Corporate Events & Entertainment Blog - Team Tactics

We are now on Twitter!

Rory — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:22:51 +0000

I am pleased to say that Team Tactics are now on Twitter @Team_Tactics! It’s a new experience for all of us here in the office, and we will be tweeting daily on a wide range of topics. We will be using Twitter to share what offers and events are coming up, but also to share what is happening in the office and with Team Tactics. There’s guaranteed to be some interesting tweets as we have been very busy here in the office, so make sure you start following us now!

Annika
Marketing Executive
01227 738280

New PDF’s for all Team Tactics Sporting Events

Tina — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:51:29 +0000

I am so thrilled with our new layout of Team Tactics flyers for ‘Sporting Events’. They look clear, professional and precise. So obviously not created by myself! In the past we have concentrated on creating a strong web page on the relevant sport, eg Rugby Hospitality, with all the package details, the costs, reviews on what our previous clients have commented on the day and lots of pictures of the facility where possible. We are also moving towards video content on each page also.

With Annika’s help we should have every sporting event on PDF available within a few weeks. Sometimes we offer a wide choice of hospitality packages at each sporting event, eg Rugby at Twickenham, so the PDF does go into a few pages long. However, we do try where ever possible to create corporate hospitality packages to suite a variety of budgets and requirements.

Our only major struggle is trying to find good quality photos that will sit on the 1st page of every sporting event. Glad it’s not me doing it quite frankly. I am always keen to hear people’s views on
what we send out so please do let me know your thoughts.

On the subject of Rugby, there seems to be alot of interest already for the Autumn Internationals whether it be rugby hospitality at Twickenham, rugby hospitality at Murrayfield etc. Some very good countries playing, New Zealand, South Africa, Samoa, Argentina (don’t cry for me!) , Australia and Fiji.

One package I do think is very good value in entertaining at Murrayfield during the Autumn Internationals at Murrayfield. I do like the 1925 suite which at £175 pp plus vat for 20 persons offers really great value for money entertaining.

Tina Benson
Team Tactics
01227 738280

Watch out for those fake ticket websites!

Rory — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:28:11 +0000

I recently read an interesting article in the Times newspaper written by Laura Whateley about the rising problem of consumers purchasing tickets from fraudulent websites. There is definitely an increase in consumers buying tickets from websites that appear to be real, only to then find out that the website is a fake and that they won’t be able to go to the festival or event that they have been excitedly waiting for. I can only feel for those that have been caught out, as it must be devastating. There is little protection for consumers purchasing tickets off the internet other than purchasing them through a credit card so assessing whether the website is an official supplier of tickets is a must. I think consumers will certainly become more thorough when buying tickets online especially since the increase in media surrounding these fraudulent websites.

This story really is the tip of the iceberg, and shows how ticket only sales can be a complicated area to operate in. Therefore I think hospitality packages can be seen as a more secure way in buying tickets as you can be assured that you will not only get a ticket for your event/festival but also luxurious hospitality and a great atmosphere. We offer a range of hospitality packages for all the major sporting and cultural events in the UK, catering for all price ranges. Be assured we will not let you down at the last minute!

Annika Franklin

Marketing Executive

01227 738280

Team Tactics tenders for hospitality business

Tina — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:51:27 +0000

Yesterday was a very interesting day. I was presenting to a multi national insurance company who are looking for one supplier for their tickets, hospitality and bespoke event management. Luckily I was delighted to say, that Annika came up trumps and created some whizzy slides to use in my power point presentation, as, if left to me, they would have been lifeless and clumsy. So thank you Annikia.

We didn’t know who we were up against but it was definitely two other event management companies who are now left along with ourselves. I did spy two very tall guys leaving before me who I didn’t recognise but there are so many event management companies out there, I wouldn’t know everybody.

So how did it go? Em…very difficult to say, but I wanted to be up front and honest and hope I conveyed that. Gosh, I have been doing event mangement and client hospitality for so long, it’s courses through my veins!!

I met with three very nice ladies who instantly made me feel at ease. A funny moment was when I was sitting in reception but continually coughing. A lovely receptionist kept coming over to me asking if I wanted water. Then after so many declines, she thrust a sweetie which I coudn’t say no to. As I was merrily sucking away, one of the procurement ladies came to collect me and literally had to swallow a massive sweetie down in one!! That will teach you Tina!! Stick to water!!

