I couldn’t tell you much about the rowing and I don’t think many guests could who enjoy a corporate occasion at Henley Regatta. I know many a lady’s eye will enjoy the spectacle of those muscles rowing past them at regular intervals, which, lets be honest is very entertaining in itself!

Actually I was very impressed when I learnt that this year, we will be having piped commentary of the racing and also a hostess (learned in the art of rowing!) who will explain to our guests the day, the rowing, what happens and the subtleties of the day…which is very important to those strapping lads out there who are racing their socks off!!

Okay here’s for the serious bit on Henley Royal Regatta 2010:

The River Lounge at Henley Royal Regatta

Within the River Lounge, we offer a well balanced hospitality facility that is created with a great deal of flair and creativity. Our marquee is not a mass market facility – ours it not about putting as many bums on seats as possible. We provide an stunning area for clients in the chill out lounge, the walk up bar, the jazz corner plus the dining area, with the most amazing floral displays. In addition to the River Lounge we provide a stunning river boat The Lily Anne that you can cruise up and down the course and enjoy a different angle. Do have a look at the gallery on our website, which shows each year the contemporary facility, the boats and the fantastic food.

http://www.teamtactics.co.uk/hospitality-at-henley-royal-regatta.htm

In terms of the package content, I can honestly put hand on heart and say ours is the best along the river. The catering company we work with have just won the contract for the Royal Household (ie Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle). This event (Henley Regatta) is on their doorstep and it’s a bit of a show case for them. In actual fact we are doing a big press day this year, so that the event industry can see just how different we are.

Food with a difference!
For instance we don’t offer the usual Danish pastries with coffee/tea. Eg:
Cafetiere coffee and selection of teas with the following Breakfast Canapés:

Champagne And Breakfast Canapés
• Creamy chive scrambled eggs with crispy pancetta
• Tartlet with buttered baby spinach, poached quail egg and hollandaise
• Tomato bread croque Monsieurs with smoked ham
• Seeded bread smoked salmon toasties with dill flavoured cream cheese
• Grilled English muffin with herbed chest nut mushrooms
• Mango, raspberry and peach fruit smoothie shots
• Maple drop scones with blueberry compote and crème fraiche

Making my mouth water!

Price
Date The River Lounge @ Henley Royal Regatta 2010
Wednesday 30th June £220
Thursday 1st July £220
Friday 2rd July £220
Saturday 3th July £199
Sunday 4th July £199

Prices are per person and exclude vat.

I am so proud of our facility at Henley Regatta for this year and its SO difficult when somebody is just interested in the best price as they are not comparing like for like.

Come along now, the summer is upon us now, and it’s time for some chill out days, with plenty of fizz and sunshine.
By the way has anyone seen/heard/been to The Henley Rewind? Wow, I am going with Flo (she is my beautiful VW camper van). I think the girls in the office should come along too as a team building event. Hellen would just die without her luxuries of her home than camp! Watch this space….21st August here we come. Girls weekend with Hellen, Elena, Melissa and I in Flo…what could be better?!

Tina Benson
Team Tactics

Henderson surprised many racing pundits and Supreme Novices betting odds when dropping Long Run down to the minimum trip for the Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices’ Chase, the ex-French star novice chaser having previously won impressively over three miles at Kempton on Boxing Day when handing out a 13 length beating to Tazbar in the Grade 1 Feltham Novices’ Chase.

The trainer’s decision however proved justified as Long Run, despite not always jumping with 100% accuracy, coasted clear at Warwick to win easily and prove just how much speed he possesses as well as the stamina that saw him home at Kempton.

Now that the son of Cadoudal definitely goes for RSA Chase, (the novices Gold Cup), Henderson possesses the two market leaders for the much anticipated race that is also likely to include the smart performers Diamond Harry, Weird Al and Weapons Amnesty. Punchestowns, unbeaten in two starts over fences this term, having last season finished an excellent runner-up to Big Bucks in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, is a rock solid 3/1 favourite for the race, whilst Long Run can still be backed at 5/1.

Those looking for flaws in Long Run’s armoury have repeatedly highlighted the fact that he still has a rather French style of jumping British fences, a trait that could cause him problems in a championship race against rivals of the highest class.

In France, where Long Run won three of his four steeplechases after being favourite with the Arkle Chase betting odds (including two Grade 1’s), horses tend to brush through the soft birch on the top of the fences. The British obstacles are much firmer and any such liberties can very easily end up with horse and jockey hitting the turf.

Henderson will doubtless be putting Long Run through his paces on the schooling ground and there is every reason to believe that this tremendously talented young horse will acquit himself very well on the big day.

Roll out Cheltenham Festival 2010!!

