitality
In an effort to help businesses stave off the charlatans, Keith Prowse has offered a list of tips on purchasing corporate hospitality, including:
• Always buy from a accredited ‘official’ supplier who is accredited as an ‘official’ supplier. Think of it as a warrant of quality.
• Do not be fooled by the telesales call that offers ‘a table that has just become free, as a client has just cancelled’. This is an unprofessional sales tactic.
• 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 in the main these tickets should always be located together).
• 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 or event organisers directly to verify the supplier.
• Do not be taken in by spectacular photography and costly looking brochures; these do not necessarily reflect what you will get on the day.
• Be price conscious, low prices does not 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
