PLP Reiterate Call For Cup Match Visitors Stall
The PLP has reiterated their call for the Visitors Stall at Cup Match, saying that charging tourists $150 each for a ‘Bermuda Experience’ at Cup Match is “not indicative of the hospitality Bermuda is known for,” adding that “if the BTA can afford to pay Bill Hanbury $458,000 a year, surely they can afford to maintain the Visitors’ Stall.”
Shadow Tourism Minister Zane DeSilva said, “Charging overseas guests $150 per person [or $300 for a couple] for a ‘Bermuda Experience’ at Cup Match is not indicative of the hospitality Bermuda and Bermudians are known for.
“Prior to the BTA introducing, supporting, and marketing this ‘experience’, our visitors were able to attend Cup Match and sit in the Visitors’ Stall for no additional charge.
“Does the BTA really believe that they should be telling visitors to pay $150 each for an ‘authentic’ Bermuda experience?
“This rushed response to our release shows that the BTA has not only dropped the ball when it comes to supporting Cup Match, but also shows their lack of understanding of what enhances the Bermuda Experience.
“Given the Bermuda Tourism website is still telling visitors, “Seating plus refreshments are available to visitors at the Visitors’ Stall”; we again urge the BTA, Minister Crockwell and Premier Dunkley to reconsider their position and sponsor the Visitors’ Stall for Cup Match 2015.
“This sponsorship will allow all visitors to be included and enjoy the Cup Match experience without being told to pay another $150.
“If the BTA can afford to pay Bill Hanbury $458,000 a year, surely they can afford to maintain the Visitors’ Stall at Cup Match which is being publicised on their website,” added Mr DeSilva.
Slideshow showing a look at last year’s Cup Match celebrations:
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After the PLP’s initial call yesterday for the Visitor’s Stall to remain, the BTA’s Glenn Jones said, “The BTA is aware of the Bermuda Hotel Association’s decision – it will not manage a visitor stand at the 2015 Cup Match, as it did in 2014.
“Our product and experiences team will reach out to the BHA in the coming days to better understand the reason for the decision and to ensure both of our organisations have confidence visitor desires are being met.
“Ultimately, the goal is to provide the kind of visitor experience visitors tell us they want, and at this year’s Cup Match we believe we are well on our way to meeting that objective,” added Mr Jones.
The BTA also noted that their Product & Experiences division has “teamed up with local entrepreneurs to develop an experience that puts visitors into the Cup Match camp sites of local hosts so that they have access to the same unique and authentic experience as Bermudians.”
The $150 package will include round trip transportation to St. George’s Cricket Club, tickets to the game, traditional Bermuda cuisine and drinks at local host camp site and explanation of local culture, cricket and Crown & Anchor by local hosts.
“Visitors tell us through market research that immersion in local culture is paramount to their vacation experience,” said Pat Phillip-Fairn, the BTA’s chief product and experiences development officer.
The BTA also noted they are promoting Cup Match online, and are producing a multi-page brochure about Cup Match that will be distributed to local hotels to encourage visitors on-island to attend the event.
No one is “being told to pay”. It’s an extra experience that is being offered.
It’s funny how any extra value or experience offered to tourists is immediately criticised by the PLP. It’s almost like they want tourism to fail.
I think this is the first thing written on bernews that comes from the plp that I wholeheartedly agree with …….because they are a hard pill to swallow for the most part but I agree that monies that are being dished out by the BTA to executives could and should be better used and this is one of them better uses…….I am starting to see the OBA and the BTA in the same light as the plp and that is not a good thing
BHA is not having their stall not BTA. Read the article. PLP is so very good at deflecting and it appears people are so very bad at reading.
Plus the $150 experience is from an independant entrepreneur, again not the BTA.