However, I am delighted that the team back at Team Tactics have been all busy and them knowing me, produced a list of all the information they knew I was going to ask. How American’ly efficient is that!? Actually I found the customer service and general friendliness in Florida verging on pleasant to …exhausting! There I was strolling along on the bike when every American, whether on another bike, rollerblades (they were mostly geriatric!), wheelchair, with or without dog, called out ‘Hi how are you doing?’ I mean, get out of that day dream Tina and get into gear! There’s no time for quiet solitude here my girl! Acutally they were all delightful and thankfully avoided those circuits that had the sign, ‘beware Alligators’!

So what have the team been up to. We have had many bookings of Rugby Six Nations, Cheltenham Festival, Royal Ascot plus the more bespoke events, such as corporate cooking and cab clue trail which are our most popular. Lots of summer multi activity day and staff out of office proposals on the go, plus many one off bespoke, individually produced agendas.

So I looking forward to the week ahead and finally going to the rugby this weekend to meet clients which should be great fun. Hopefully by then, firing on all cylinders!

Kind regards
Tina Benson
Team Tactics

At the moment I am focusing on the rugby and then following swiftly behind, the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival. As many of you know, this is one of my favourite events and nothing can beat the superb atmosphere that is created by all the Irish at this event. We do still have availability in our Marquee, Glass fronted and Needham and Needham boxes so do give me a call if you wish to be talked through the various options.

The big match tomorrow is of course England v Wales at the newly added to Twickenham Stadium and I know a lot of my clients attending in both the Orchard Enclosure and Chase Bridge facilities are eager for a good result. Another popular match is Wales v Scotland on Saturday 13 February and the response to the England v Ireland game at the end of the month has left us obtaining more allocation to cover demand. I am pleased to report that this is now very limited so sales have been good but if you want to snap up the final few places then do call Elena or Melissa.

I also have a very interesting bespoke event in our ‘Style Day at Selfridges’ with 14 ladies enjoying private appointments with one of London’s top personal stylists, Gabrielle Teare, a lingerie fitting (which to be fair most of us ladies need!), manicure and make-up session whilst eating delicious French food and sipping Champagne! It should be a great event and I will be in touch later in the month to give you all the details.

Our School of Rock event seems to be taking off this year with 3 bookings already so I am sure you will look forward to watching the video clips from these in my blogs later in the year! I know I can’t wait!

Have a lovely weekend

Hellen

Weather permitting Binocular - currently 8/1 fourth favourite in the Champion Hurdle Betting is set to run at Sandown on Saturday in a listed hurdle, a race where he is unlikely to face too many other genuine Champion Hurdle contenders.

Twice a beaten favourite behind leading Irish candidate Go Native this season, Binocular has failed to show any great spark and in a recent television interview, Henderson said: “I have to admit this season has not got off to the start I wanted for him… He’s a big, strong horse and maybe he’s lost a bit of speed, although he shouldn’t as he’s maturing.”

Taking the bare form as it stands so far this term there is no logical reason why Binocular should overturn previous running with Go Native, but there seems little doubt that Cheltenham does bring out the best in the French bred six-year-old as he proved last year when running a very close third in the championship race behind stable companion Punjabi.

In 2008 he also ran a cracker in finishing second at the Cheltenham Festival behind Captain Cee Bee in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, so Binocular’s supporters will doubtless be counting on a return to Prestbury Park as their trump card in the equation.

Soon Henderson will know exactly how his Champion Hurdle trio stand Zaynar and defending champion Punjabi are also set for their final outings before the big event itself.

Zaynar is currently favourite in the Champion Hurdle betting odds so all eyes will be on him when he runs at Kelso.
At present, of the Henderson trio, it is arguable that Binocular looks the least likely to bring the Champion Hurdle trophy back to Seven Barrows.

At present, of the Henderson trio, it is arguable that Binocular looks the least likely to bring the Champion Hurdle trophy back to Seven Barrows.

This weekend’s major trials for the two-mile championship saw Medermit lowering the colours of reigning champ Punjabi at Haydock, while in Ireland Solwhit impressed many observers when running away with the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Now, depending on which horse race betting list you choose to consider, opinion appears evenly divided between Zaynar and Solwhit as to who is the current ante-post favourite. At the time of writing, Zaynar is as short as 7/2 with some but is on offer at 5/1 with the majority of major layers. On the other hand, Solwhit’s performance caused Irish bookies to run for cover and cut him to 3/1 favourite, whereas Ladbrokes offer a generous looking 6/1.

The Irish firms also offer just 5/1 about Go Native when 6/1 is freely available elsewhere.
In short, it appears the Irish firms believe Solwhit is going to (or already has) come in for serious local support, whereas many of the British firms are struggling to choose between the pair. As for me, despite his odds-on defeat in the Haydock mud, I still think they’ll all have their work cut out to beat Punjabi, who looks to have been trained to reach a peak at The Cheltenham Festival - and not before.

