Elevating the Game: The Art of Sports Hospitality and Attention to Detail
Elevating the Game: The Art of Sports Hospitality and Attention to Detail In the exhilarating world of sports, where adrenaline-fueled moments and heart-stopping plays capture our imaginations, another element plays a crucial role in enhancing the fan experience: sports hospitality. This niche, yet rapidly growing, aspect of the industry revolves around crafting unforgettable experiences for fans, sponsors, and VIP guests. In this blog entry, we’ll delve into the significance of attention to detail in sports hospitality and how it elevates the game for everyone involved. Understanding Sports Hospitality Sports hospitality encompasses a wide array of services designed to enhance the spectator experience. This includes luxurious seating, exclusive access, gourmet dining, and personalized service that goes beyond just watching the game. At its core, sports hospitality is about treating guests to something extraordinary and unique, setting the stage for memories that last a lifetime. The Role of Attention to Detail Attention to detail is the backbone of exceptional sports hospitality. It’s what transforms an ordinary event into a remarkable occasion. Here’s how attention to detail plays a pivotal role: 1. Exquisite Dining Options: A top hospitality service ensures that food and beverage offerings are not only gourmet but also tailored to guests’ preferences. Details such as dietary restrictions and drink choices are remembered and catered to with precision. 2. Personalized Experiences: Every guest is unique, and sports hospitality services thrive on acknowledging this. From greeting guests by name to providing tailored welcome packages, personal touches can make guests feel extra special. 3. Comfort and Convenience: In the swirl of a big game, comfort shouldn’t be compromised. Details like cushioned seating, climate control, and easy access to amenities make for a seamless and enjoyable experience. 4. Ambiance and Decor: The setting of a hospitality suite should reflect the prestige of the event. Tasteful decor, thoughtful lighting, and memorabilia add to the ambiance, creating an inviting space that resonates with the event’s spirit. 5. Technology Integration: Modern hospitality experiences often leverage technology, like apps for ordering food or augmented reality for immersive experiences. Ensuring these tech elements work flawlessly reflects a keen attention to detail. 6. Memorability: Little touches, like commemorative gifts or behind-the-scenes tours, can make the event unforgettable. Attention to detail ensures these souvenirs and experiences are meaningful and cherished. Conclusion An exceptional sports event is more than just the action on the field. It’s a fusion of performance, passion, and hospitality that together creates an engaging and unforgettable experience. Attention to detail in sports hospitality means anticipating needs, exceeding expectations, and consistently delivering excellence. It’s about transforming the spectator role into an honorable guest position, ensuring each individual leaves with cherished memories. For those in the industry, embracing the art of detail not only elevates the game but also fosters loyalty and enthusiasm among guests, keeping attendees coming back for more, season after season.
Rio Games TOCA 2016
TOCA Events Triumphs Again at Rio Olympic Games 2016 Just like the arts, sports create a global language, building bridges between people and transforming lives through spirited competition, friendship, and peace. The 2016 Summer Olympic Games began with a highly emotional ceremony, with Rio de Janeiro as the first South American city to host such an event. At 1/10th the cost of London and 1/20th the cost of the Beijing Games, Rio was the perfect backdrop for a thrilling few weeks featuring the best of the best. Right Place, Right Time Once again, TOCA was at the right place at the right time providing VISA, one of the main sponsors and global partner of the Games, with exciting and motivating morning activities for their super VIP clients. Beginning on Aug 4th, our TOCA team provided impeccable attention to every detail, from ambiance to guided tours, catering, and everything in between. Starting Off the Day To start off each day of parties, business sessions, networking, and games, TOCA created customized morning activities for four separate waves of VISA VIPs, with activities offered to each group. With the sand and sea as our canvas, we created an enhanced beach club experience with branded elements including VISA colors to highlight activities including a volleyball clinic, beach tennis, slack line, Cross Fit training, and yoga. And of course, what could be better than being coached by some former Olympic greats like American gold medal diver, Greg Louganis; volleyball greats Jackie Silva and