Exactly, this is the weasel PLP trying to trick people again… A response from BTA said:
Update 2.19pm: In response, the BTA’s Glenn Jones said, “The BTA is aware of the Bermuda Hotel Association’s decision – it will not manage a visitor stand at the 2015 Cup Match, as it did in 2014.
“Our product and experiences team will reach out to the BHA in the coming days to better understand the reason for the decision and to ensure both of our organisations have confidence visitor desires are being met.
“Ultimately, the goal is to provide the kind of visitor experience visitors tell us they want, and at this year’s Cup Match we believe we are well on our way to meeting that objective.”
Same place as locals then that don’t have a group/family booth. Mingle, eat, drink, play some Crown and Anchor and either watch the game through the various gaps or try and squeeze in on the public stands. Depending where you are coming from you might easily pay per person $35 on the day in taxi both ways (assuming two to the cab), $20 to get in, $20 in food, $20 in drinks and $20 on the tables which is a modest estimate and already sums $115. The $150 package actually seems pretty reasonable and you will be able to sit/eat/drink in a booth all day.
What a shame. Unfortunately, as a visitor, I will not take advantage of this “experience,” not at this cost, especially when there is next to no expenses to really cover. Better to make the visitor stand free, let taxi drivers charge as normal, and only give out a limited number of drinks tickets and then charge after that.
Where else is best to sit for visitors? Which stand?
Same place as locals then that don’t have a group/family booth. Mingle, eat, drink, play some Crown and Anchor and either watch the game through the various gaps or try and squeeze in on the public stands. Depending where you are coming from you might easily pay per person $35 on the day in taxi both ways (assuming two to the cab), $20 to get in, $20 in food, $20 in drinks and $20 on the tables which is a modest estimate and already sums $115. The $150 package actually seems pretty reasonable and you will be able to sit/eat/drink in a booth all day.
Edit: I replied to the wrong comment above earlier, so pardon the double comment.
I am tired of hearing Zane Desilva spouting off. He and many PLP ministers talk a whole pile of ignorance with very little facts to back their statements.
I honestly have come to question whether Zane cares about the average Bermudian…….
Enough with the masquerade Zane, I know for a fact you do now care about Bermuda or Bermudians especially if it comes between you and your pocket book.
Good day
I can give you 26 million reasons why Zane doesn’t care about the average Bermudian.
Have any of you been on excursion overseas or had the option to eat dinner in a foreign nationals home while on vacation? I have and it was a wonderful experience. It was offered by the tour company as an option experience. You did not have to participant if you wished,but the money I paid gave me an experience of a life time. I don’t agree to the price of $150 per couple, but I do agree that it should be a fee charged. Other counties do it, so why can’t Bermuda. Like outside the boxes or send a recommendation instead of always being negative.
a fraction of the amount paid as bonuses to the BTA staff would have contributed greatly to a visitor’s stall and then any shortfall could have been made up with a nominal charge to the visitors.
I posted a comment on the article “New Visitor Experience to Debut at Cupmatch” The comment came about as a result of a conversation with a TOURIST querying the cost and how that would not be feasible for his family of six (not including children)..imagine my surprise (lol..not really) to have received “dislikes”…imagine that ….after all the comment originated from the very same people that they are trying to attract…hmmmmmm…go figure…
Let’s do some basic math based on ONE person…round trip via bus ($9.00)….a plate of food take out ($20)….drinks/water ($25)…..questions answered about the game, tradition, Crown and Anchor (FREE as TRUE ambassadors of Bermuda) ..Total: $54 possibly less…and their total is $150….something not adding up…
Nobody is stopping people from going the cheap route. The $150 is for a very specific guided tour package.
Guided….please they can get the SAME if not MORE info from just “milling” around on their own…Remember the original comment of the “price” came from a TOURIST….the very SAME whom they are trying to attract….
Sorry the errors in my earlier post. Here is a cleaner version.