Saturday’s Haydock race in a field of four didn’t suit Nicky Henderson’s charge. Punjabi is a different horse in a big field, coming off a fast pace, and on better ground. He goes next in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton - the route he took last year on his way to landing the title.

Ante-post backers who thought of tearing up their tickets after his defeat should bide their time and remember that you get paid out at around 3.20pm on March 16th, and not a moment earlier.

Our School of Rock event takes a lot of preparation especially when we are using a hotel rather than recording studios where the equipment is mostly set-up etc. Therefore, our crew of 8 instructors and co-ordinators arrived in Oxford at 10:30 and whilst unloading 6 drum kits, guitars and bass guitars, amps etc we ran through the schedule which was to start at 13:00. The Malmaison Oxford was absolutely perfect for the Jailhouse Rock theme running throughout the day. The Malmaison chain has turned the former Oxford prison into a stunning hotel whilst keeping a lot of the original prison features. The drums were to be placed in the main A Wing whilst vocals and the two guitars sections would be in downstairs cells.

The group having no idea what they were about to do rose to the challenge bravely and after auditions on each of the instruments and vocals the 6 bands were announced by our crew. Tuition then starts for each section and the chosen song ‘Alright Now’ resounded around the hotel!
After a short break, rehearsals take place and costumes are chosen from the various items we had brought.

The final performances normally follow straight after rehearsals however the guests went off to change for dinner allowing us to strip the rooms down and set-up the stage ready for the final acts! In very good spirits, the bands returned to give absolutely fantastic performances with some of the men giving the ladies a run for their money in the costume stakes! Absolutely fabulous!

Once packed up and vans loaded the client enthused how wonderful it had been and was sure that the Elvis impersonator they had booked for the end of dinner would carry on their high spirits but had a lot to live up to vocally!!

If you weren’t aware of our School of Rock activity then do take a look at our web page and call me to run through any technical information or timings. It really is a great event which takes most people out of their comfort zone but then gives them the realisation that as a band they can join together and the performances are stupendous!

Release your inner rock star and give it a go!

Hellen

We have received meaty enquiries from conference team building ideas for 750 people based in Paris for the beginning of February, down to a small but always very important handful of clients at the Six Nations Rugby next month.

Rugby - Six Nations
The Six Nations is nearly all but sold out at Twickenham for the England v Ireland match and the England v Wales match. Compared to this time last year, when there was plenty of spaces left at Twickenham, is much more encouraging. We offer a range of hospitality options for rugby that can’t be beaten in terms of price and content of the hospitality package. This year, the very successful St Georges Suite is our Credit Crunch package which fits well in the overall packages we offer at Twickenham, from expensive down to ‘cost effective’ rugby entertaining.

Cheltenham 2010 Packages
At Cheltenham National Hunt Festival in March last year, Team Tactics placed it’s record number of guests at Cheltenham, though much of this was picking up cracking deals where other agents were simply trying to cover some of their losses by selling below cost. This is all well and good but deals like that just don’t exist for Cheltenham 2010, because those agents won’t have made the same mistake twice.

However, it is looking much rosier this year, even when these unbelievable deals don’t exist this year, guests enjoyed it so much, they are returning as Cheltenham Festival is a fabulous event for 2010.

Green Light for Client Entertaining!
So, where once, entertaining in 2009 was deemed unfashionable and clients couldn’t be seen to be doing it, that is all but gone and dying out. Companies can only go on for so long where they don’t entertain their clients, but the tide is now turning. We hope Team Tactics, having maintained a strong business focus (check out our financial records!), we are there to look after the returning corporate customers. Welcome to those who we have missed!

Tina Benson
Team Tactics
01227 738280

Our fleet of recent model Land Rover vehicles including Freelander, Discovery, Defender and Range Rover, using almost brand new Land Rovers, some to the value of £80,000.

You will experience in this event a number of different activities, to name a few:

Blind Fold Driving
This lasts around 20 minutes. With your vehicle, the driver will be blindfolded and it is up to the members of the team inside the vehicle to spot the big Scrabble Letters around the grounds and direct the driver to them. Communication vital for this to succeed!

Off-Road Tennis
Tennis balls have been hung around the course and it is up to the driver to use his wing mirror as a tennis racket to hit each of the balls. If you want to have fun, we’ll make sure you have as much as you can handle. Need time for a team talk or presentation - no problem.

Group dynamics are important so if you have different sets of people in your party, we have activities that will encourage them to integrate.

We have several venues around the country which we can accommodate groups of almost any number. Our venues near to Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire and Ashford and West Malling in Kent.

