A 61-ft dragon balloon will take to the skies over Bristol tomorrow to launch the business connection with the city’s International Balloon Fiesta.
The high-profile event is the first this year for members of the Fiesta’s prestigious 100 Club.
Now in its fourth year, the club invites businesses to invest in this iconic event while giving them a chance to join a community of go-ahead businesses.
Latest member, Palletways, will fly its dragon balloon over the city while businesses take an exclusive tour of Cameron Balloons, the world’s largest hot air balloon manufacturer.
The breakfast briefing is the first in a series of 100 Club networking events and allows business to see first-hand how a balloon is made and hear the plans for this year’s event.
For an investment of just £2,000, members receive a package of valuable benefits including corporate hospitality, balloon flight vouchers, brand advertising and VIP tickets to the event, which runs from August 9-12.
Bristol Balloon Fiesta organising committee chairman Chris Hathaway said: “The event will give current and prospective members the chance to take a behind-the-scenes look at ballooning.
“The shared experience of hot air ballooning, for example between a business and its clients provides real business benefits at very low cost and provides a very relaxed and informal platform away from the office where they can meet.
“The 100 Club provides companies with a considerable return on investment for an outlay that is modest for even small businesses.”
Palletways, Europe’s market leader in the express distribution of small consignments of palletised freight, has recently joined the 100 Club after attending the Fiesta with their hot air balloons for several years.
Its dragon balloon, which has a glass-bottomed basket, has appeared at the Fiesta for the past two years.
Marketing manager Jeff Nicholas says: “We’re delighted to be joining the 100 Club this year because it gives us the chance to become an integral part of the fiesta and its business community.
“The Fiesta provides a great opportunity for businesses large and small to showcase their brand, we’ve benefited from this exposure for the last two years by taking our balloons to the event but we now look forward to enhancing this with the benefits the 100 Club provides.”
Every member of the club has the chance to become the title sponsor in a prize draw . Two other winners become the sponsor of the popular night glow events, which attract crowds of 100,000 people.
Andy Collett, from last year’s title sponsor winner Collett Transport Services, said: “We were incredibly honoured to become the title sponsor of last year’s Fiesta. It was a truly fantastic event, and has made a huge difference to the business over the past year.
“The 100 Club introduced us to ballooning and we’ve been passionate about it ever since. My wife Bridget and I are training as balloon pilots and flying at the event in a balloon bearing our company name was an unforgettable experience.”
The Fiesta, which is free to attend, has become a major tourist attraction recognised as one of the UK ’s top five outdoor events.
For more information about the Fiesta 100 Club contact Ben Hardy on (0117) 953 5884 or visit www.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk.