Sandra Pires; and the nine title winner for swimming, Missy Franklin! Keeping Everyone Inspired and Excited Other special events that TOCA provided included a beautiful bike tour of Copacabana and Ipanema, and a hike to Leme Fortress on the coastline of Copacabana. Our resident celebrity photographer, Fabio Pamplona, gave a wonderful workshop on how to use a smartphone camera, touring Sugar Loaf for inspiring photo ops of one of the world’s most iconic locations. We provided a gift kit for our guests, containing fisheye, macro, and wide angle lenses to clip on and screw in to each phone, along with a customized booklet filled with places of interest to shoot, which kept everyone inspired and excited. Creating a Seventh Heaven And as if all of this wasn’t enough, TOCA arranged a special VIP shopping experience complete with champagne and catered edibles. Covering an exclusive area in Ipanema, guests received a specially designed map with select stores featuring some of Brazil’s top clothing, leather, and arts & crafts designers. Moderated by our vivacious celebrity hostess, attendees received the perfect lesson in Ipanema fashion, including news on the latest trends and influences. Needless to say, everyone was in seventh heaven! Modesty Aside All modesty aside, we heard many of our Visa clients who are regulars at Olympic games around the world say that it was their best Olympic experience ever. The entire TOCA Events team is honored to have been selected as part of Visa’s team, and looks forward to participating again in this truly memorable global gathering. www.tocaevents.com
Copa America brings Fiestón to South Beach
A special edition of Copa America—the premier men’s soccer event in the Americas—is being held for the first time outside of South America. The United States is the host nation for Copa America Centenario, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Tournament from June 3rd to the 26th. The 2016 event is significant because it features teams from CONMEBOL (the South American football confederation) and CONCACAF (the Confederation of North and Cen- tral America and the Caribbean). Soccer fans across the US will be able to view all 32 games live on Univision Sports, but if you feel the need to share this unique experience with fellow fans and cheer for your team, Univi- sion, the largest Spanish-language television network, has organized viewing parties across the country as a way of replicating the sensation of being at the stadium. One of such events—a tailgate beach party—was produced by TOCA Events during the week- end of June 3 to 6 at Miami Beach’s Lummus Park on the iconic Ocean Drive. The Fiestón—as Univision calls these viewing parties—came to Miami for the first time, and the sports manage- ment side of TOCA Events was chosen to take care of the challenge and design an unforget- table opportunity for all soccer fans of all ages. There were plenty of family-fun activities for attendees. Besides cheering for their favorite teams, guests enjoyed beach games as well as live musical performances by reggaeton artist Joey Montana, pop artist Karol G, pop Latin sensation Grupo Treo, Afrobeta, and Locos for Jua- na, among others. The first six matches of the tournament were broadcast live on large LED screens placed on the beach. TOCA Events continues its support of Univision Fiestón events in cities across the country such as Dallas, Phoenix, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. www.tocaevents.com
The Exciting Game of Sports Marketing
As we prepare for the Rio Summer Games, where we are assisting the NBA for the third year in a row, it occurs to us that we might say a few words about the exciting game of sports marketing. As huge sports fans, we at TOCA are always thrilled when we are called upon to provide our sports clients with strategies that bring their goods and services to expectant fans. Perhaps more than any type of event, sports has the power to ignite both the passion and pride of its viewers. Ready to cheer for their favorite athletes and teams, there is no more vicarious thrill than feeling the excitement generated by fans when the game is on. Competition, an undetermined outcome, and star athletes put everyone on the edge of their seats, creating a thrilling mix that electrifies every sporting event. Sports marketing wouldn’t be what it is if advertising wasn’t tied in to the event at hand. The popularity of teams and athletes encourages fans to purchase the products and services that they support, which creates an undeniable synergy. At TOCA our task is to come up with great strategies that will promote an event, along with the goods and services that go along with it. In service to this, we provide our clients and audiences with interactive settings that keep team spirit at its highest and client brands at the forefront. Getting the public to participate in