I also had to eat humble pie as they never asked us for our financial accounts, and strange as it may seem, I would say we are in a financially strong postion and this could be to our advantage. I did bring this up and one of the ladies gently told me that if we weren’t in a healthy state, we wouldn’t have got this far in the proceedings. Quite right!! and sorry!

I will keep you posted on this for anyone reading our blogs (hi Sebastian for one!)
Our very best wishes

Tina Benson
Team Tactics
01227 738380

Regatta Fever!

Rory — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:37:26 +0000

Well the Henley Royal Regatta is over again for another year but what a year 2010 was!!! We had super weather every day and our clients were all thrilled with the River Lounge decor and food. I must say that our marquee looked absolutely fabulous this year with white leather seating, Honolulu pink flowers finished with large pink feathers, a Moroccan style chill out lounge, lit LED bar, large flat screen and stunning garden furniture. The food of course did not disappoint and Simon and team had conjured up a feast of delights which were hugely enjoyed by all. We had also extended the marquee to give a larger restaurant and then a smaller marquee attached with private garden area for clients who wished to have an exclusive facility. I have today just received some beautiful flowers from an extremely pleased host whose private group of 30 were thrilled with the day they had which is always music to my ears!

We held our first PR day at Henley Regatta this year and that too was a roaring success. We invited key agents, hospitality magazines and top clients to experience the facility because in all honesty, it totally sells itself once people see it for themselves. The feedback was fabulous and at the risk of repeating myself, we truly do have the best position on the river! Just yards from the start line and at the narrowest point of the river, you could almost touch the rowers as they fly past – and yes, there were LOTS of lovely muscular men out there to watch!!!

We can of course organise transport and overnight accommodation for you and one of my clients did just this with guests arriving on Friday night at the Crowne Plaza Marlow, a coach taking and picking them up from their exclusive River Lounge facility and then dinner and second overnight on the Saturday. I was on hand to check guests in and ensure all was going smoothly and I have had super feedback and some lovely messages from their guests.

What can we do for next year? Get all of you who haven’t tried the delights of the River Lounge to come and see for yourself! We can do tables from 2 upwards and the price really is hard to beat for a full hospitality package, all day drinking and in stunning surroundings.

Please do take a look at the pictures from this year and I promise you will not be disappointed when you arrive for your day with us in 2011.

Thanks as always to Simon, Doug and team, Lana, Tammas and Marc at the Crowne Plaza and of course all the guests who attended. See you next year!

Firstly, a big thank you for Henley on Friday. It was a raging success, we were thrilled with the marquee and the day, so thank you very much indeed. I know we came to you with a tough call, very last minute, and with a lot of extra requests, so I just wanted to say how much I appreciate you pulling out all the stops for us, and delivering a really top event. Your staff as well are to be commended – all very professional, helpful, and a real credit to you. Bravo! Alex Lacey (Dutch Tourist Board)

Hellen Kelly

Events Director

01227 738280

Henley Royal Regatta…this week!

Tina — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:41:01 +0000

It’s that time of the year when the famous Henley Royal Regatta returns for a period of five days over the next few days from Wednesday 30th June to Sunday 4th July. Henley Royal Regatta has been taking place annually since 1839 and stands out from many other international regattas, with a total of 19 different events taking place across the five days.

This prestigious rowing event involves knock-out head to head races over the 1 mile 550 yards course which is meant to take approximately seven minutes.

I have recently joined team tactics and was delighted when Tina asked me on my first day to attend Henley Royal Regatta for a PR day on Thursday 2nd July. This will be my first time attending Henley Regatta giving me an opportunity to soak up the glorious atmosphere and see the beautiful River Lounge marquee situated opposite Temple Island, which famously marks the start of the Henley Royal Regatta Course.

Hospitality at Henley Royal Regatta is one of our most popular and luxurious events and I am very much looking forward to being a part of it this year!

Annika Franklin
Team Tactics
01227 738280

Murray at The Aegon Championships

Tina — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:48:41 +0000

It’s not often I manage to sample our own events, but on Tuesday I was lucky enough to be invited by a member of The Queens Club to attend the second day of The Aegon Championships.