This is a truly memorable event which will have all of your staff and clients wanting more, even in these snowy conditions which Britain is facing this event can still be run. Have you ever wonder what it feels like to drive a state-of-the-art 4×4 vehicle up a near impossible slope and then crawl down the other side? Contact us to find out and make a booking today.

Drive Safely everyone in the snow!

Kind regards
Elena

Well now we are all back to work we are looking forward to a busy 2010 with Team Tactics. We are leading up to Cheltenham National Hunt Festival in March and if you haven’t already booked Team Tactics have a very varied selection of hospitality packages to offer for Cheltenham Festival and you will find it hard to beat us on price.

Cheltenham Racing Festival is the largest race in the National Hunt season providing jumping enthusiasts with twenty of the most prestigious races over the three days. The crowd is now limited to 50,000 per day who come to watch the very best horses from Britain, Ireland and Europe.

Be a part of this exciting festival and join Team Tactics in one of our superb hospitality facilities we have to offer:

Option 1 - Cheltenham Festival 2010 Hospitality - Needham & Needham Boxes
Location
The Needham & Needham structure at the Cheltenham Festival is located in the tented village between the Keith Prowse facility and the glass fronted boxes. Our boxes overlook the final two fences in the finishing straight, and offer a magnificent unobstructed view of the whole course. They are unquestionably the best facilities available other than Grandstand Boxes which are owned on an annual basis.
Boxes
We have one 30 seater box with unique balcony facilities and has a bar area and closed circuit TV. This is situated on the fourth floor and will offer top viewing of the course. Each box has sliding glass doors which open onto a communal balcony overlooking the course, incorporating a Tote betting facility at one end. Toilet facilities are on three of the four floors at the back of the building.
THIS IS THE BEST HOSPITALITY FACILITY AT CHELTENHAM.
Package Includes
• Members badges
• Car parking (1 per 2)
• Morning coffee and pastries
• Four-course lunch
• Complimentary bar (exc champagne)
• Afternoon tea
• Racecards
• Flowers
• Closed circuit TV
• Top jockey to run through the day’s card
• Team Tactics supervision throughout the day

Option 2 - Cheltenham Festival 2010 Hospitality - Glass Fronted Viewing Boxes with Balconies
Choose from either a shared restaurant facility or exclusive box facility at Cheltenham National Hunt Festival. Private boxes are available for 40 guests, smaller bookings can be made for a minimum of 2 people with private tables for 10 guests. Both hospitality facilities at Cheltenham are ideally situated overlooking the final straight of the course with panoramic views of the stunning countryside surrounding the racecourse.
Package Includes
• Luxurious hospitality facility
• Club Enclosure Admission Badge
• Morning coffee and biscuits
• Champagne reception
• Complimentary bar
• Four course luncheon
• Wines and liqueurs
• Full afternoon tea
• Car park labels (1 per 2 guests)
• Souvenir race cards
• Racing newspapers
• Close circuit colour TV
• Tote betting facilities
• Celebrity tipster
• Individual guest documentation
• VIP hostess service

Option 3 - Cheltenham Festival 2010 Hospitality - Marquee Hospitality
Situated at the hub of the Tented Village, only 50 meters from the Guinness Grandstand. Close to the Parade Ring and Grandstand at Cheltenham Festival. This is a luxuriously appointed marquee. Bookings of 2 upwards can be made with private tables available for bookings of 8 – 12 guests. Celebrity Tipster this year will be John Francome. Excellent entertaining at Cheltenham Festival.
Package Includes
• Luxurious hospitality facility
• Tattersalls Admission Ticket (This can be upgraded to the Club Admission Badge at an extra £25pp plus vat)
• Morning coffee and buscits
• Champagne receptiob
• Complimentary reception
• Complimentary bar including draught beers
• Four course luncheon
• Wines and liqueurs
• Full afternoon tea
• Car park labels (1 per 2 guests)
• Souvenir race card
• Racing newspapers
• Closed circuit colour TV
• Tote betting facilities
• Celebrity tipster - John Francome
• Individual guest documentation
• VIP hostess service

Option 4 - Cheltenham Festival 2010 Hospitality - Moscow Flyer Restaurant
This centrally located restaurant is an excellent value for money entertaining option at Cheltenham Festival. Team Tactics offers the Moscow Flyer Restaurant as your base for the day from 1.30pm.
Package Includes
• Tattersalls Admission Ticket (option to upgrade to Club ticket available, call for more information)
• Racecards
• Three course lunch
• Table reservation from 1.30pm - 7pm
• Afternoon tea

Please contact us if you are interested in making a booking for Cheltenham Festival or if you would like some more information on any of our hospitality facilities.

Kind regards
Elena
Team Tactics