ancillary events, allowing them to get closer to their favorite athletes and teams through live feeds and parties, and providing urban elements that encourage fans to stay active is what makes an event successful. Our goal at TOCA is always based on offering people a wonderful time, and it is with this in mind that we create our marketing strategies. Sports marketing is a fast-paced, energetic facet of event production. It requires quick thinking and a knack for coming up with creative solutions for promotion and advertising. Attention to detail, good communication and organizational skills, and a ton of flexibility make for a great result. When clients keep coming back for each new event, you know your formula is working. In this regard, we are proud to be producing three more events for Univision’s USA Mexico game, including simultaneous live viewing parties in L.A. and Dallas. We expect over 4,000 fans to turn up at each location, with fun and games for all. We have many sports marketing-related events in the works, many with return clients who want more of the TOCA touch. With each one, we rev up our motor, hone our skills, and revel in the excitement we share with our clients, the sponsors, and the fans. And of course, with each production, we learn more about our craft as we come up with new ideas for the exciting game of sports marketing. www.tocaevents.com[:pb] As we prepare for the Rio Summer Games, where we are assisting the NBA for the third year in a row, it occurs to us that we might say a few words about the exciting game of sports marketing. As huge sports fans, we at TOCA are always thrilled when we are called upon to provide our sports clients with strategies that bring their goods and services to expectant fans. Perhaps more than any type of event, sports has the power to ignite both the passion and pride of its viewers. Ready to cheer for their favorite athletes and teams, there is no more vicarious thrill than feeling the excitement generated by fans when the game is on. Competition, an undetermined outcome, and star athletes put everyone on the edge of their seats, creating a thrilling mix that electrifies every sporting event. Sports marketing wouldn’t be what it is if advertising wasn’t tied in to the event at hand. The popularity of teams and athletes encourages fans to purchase the products and services that they support, which creates an undeniable synergy. At TOCA our task is to come up with great strategies that will promote an event, along with the goods and services that go along with it. In service to this, we provide our clients and audiences with interactive settings that keep team spirit at its highest and client brands at the forefront. Getting the public to participate in ancillary events, allowing them to get closer to their favorite athletes and teams through live feeds and parties, and providing urban elements that encourage fans to stay active is what makes an event successful. Our goal at TOCA is always based on offering people a wonderful time, and it is with this in mind that we create our marketing strategies. Sports marketing is a fast-paced, energetic facet of event production. It requires quick thinking and a knack for coming up with creative solutions for promotion and advertising. Attention to detail, good communication and organizational skills, and a ton of flexibility make for a great result. When clients keep coming back for each new event, you know your formula is working. In this regard, we are proud to be producing three more events for Univision’s USA Mexico game, including simultaneous live viewing parties in L.A. and Dallas. We expect over 4,000 fans to turn up at each location, with fun and games for all. We have many sports marketing-related events in the works, many with return clients who want more of the TOCA touch. With each one, we rev up our motor, hone our skills, and revel in the excitement we share with our clients, the sponsors, and the fans. And of course, with each production, we learn more about our craft as we come up with new ideas for the exciting game of sports marketing. www.tocaevents.com[:es] As we prepare for the Rio Summer Games, where we are assisting the NBA for the third year in a row, it occurs to us that we might say a few words about the exciting game of sports marketing. As huge sports fans, we at TOCA are always thrilled when we are called upon to provide our sports clients with strategies that bring their goods
Fiestón and Our Commitment to Sports Hospitality
