Johannesburg – Two South African events companies, through a joint venture, have been awarded the title of exclusive sales agent for the FIFA Hospitality Programme which was unveiled on Wednesday.

The newly formed joint venture, between Circa Hospitality from the SAIL Group and Warwick Hospitality and Events from the Primedia Group, has been appointed the exclusive sales agent for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.

This was announced by Pascal Portes, the Chief Executive of MATCH Hospitality AG, which is the company mandated by FIFA to be responsible for the accommodation, ticketing and computer and information technology solutions during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“We are convinced that our sales and marketing alliances represent the best options to MATCH Hospitality in terms of their existing market knowledge and networks within the market of the host nation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.”

MATCH has designed a variety of hospitality packages for local and international guests centered around the duration of the World Cup which include match tickets, and exclusive hospitality services in stadia, catering, parking special access, entertainment, accommodation, transport and other tourism related activities.

Hospitality package content has been divided into two sections.

The On-site Hospitality Package includes match tickets coupled with catering, parking, special access, entertainment and guest services and the Full Hospitality Package includes added accommodation, transportation and tourism activities.

Hospitality categories have been divided into three and include Private Suites, Shared Suites and Executive Hospitality.

Mr Portes said MATCH had tried to structure the packages in such a way to ensure prices were competitive.

The average price per person and per package across the spectrum of various packages being offered is $1 450.

MATCH has been allocated 3 000 hotel rooms for the duration of the event and will be working in close proximity with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism to maximise tourism benefit for South Africa and neighbouring countries.

Further more, the five hospitality series have been packaged to include the “Big Six” Series, Gauteng Series, Venue Series, Follow Your Team Series and Final Round Series.

Price ranges for the various packages range from $1 750 per person for the “Big Six” Series which covers 44 matches in total, to between $380 to $1 400 per person for the Venue Series.

The most expensive package is the Final Round Series pricing in at between $3 500 and $6 000 per person for between two to four matches.

Tickets go on sale in South Africa in June 2008, and in September 2008 for the rest of the world.

South Africans are being given a three month period ahead of the international market in order to give priority to the host nation. – BuaNews