Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority
Friday, February 24, 2017
FEBRUARY 23, 2017 (St. John’s Antigua) - Antigua and Barbuda, the Official Tourism Partner of the WINDIES, will use the upcoming West Indies vs England One Day Internationals (ODIs) on March 3 and March 5 to promote the destination brand.
The millions of viewers around the world, who will be watching the games via live streaming and broadcast television, can expect to see local and visiting spectators having a great time at the upcoming cricket events with every opportunity being used to influence viewers to visit Antigua, one of the leading vacation fun spots in the Caribbean. The Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority will be branding inside the Sir Vivian Richard Cricket Stadium in strategic spots and will have volunteers and staff members handing out promotional material to encourage return visits from cricket fans already in Antigua for the matches.
The Antigua and Barbuda Ministry of Tourism, The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, and the Ministry of Trade, Commerce & Industry, Sports, Culture & National Festivals have joined together to ensure the spectator experience at the games will be exceptional, and will use the cricketing world stage to promote two other upcoming milestone events: The 50thAnniversary of Antigua Sailing Week from April 29 to May 5 (www.sailingweek.com); and the 60th Anniversary of “The Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival”, Antigua Carnival (July 28 – August 8).
Antigua and Barbuda Minister of Tourism, The Honourable Asot Michael stated: “The Government of Antigua and Barbuda is a long-standing and proud supporter of West Indies Cricket, and as a commercial partner with the West Indies Cricket Board we intend to gain a significant return on our investment”.
With a large contingent of international media on the ground in Antigua to include BBC, SKY News and Ten Sports the Tourism Minister said “We will use a coordinated campaign to leverage the two major upcoming events of ‘Sailing Week’ and ‘Carnival’, and to optimise the benefits from hosting the two ODI matches in Antigua.”
The two weekend cricket matches are being broadcasted to millions of viewers around the world and approximately two thousand visitors, mostly from the UK, are already booked to travel to Antigua over the course of next week for the weekend ODIs. Some regional tour operators have also booked small groups for the games and tourism officials expect the games will also attract visitors already holidaying in Antigua & Barbuda.
CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority Colin James said: “The Antigua destination brand will be promoted to its target audiences in the United Kingdom, North America and the Caribbean, by utilising perimeter boards, on-field logo mats, and thirty second destination adverts for Antigua Sailing Week, Carnival and other key destination events on replay screens at the games. Regionally, the destination’s events will also be promoted to viewers watching the coverage on the Caribbean Media Corporation network.”
Culture will certainly meet Cricket at the stadium, as visitors will also come into direct contact with masqueraders, stilt-walkers, steel pan players and other fun loving Antiguan nationals throughout the grounds and at a specially located tourism and festivals booth. During the cricket breaks, fans will have the opportunity to enter draws to win fabulous trips and prizes from the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority and social media will be used to create a flow of conversation about the destination online, reaching various markets, and increasing searchable content using the official tourism hashtag #LoveAntiguaBarbuda.
After the cricket, visitors can further experience the carnival atmosphere in Antigua and Barbuda with “after-cricket parties” at the stadium featuring a selection of the island’s talented musicians, and soca artistes to include, Red Hott Flames, Tian Winter, Claudette Peters, Menace, Madtiguans, and Bankers of Dread and the Bald Head.
ABOUT THE ODI MATCHES AND AFTER-CRICKET PARTIES IN ANTIGUA
· West Indies vs England ODIs will be taking place at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on 03 March and 05 March 2017.
· Tickets for the ODIs are available for purchase on the West Indies Cricket Board website (www.windiescricket.com) or at the WICB booths in St. John’s and at the venue.
· Cricket enthusiasts can enjoy the games in Antigua as guests of Sir Richie Richardson. Guests for the Sir Richie Richardson Hospitality Experience will be hosted in the President’s Suite at the SVRS, which has a great viewing vantage point behind the bowler’s arm. This package includes entrance tickets to the stadium, unlimited food and drinks throughout the matches and I will also be available to sign autographs, take photos and mingle with our guests. We will also have Sir Curtly Ambrose’s autobiography, “A Time to Talk”, on sale and he will be at hand to personalize copies purchased. There will also be a limited supply of cricket souvenir items on sale. The cost to be hosted in the suite is USD275.00 per person, for each ODI match. For Tickets: email: richierichsportsmanagement@
· The first “Sir Richie Richardson Exclusive All Inclusive Cricket Fete” will take place on Saturday March 4 2017, at Casa Palmadita in Fitches Creek, from 7pm until midnight. The main attraction for the night will be the effervescent Spirited Band, featuring Sir Richie Richardson on guitar and Sir Curtly Ambrose on bass. The three times Sunshine Music Award Nominee, Roots Steel Band, will also provide entertainment along with some of the islands best cultural dancers. Unlimited food and drinks will be served throughout the night. The cost for this event will be USD100.00. For Tickets: email: richierichsportsmanagement@
· Tannins Restaurant, Valley Church presents ‘The Biggest After Cricket Lime’, Friday March 3 from 6 – 11 p.m. World Class Music from the Kutting Edge Band, featuring Lacu the Pan Genius and Crew, also King Bankers of Dread and The Baldhead, and the Tannins Talent Search Winners Anjie and Chatresse. Wines, exotic cocktails and mouthwatering cuisine will be available. Guests will enjoy discounts on selected drinks from 6 – 9 p.m. Admission is only to eat, drink & have fun.