We’ve mentioned before that TOCA Events knows how to throw a party. But how about a party for a thousand people or more? Handling an enormous event requires an understanding of sports hospitality that includes the art of bringing sports, entertainment, and the public together in a true spirit of celebration. One of the best examples of how we show our stuff is for the Univision Deportes Fiestón events, and we have produced quite a few. From Phoenix to Dallas, L.A., Houston, and our latest event for theJuly 2015 Dallas SuperCopa MX and Campeon de Campeones , we help to make sports into one big festival that brings excitement to all. With popular anchors like Alejandro Berry, Jorge Calvo, and Aly Villegas, and soccer legends such as former Mexican National Team player Ramón Ramirez who delighted fans at Fiestón Phoenix, and Enrique Borja who came to our latest Dallas event, fans are already excited, even before the games begin. Add to this a giant screen where people can see their favorite teams play’ up close and personal,’ its easy to see how these live events capture a spirit that embodies everything that is great about sports. Entertainment is key for an event like Fiestón. We’ve marveled over mobs of girls sobbing over Mexican pop star Luis Coronel and thousands of fans going crazy over the band, El Dasa. We’ve watched people connect with each other over refreshments in the beer gardens, and we’ve been endlessly enchanted by kids of all ages playing with each other as they bond over common ground. Free admission assures that everyone can enjoy the Fiestón events, which is something that we at TOCA uphold as the perfect way to bring people together. We believe that sports hospitality is based on creating an atmosphere of celebration, excitement, sharing, and pure, unadulterated fun for everyone… and this is the spirit with which we help to build these magnetic events. TOCA Events makes sure that with every sporting event we produce everyone comes away with something special. Whether it is free books for children, a chance to interact with celebrities, play games, or just hang out in the sun, the final goal is to allow guests to spend a great day together and create a perfect memory. Creating a positive atmosphere for families and fans is a way to promote good feelings all the way around, giving everyone the chance to share their experiences with their friends at home. We carry this belief into all of the productions we create at TOCA Events, where every member of our team is dedicated to creating a celebratory event that stands out and leaves people feeling uplifted. With so many more sports events on our plate, we are delighted that we can bring a festive spirit to every production. At TOCA, we believe that infusing people with the spirit of unity and joy is one of the best ways to make the world a better place. For more information on TOCA Events sports hospitality: www.tocaevents.com
The Excitement of Fieston
Having created several events for FIESTON, we at TOCA Events are always excited when we are asked to sign the next contract. An event that attracts thousands of people of all ages, we become just as swept away as everyone else when the gates open and the day begins. With FIESTON Cicero and FIESTON L.A. under our belts, our latest FIESTON has us in Phoenix, Arizona. Here we are continuing our multi-contract with Univision Communications to produce the FIESTON Liga MX live viewing event, coming up on April 26th, 2015. As the broadcast network for Liga MX, Univision is bringing this public event to Phoenix for the first time, working in collaboration with host venue Chase Field to cross promote the Liga MX with Phoenix’s major league baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Joining forces with Chase Field’s Hispanic Festival, we at TOCA Events are helping to create an exciting family-oriented experience that is open to the general public. In addition to a live viewing of the much anticipated Chivas vx America soccer match, FIESTON Phoenix will offer something for everyone. From the 3×3 soccer pitch, painters, and interactive games for kids, to the Coors Beer Garden, Tequila Tasting, and a range of performances including folkloric dance, Mariachi and live bands for adults, this will be a thrilling and fun-filled day that will ignite the entire Phoenix community. Reaching Univision’s international audience, the event includes pre-game and halftime segments that will be broadcast to live from the Univision Sports Desk, situated in the center of the event footprint. The broadcast will be hosted by renowned presenters Jorge Calvo and Alejandro Berry of the popular show, “Fantasticos del Frio.” The two will be joined by star soccer player Ramón Ramírez, one of the greatest Mexical league and national team players who retired in 2000. Ramírez will be at the Sports Desk with the two hosts providing insights and commentary, and will also be available for autographs and photos with guests at specified times throughout the day. FIESTON culminates with a live performance by none other than the young Mexican superstar, Luis Coronel. With hits like “Será Mas Facil” and “Escápate,” Coronel won the Latin Billboard Artist of the Year in 2014 and Regional Mexican Artist of the Year in 2015 and is bound to set the field on fire with his charisma and talent. As with all of the FIESTON events, we are expecting an extremely large turnout in Phoenix, with families and especially kids immersing themselves in the experience. In the past we’ve seen between 4,000 – 8,000 guests attend FIESTON, and we are projecting that FIESTON Phoenix will be no exception to the rule. FIESTON Phoenix is open to the general public from 11am to 7pm on April 26th at the Chase Field Plaza located at 401 East Jefferson Street, Phoenix. www.tocaevents.com
