By Andrew Mitchell
This week the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games confirmed another key partnership, this time confirming Jet Set Sports and affiliate CoSport as an official supporter and supplier of travel packages.
Jet Set Sports was an obvious choice, with a long-standing relationship with the International Olympic Committee and experience going back to the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles. Recently, Jet Set was an official sponsor of the Games in Salt Lake City, Athens and Torino, as well as an official sponsor of the Canadian Olympic Committee and U.S. Olympic Committee, as well as various other national Olympic organizations.
For Vancouver and Whistler, Jet Set Sports and CoSport will develop and supply official hospitality packages for spectators, including flights, ground travel, accommodation and tickets to Olympic events. Packages will be available for booking near the end of 2008.
“The excitement and anticipation for Canadians and people around the world wanting to attend the Games in 2010 is already very high and is continuing to gain momentum,” said VANOC CEO John Furlong in announcing the partnership. “With help from Jet Set Sports we know that those fans will receive a first-class hospitality experience. We have witnessed Jet Set first-hand at other Games and their level of service and attention to detail are remarkable.”
As an official supporter to 2010, Jet Set will provide support for the Canadian Olympic Team in Beijing in 2008, Vancouver in 2010 and London in 2012. That’s familiar territory for the New Jersey-based travel agency, which has supported the Canadian team in past Games.
“We have been a long-time sponsor of the Canadian Olympic Team and the Canadian Olympic Committee, and we are honoured that VANOC has entrusted us to be their partner,” said Jet Set Sports and CoSport founder, chair and CEO Sead Dizdarevic. “Our goal is to create packages that allow our customers to have a once in a lifetime opportunity in attending the Games.”
It’s unknown how much package deals will cost, or how much overnight travel Whistler can expect given the number of rooms that will be occupied by the Olympic family, media and sponsors. However, plans are underway to enable day trips to Whistler from Vancouver, where there is far more accommodation available.
VANOC is still in the process of landing sponsors and supporters in key market segments. Jet Set joins a list of Official Supporters that includes the B.C. Lottery Corporation, Canadian Pacific, TeckCominco, Ricoh, and the Royal Canadian Mint. The list of national partners includes Bell, Hbc, RBC Financial Group, GM Canada, Petro Canada and Rona.
To date, corporate and government sponsors have committed more than $1 billion in direct financial support for the Games, not including improvements to Highway 99, or the Canada Line transit service to the airport and Richmond.