Up close and personal!
I have to say that I found the whole experience brilliant. Before arriving I was told by my member friend to make sure my wristband was loose. So when the young girl was fixing my band on, I said that I was told to keep it lose. She smiled and said she wasn’t supposed to know that, and we both chuckled and off I went with my wrist having no circulation!

Anybody for Real Tennis?
Unfortunately I couldn’t make it for a lesson with the World Championship of Real Tennis so had to make do watching a few people play this sport that is the orginal indoor racket sport from which tennis descended…didn’t know that until I just looked it up!! I will have to make do with cycling around the Orchards for my current exercise.

Tennis - Aegon Championships at Queens
Anyway there was eleven of us who had a fabulous lunch accommpanied by some wonderful Pimms and wine. When Murray came on, it was our cue to leave the corporate comfort of our dining facility at Queen’s and watch the game. Well. I had a spot no less than 10 feet away from Mr Murray. Has anybody noticed he has a cracking birthmark…anyone writing in can ask where!

I have to say that is has been a while since I have been at The Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club, formerly The Stella Artois. A big difference with The Aegon corporate blue as opposed to the bright red of Stella but I did find the whole day superbly run, slick, smaller than Wimbledon, but arguably more personal. I could never have got that close to Mr Murray.

So anybody thinking about attending The Aegon Championships at Queens for 2011, GO! Even when it was raining, this was really no problem, conversation indoors never stopped!!

Thanks for the ride back Peter, groovy car!

Tina Benson
Team Tactics
01227 738280

Good Bye Elena!

Tina — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:58:05 +0000

Well we had a somewhat unusual send off for one of our staff here at Team Tactics. As soon as Elena sends over the gem of a video I shall load it on!! All I can say is, Hellen you were a sport!!

I personally will miss Elena in the office as we all will. She was a bubbly personality and am sure the number of hits via the website may well diminish. That’s a thought, I may keep her picture up on ABOUT US just for a while!! Elena worked on sales though I think in her heart, she much preferred being customer facing.

Elena has been replaced by Melissa, who has now been here several months and we already feel is part of the furniture. We have already created a little board with our Hot List of Prospective Events between the two desks, so we can have some fun rivallry.

So what’s happening? Lots actually, ranging from House of Commons Evening, Private Tea at The Ritz followed by a viewing of Buckingham Palace, Thriller (you wouldn’t imagine a Team Building event being so much fun), Thames Power Blast. Henley Regatta and The River Lounge has had a very good response this year and interestingly Saturday was the day sold out first. This is a surprise as Friday is always one to go first. Thank you to all our clients and I really do hope you get the finest day at Henley Regatta that we have promised you. I will see you all there. This year we are doing a special PR day for our industry as it’s about time we shouted from the hills what we are good at doing and got some good coverage from it. Also we are hoping to partner up with a select event firms who have a loyal client bank and hopefully they too, will see our super duper facility and want to market The River Lounge next year.

Anyway I know you are with the Irish this week Elena but get your fingers working and email that video over. It will give us all a laugh! Happy days…..oh yes….just been on my first camping trip in a 1970 VW camper van..how exciting is that!

Tina Benson
Team Tactics
01227 738280

Thrilling!! Thriller

Tina — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:27:41 +0000

Yesterday we held one of our super new events – Thriller! – for a group of 57 guests at the stunning South Lodge Hotel Horsham. As a surprise to the group, we surreptitiously set-up – again time constraints were against us allowing only 40 minutes! – in the two rooms set aside for the activity.

The Thriller event is exactly what it says on the tin – learning the Michael Jackson Thriller dance and/or the Thriller song. For both options we require one large room so that everyone can then come together for the final performance and one smaller for the singing element.

Our professional dance choreographer and singing coach were prepped up and raring to go when the guests walked in to eerie music and a brief explanation of what they were about to do. I was surprised how many people upon hearing their fate were totally up for the challenge immediately and couldn’t wait to get started on the dancing!

We had some extremely ‘flexible’ people who seemed to really apply themselves to becoming a zombie at the start and end of the dance. Tiger noises were also made at one point and the thrusting element was a sight for sore eyes! It always makes me smile to see that 9 times out of 10 the men in the group are the most extrovert at something like this and seem to run a personal competition with their colleagues to do the best moves!!! Well they succeeded, as the groups were excellent and picked up the dancing really quickly although of course, credit does go to Charlotte who is a super teacher!

