America’s Cup Business Info Sessions Held
A strategic partnership between the America’s Cup Event Authority, the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation [BEDC], the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce [BCC] and the ACBDA has successfully concluded a series of three public information sessions covering the wide variety of business and entrepreneurial opportunities being created by the America’s Cup for local individuals and companies.
Dr. Grant Gibbons, Minister of Economic Development with responsibility for the America’s Cup stated “I am delighted to see this partnership come together. From the beginning, as we set up the ACBDA, we knew that success would be defined, in part, by our ability to create partnerships within the community and by our ability to promote the opportunities arising from the Americas Cup as widely as possible. This partnership will focus on that specific objective and is already hard at work”
Mike Winfield, CEO of ACBDA Ltd. says, “The ACBDA and the ACEA sought to create a partnership with the BEDC and the Chamber because we felt it was the best way to effectively distribute and communicate all of the opportunities coming Bermuda’s way, for businesses of all sizes and across multiple industries, through the America’s Cup – starting as early as October this year when Bermuda hosts the America’s Cup World Series event. We are very pleased with the results of this partnership thus far, with over 400 businesses and entrepreneurs attending the three sessions, held in St. George’s, Sandys and Hamilton.
Information covered in the sessions included:
- Introducing the America’s Cup and why they chose Bermuda as a host venue
- Explaining the roles of the ACBDA and the ACEA
- Explaining the roles of the BEDC and BCC in supporting local businesses seeking opportunities through the America’s Cup
- Introducing the ACEA’s online business portal “Business Connect”
The information sessions also focused on the vendor opportunities for the America’s Cup World Series [ACWS] event in October, which will see Hamilton’s Front Street transformed into the Event Village with food, merchandising and other business opportunities.”
Described as “Harbour Nights on steroids” the ACWS on Front Street will be a four-day event for which as many as 100 vendors will be selected to provide goods and services that encompass the event’s theme of “Our Bermuda”. The ACWS will also feature an evening music concert and video screens covering the sailing action in the Great Sound.
Erica Smith, Executive Director for BEDC says, “The America’s Cup Business Connect road show series of meetings have been invaluable to the businesses that have been able to attend. First and foremost, it allowed them to put faces to names and engage directly with the key players associated with the America’s Cup. Secondly, it allowed them to collect very relevant business intelligence that will be invaluable to the success of their business ventures especially as they consider the opportunities falling out of the America’s Cup.
“Finally, it highlighted to them the significance of the America’s Cup to Bermuda and the benefit to our people and businesses with the goal of creating a legacy for our Island. I was really excited to quickly observe that at least 150 of BEDC’s clients were in attendance at the three meetings and thoroughly engaged in questions and discussions with the ACEA and the ACBDA.
“The feedback I’ve received from those who have attended has been one of appreciation. The Business Connect partnership with the America’s Cup is a very tangible example of connecting this international event with Bermuda’s local small and medium sized businesses and we at BEDC look forward to our future collaborative efforts in the build up to 2017.”
Jennifer Pitcher, Community Outreach Manager for the ACEA continued, “We were extremely pleased with the turnout at the Public Information Sessions and would like to thank BIOS, Sandys Secondary Middle School and the Heritage Worship Centre for their support.
“There are and will be an abundance of business opportunities across a variety of industries starting this year and we wanted to explain to business owners how to be part of these opportunities and invite them to register their interest to be a part of the America’s Cup in Bermuda.
The RFP’s for the ACWS will be posted on the America’s Cup website on Friday June 5 along with the BEDC and BCC websites on Friday June 5 with the deadline for response being July 5, 2015. Interested businesses can find the “Business Connect” portal on the America’s Cup website or email acbusinessconnect@gmail.com for more information.”
Kendaree Burgess, Executive Director of Bermuda Chamber of Commerce said of the three information sessions: “It is important for businesses to realise that there are opportunities that will flow directly from the AC Business Connect but also that there are additional opportunities that will happen organically. In partnership with BEDC & the America’s Cup, The Chamber is keen to see that member business avail themselves of the information needed to take advantage of all of the opportunities.”
Mike Winfield continued, “In what has been a very busy week, the Bermuda Tourism Authority [BTA] also hosted an information session at the Ruth Seaton James Auditorium with an audience of over 140 tourism industry stakeholders.”
Among the information shared was:
- BTA “seat back” videos on Delta Airlines which highlight the America’s Cup in Bermuda and are expected to generate 10 million impressions
- Du Jour Magazine America’s Cup photo shoot coming soon to Bermuda
- The anticipated entry of one or even two more teams for AC35
- 40 homes/apartments rented since ACEA and ACBDA moved to Bermuda
- Artemis Racing’s likely move to Bermuda in 2015, well before originally anticipated
- The expanded racing programme now scheduled to take place in Bermuda from May through June of 2017
Mr. Winfield concluded by saying, “In addition to signing up with Business Connect, we encourage businesses to register with the BEDC and the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce to take advantage of their available services and to ensure they receive regular communications regarding all opportunities that arise both now and in the future.”
Here we see once again, “opportunities awaits those of us that seek them.”
Jennifer Pitcher, Community Outreach Manager for the ACEA continued, “We were extremely pleased with the turnout at the Public Information Sessions and would like to thank BIOS, Sandy’s Secondary Middle School and the Heritage Worship Centre for their support.
“There are and will be an abundance of business opportunities across a variety of industries starting this year and we wanted to explain to business owners how to be part of these opportunities and invite them to register their interest to be a part of the America’s Cup in Bermuda.
very positive news !!!
id be interested in hearing some concrete numbers around expected ticket sales and arrivals.
anyone know if they mentioned specifics at the Business info Sessio.
Portsmouth was able to sell 50,000 tickets in 48 hours with an expected 250,000 in direct and indirect attendance .
even a fraction of these kinds of numbers would be a positive for Bermuda