Rio’s Exciting Beach Culture
No wonder Rio de Janeiro, known as “Cidade Maravilhosa” is a place where we at TOCA feel right at home. Jumping from our office in Miami to this Brazilian paradise just shows you what sensualists we are, with an office that allows us to perfectly cover the many corporate events we produce in South America. An Emphasis on Sports Of course, besides the exciting work, its the beach that calls us to Rio, with a totally different vibe than the one we find in Miami. Like Miami, Rio has a huge beach culture, but with an enormous emphasis on sports, with people of all ages playing volleyball, soccer, and enjoying surfboarding whenever they have a spare moment. Mornings and early evenings find the locals exercising, whether its walking or jogging along the water’s edge, or stretching on the sand. In the afternoons, you’ll see some pretty exciting sports being played, with vendors selling coconut water, grilled prawns, and oysters as they wend their way through the throng. Another popular workout on Rio beaches is on the public jungle-gym equipment you see in various areas along the beach. What a great way to keep the public involved in staying fit! Alterro do Flamengo Flamengo Park or “Alterro do Flamengo” is great park for sports, located between the Catete and Botafogo districts right at the edge of Guanabara Bay. Also known as Eduargo Gomes Park, it sits on 286 acres, making it the largest leisure park in Rio. Known for many activities including as the main drag for the Rio Cycling Race and a popular finish line for marathons, the park is dotted with football fields, basketball courts, an outdoor theatre, and even an area for remote control airplane fanatics! And adding to the area’s allure are the exquisitely created gardens by Burle Marx, a famed landscape designer who has made the park as unique as it is practical. Where Socializing is Key The beaches in Rio are where everyone comes to socialize. With 45 miles of gorgeous sand, Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon are the most popular and familiar to visitors. If you want to make a date to meet friends, you only have to choose one of the “postas” or lifeguard stations that stretch along the main beaches. Name the number of the posta and everyone will find you! Planning Your Event in Rio If you’re planning an event and aren’t sure where the best place could be for keeping your guests entertained and fit on their time off, look no more! Our TOCA planning experts will make sure that you get the right mix of a perfectly designed corporate gathering with time off for everyone to enjoy Rio’s exciting beach culture. www.tocaevents.com
St. Pete, Florida: A Perfect Event Locale
Just when the majority of the United States is in the grip of never-ending snowstorms, there is one state that seems to avoid the trend. Though the freeze has even found its way to the deep South, Florida remains free of these back-to-back winter storms, with residents and visitors basking in balmy temperatures under a delicious sun. With weather you can count on, St. Petersburg, Florida offers the perfect destination, which is why we at TOCA Events have become partners with this great city. The area is alive with extraordinary beaches, exceptional culture and entertainment, and constant growth. You only have to read about neighboring city, Tampa’s recent development coup set to break ground this spring, offering over one million square feet of office space and a half a million square feet of hotel and meeting spaces. It became obvious to us a long time ago, that St. Pete would be the ideal setting for a satellite TOCA office. With this in mind, we were lucky to find Hospitality and Special Event pro, Suzan Gough, to join our stellar staff as Senior Executive, MICE Relations for the Tampa Bay Region. With her deep experience in client service, Suzan is helping us grow our brand, creating a significant presence along Florida’s Gulf Coast. With her background as an on-board purser and cruise hostess to years in sales and marketing for hotels Radisson, Marriott, and Resorts International, she also served as the Director of Marketing for Broward County’s Hotel & Motel Association. Launching two separate entrepreneurial endeavors, she provided event and culinary services to a broad list of clients, including ESPN, Blockbuster’s World Headquarters, the Greater Ft. Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Whitbread sailing teams. As former account executive and event producer for conceptBait, a global event and floral design house, Suzan has just the right mix of experience, creativity, professionalism, and clout to manage a strategic locale for event planning such as we have here in St. Petersburg. From the complexities of planning large corporate and sporting events, to managing ancillary activities, our St. Pete team has been hand-picked for their knowledge of the Tampa Bay/Clearwater scene. This means that when our clients ask for a full-on event package, they get the very best that the area has to offer. Whether it’s beach volleyball, a sunset boat ride, or a visit to some of the coast’s best venues, TOCA knows how to tailor off-site experiences that guests will never forget. After a full day of workshops and conferences, we know how to show everyone a good time. Obtaining hard-to-get tickets for a sporting event or a performing arts performance, gaining entrance to fashion shows and clubs, and offering off-the-beaten-path nature walks are just some of the ways our familiarity with this splendid locale can provide that “something extra” that our clients deserve. St. Petersburg and its environs is an easy sell when our clients are looking for a setting that offers consistent weather and a plethora of opportunities for relaxation and pleasure to offset an intense corporate pow-wow or simply to reward employees for work well done. TOCA Events is proud to be a part of the scene, and always excited to plan the perfect on-site and off-site events. www.tocaevents.com
TOCA’s Unique Sports Marketing Solutions
Most sports fans show up at an event to enjoy the game and to add their energy to help their team win. The focus is on the action, and all the rest is usually taken for granted. Creating a good sporting event is an art form, with many different pieces that go into framing the event in order to make it a memorable and exciting experience for everyone involved. Creating the Ideal Fit The sporting industry requires a special eye to marketing. We are proud of our team of TOCA professionals who are able to work hand in hand with clients in order to create the perfect fit for each event. Making Every Experience One to Remember At TOCA, our goal is to make every event we produce an experience that people will enjoy to the fullest and remember for a long time to come. In service to our clients, we make sure that what we add helps to articulate the brand, inspiring and building recognition and customer loyalty every step of the way. Bringing An Event to Life Having produced sporting events at regional, national, international levels, we consider ourselves experts at creating customized solutions for every possible situation. We love the challenge of collaborating with our clients to explore innovative strategies that bring an event to life. Some of Our Favorite Events Some of our favorite events of the past have been creating critical elements for SONY Open Tennis and the BCS College Football Championship Game. And of course, with one of our main offices based in Rio de Janeiro, we always enjoy working with clients there, such as the Confederation Cup and FIFA World Cup, and we’re absolutely thrilled about being a part of the Rio Summer Games coming up in 2016. New Contracts Currently TOCA’s focus is on the new contracts that are keeping us busy as we enter the new year. In the initial process of envisioning plans for each one, here just a few of the things we’re up to: We just received a three year contract with Banco Itau International to produce their experiential marketing component at the Miami Open. With Toca’s Co-Director, Sean Gibbons wielding his racquet on the court whenever he gets the chance, there is no question that this is a perfect fit. Presented by Itau, the contract covers the event for 2015, 2016, 2017, which puts us right in our sweetspot! Another contract we recently signed is once again with Univision to produce their Fieston 2015 events. These will be hosted in Los Angeles in February, Houston in August, Chicago in April, and Dallas in October. The focus is around Liga MX, the Mexican Soccer League, where we expect an attendance of over 8,000 guests! Loving What We do Working to create sports marketing solutions is as exciting as you can imagine. Bringing our clients’ visions to life by carefully honing a solid strategy is extremely satisfying, especially as the project approaches its final form. Experiencing the end product with fans who not only engage with their team, but also feel the vibe that we’ve helped create becomes the absolute topping on the cake. And this is why we love what we do! Contact Us For more information on sports marketing solutions, contact us today: www.tocaevents.com