The singing element although a little more tame, really does bring people out of their comfort zone and a lot of attendees were amazed at how, with a little professional help, they could achieve a lot more sound and for longer without taking breaths! (As a professional talker I never have that problem!) Moves are also important for the singers although these are kept to a minimum but the groups were allowed to invent their own ‘actions’ to various parts of the song! We had some very imaginative people I can tell you! James the coach really brings the groups along and adds a fun element to it so that by the end of the session they are confident to stand up and perform.

Once the groups have each had a turn at the song and dance of Thriller, they then use our costume props to dress up as the Zombies. We can offer full costumes – not hired but this makes for extremely realistic items! – for a small additional cost but the costume props allow everyone to have one piece of clothing to ensure they feel in the ‘zone’. The make-up of course is the piece de resistance to the activity with ‘zombie-fying’ shown by our professional make-up artist and then guests do each other’s faces with help from Amy of course.

The performance – well, it was a triumph with both teams coming together at the end of the singing to perform the dance as one group. I cannot tell you how much laughing, and real genuine excitement there was as people – especially the men! – were in small groups rehearsing the moves before the finale. To see 57 people dressed up, mostly in time with the movements and really enjoying themselves is absolutely what it is all about! I was jigging so much I am sure Tina will be moaning at how my video is a blurry but there’s always the next one so not to worry! As the client was then following on with a gala dinner and disco I will bet my bottom dollar that Thriller was a definite floor filler that night!!

Thanks to the team at South Lodge Hotel, Lisa/Liz/Charlotte and James for helping me co-ordinate the Thriller and of course the attendees for once again, giving me a thoroughly enjoyable event.

If you haven’t thought about theactivity PLEASE do have a look at it as I am certain it will be a hit with your team and will Thriller certainly be the choice of song at any future parties so they can strut their newly acquired dance moves!

Hellen Kelly

Who wants to fly??

Tina — Mon, 17 May 2010 16:54:29 +0000

It’s not often I get invited to participate in an event managed by Team Tactics but last week I was invited by one of our oldest clients to join in with the golf day and dinners etc in Portugal. How fantastic is that!!

A Girls Dilemma
However, being a typical girl I was a bit worried as the forecast in Faro Portugal for last Thursday was heavy rain showers! Ugh, I am a fair weathered golfer it must be said! Also I hadn’t played for simply ages so I had the fear factor coursing through my veins on the first tee!!

First of all, let me say how much the clients and I (opps I shouldn’t be saying that!) enjoyed the 3 days. It’s always late evenings at Vila Sol with the clients and it was just fantastic to lower the corporate profile and just enjoy the evening as they did. I have known this client for over 10 years and its a joy to work (work??) with them.

Who wants to fly?
Talking of work, it was a huge amount of effort prior as we had all the problems earlier with the Volcanic Ash so we had to re-schedule for the third time for May (Hellen stepped in by this time). Then last week, the volcanic ash came into force yet again, and it wasn’t until midnight before the event, that it was on. I think by this stage, the client just couldn’t face re-organising again and we sat on our prayer mats in the evening and prayed…okay infront of the TV!

So we were off. However, the fun and games started when just three of us travelled back to Gatwick. Such a boring read..but after about 8 hours of sitting in Faro Airport, did we finally set off. It wasn’t the volcanic ash but some birds that had damaged our engine. Finally back on tera firma that I see all flights this week may be disrupted.

So I am happy to say that although I loved the golf event in Portugal, I would prefer to stick to UK events for the rest of this year. Does anybody agree with me about poor British Airways…there staff are striking because of not enough pay, but shouldn’t they be happy just to be in a job at the moment. If they are not careful they will bring down the whole airlines.

Back in the office this week and we are really busy. We seem to be more busy with out of office staff events, team building ideas and london based evening events. Lots to do, never enough time. Not even enough time to slip in 18 holes tomorrow. Sorry chaps!

PS Forgot to say, I kept my head down, twisted my club over and slowed my swing and bingo, I didn’t embarrass myself.

Tina Benson
Team Tactics
01227 738280