Lexington, KY - The World Equestrian Games 2010 Foundation has already raised 75 percent of its budgeted goal in terms of sponsorships, but there will still be many opportunities for local businesses to play a part, according to Terry Johnson, vice president of sales and marketing for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Johnson joined WEG 2010 Foundation CEO Jamie Link and Krista Greathouse, director of events for Foundation housing partner Short's Sports and Events, at Central Library to update an audience of roughly 80 business people and community members on the status of their event planning efforts at a lunchtime forum.
The Foundation is in the late stages of assessing its specific needs, ranging from the event's IT requirements to the number of portable bathrooms on site, and drawing up plans that will give businesses a better idea of their possible roles, Johnson said. In addition to a hospitality plan that should be finished by the end of March, the Foundation has also had preliminary discussions with Commerce Lexington and expects to release a plan this summer showing how small businesses can get involved. Deposits have been taken for roughly 60 percent of the event's available trade show spaces.
"We're building an event from scratch," Johnson said. "There's no manual to go by because the Games have never been held outside Europe."
Despite the increasing challenges brought on by the economic downturn, Johnson said the Foundation is confident that it will meet its sponsorship goals, adding that there is a "good possibility" that two or three more sponsors will be announced in the next 60 to 90 days.
In the meantime, Greathouse confirmed, the number of visitors scheduling to travel to the Bluegrass for the event continues to grow, although their inventory of private homes for rent currently exceeds their tenant interest threefold. Hotel accommodations in Lexington and the surrounding areas are ample, Greathouse said, at the same time putting to rest concerns she has heard on whether the event will draw crowds as anticipated.
"I can tell you, tried and true, they are coming," Greathouse said. "Right now, we're averaging 2,000 new room night requests a month."
The forum was followed by a question-and-answer session, during which local business members expressed their interest in topics ranging from the the city's efforts at event preparation and planned duplicate medal ceremonies downtown to the audience draw for particular events and ad space availability in programs for the Games.
Link emphasized that partnerships and alliances, such as those being developed with the city of Lexington, will be integral, pointing out that "it's not a one-horse show."
City officials later confirmed that a liaison with the city is expected to be named within two weeks.
Link noted that international coverage of the Ryder Cup in Louisville exhibited a strong sense of Kentucky's overall hospitality, and he said he hopes the personal experiences of World Equestrian Games visitors in Lexington will reflect the same. And while everyone is watching their pennies these days, Link noted that Lexington and Kentucky shouldn't lose sight of the big picture.
"The economy is sour right now, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't invest in our future," Link said. "It would be short-sighted of us to focus on what it's going to cost, because to me it's not a cost - it's an investment."