Have any of you been on excursion overseas or had the option to eat dinner in a foreign nationals home while on vacation? I have and it was a wonderful experience. It was offered by the tour company as an optional experience. You only participated if you wish to pay the money. I paid and it was an experience of a life time. I don’t agree to the cost of $150 per couple, but I do agree that it should be a fee charged. Other counties do it, so why can’t Bermuda. Think outside the box and or send a recommendation instead of always being negative.
I don’t understand all the hoopla….what is more of a “Bermudian” experience than being overcharged for something?? That is my experience every time I go to buy groceries, get a cab, pay my rent etc etc etc…seems about right to me
Amen Sister!!
Uhhh….the visitors’ tent was sponsored by BHA not BTA. Get your facts straight!
$150, wow I’ve never had a Bermudian experience for that much…..
You must be new here – try taking your spouse and kid out for a fish sandwich.
Sarcasm I expect.
First the cost is nothing, do you have any idea how much a cruise ship adds on to any excursion on this island? People complaining about cost are either clueless or just doing so to make waves for their shepherds.
Second – in the old days every camp and every Bermudian at the game was a hospitality tent, who give a flying F about hospitality tents and excursions. Stop trying to find ways to blame the OBA or the PLP and just have fun at Cup Match, if you see a visitor give them a hand, explain the game, invite them to sit off and relax. Who wants to sit off with a bunch of other tourists at cup match vs just being at the game.
Ten years ago I met a couple from Boston at the game, they asked about the cricket, i explained the game then got them some for form a near by camp as I have little skills in that regard. We spent most of the day together and then I picked them up from Princess on my way to non mariners on the Sunday. This same couple has been to Bermuda 5 times since then, i rarely see them outside of an email that they are in town. They have made more friends and seen the island from one end to the other. I can guarantee that the financial benefits to Bermuda from that experience is 10 times what any BTA, OBA, PLP or any organization could provide.
Stop being sheep.
at 150 dollars a head ,BTA are out of their overpriced minds,with that money hit COURT STREET, and really enjoy a BERMUDA experience
Oh dear, oh dear. Learnt to read. The BTA are not charging $150, a local company is.
Is Cup Match taking place on Court Street this year?
I buy a cupmatch plot every year and will gladly welcome tourist into my camp for drinks and food for free, simply because that’s the Bermudian thing to do. Why put a hefty price tag on something that tourist and locals alike already do? What sense does it make for a tourist to pay $150 dollars for a “Bermudian experience” when they can pay $10 to get into the game, find their own way to the crown and anchor tables, eat at one of the many food stalls and be welcomed by friendly cupmatch plot holders to partake in libations free of charge. To me that is a truly priceless Bermudian experience for tourists instead of paying $150 for a all day baby sitter.
What you say makes perfect sense and I completely agree with it.
However, there are people who are truly not adventurous enough to be able to make their way through a Cup Match experience on their own. Heck, for some people just getting through the gate may be a daunting experience.
This guided option allows the less independent and adventurous to enjoy one of our great Bermudian events. How could that be a bad thing?
I don’t understand what the big fuss is about. As MG says, if a tourist wants a truly cultural experience they can just find their way to the game, pay the entrance fee and mingle with the locals. And, as Rhonnie says, if they prefer the convenience and guided aspect of the package experience, they can pay for the tour. Personally, I think the visitor’s stall was (1) a complete waste of taxpayers’ money – as a local, myself and my friends definitely have definitely had a number of “free” drinks there over the years! and (2) detracts from the cultural experience as you’re just encouraging tourists to all group together in one place rather than become fully immersed in the festivities. Getting rid of the visitor’s stall makes a lot of sense, particularly now that we can’t afford to service our debt let alone hand out free drinks.
Were can I find you mate? Coming in from Afghanistan. Very kind of you…
Thanks
While the Titanic is sinking the PLP are discussing the deck chair arrangement…
The Cup Match Hospitality Tent for tourists,I suggest, be funded entirely by Mr. Zane DeSilva. Any objections?