BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - WITH a six-month countdown to the Fourth Annual Latin Festival, LLC, the organisers last night (Apr. 10) hosted a Cocktail aimed at attracting sponsors and partners to the entertainment extravaganza.
The Cocktail was held in the St. Kitts Events Room at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.
Over 50 individuals from the business community were in attendance, including previous sponsors and the sponsors of the Cocktail - TDC, Kajola Kristada and Presidente.
The event is slated for October 24-27 and will be themed ‘Dominican Republic Edition’. However, according to the organisers, the venue is yet “to be negotiated”.
Last year, the festival was held at Carambola and previous years at Spice Mill - both are located in the South East Peninsula.
Director of the Latin Festival, Michelle Demming chaired the event and highlighted its purpose.
“We are currently in the process of organising this year’s event and the purpose of this Cocktail is to give business owners and managers the opportunity to be part of this successful festival.”
She disclosed that the Latin Festival, LLC “is a non-profit organisation which is incorporated under the laws of St. Kitts and Nevis and organises Latin festival festivities”.
Demming introduced new committee members in the persons of Sharon Stevens-James (Marketing Official), Geisha Rodriguez (Entertainment Official), Kayrecia Nero Simmonds (Logistic Official), Altonia Springer (Marketing Official) and Dawn Poujade as the Ex Officio Member.
Speaking to the attendees, Stevens-James said that the committee is “willing to work with you in marketing your products during the upcoming months before the fiesta in October”.
She noted that the available sponsorship packages are: Platinum - EC$10 680 (US$4 000); Gold - EC$8 010 (US$3 000); Silver - EC$5 340 (US$2 000); Bronze - $EC4 005 (US$1 500) and In-kind Contributor Package EC$2 670 (US$1 000).
Interested business sponsors and partners are asked to note that there will be an Early Bird Special.
Stevens-James explained that “if you come onboard before May 1, 2013 you will receive a five percent discount on your sponsorship package”.
She also explained to the attendees why the St. Kitts Visitors Channel, of which she is the Manager, has renewed its sponsorship of the event for a second year.
“As business owners and managers, we all want more visibility for the product we market. Latin Fiesta gave the St. Kitts Visitors Channel an audience that we’ve never captured before. I actually received a few emails from persons in neighbouring islands and not so close countries who had visited our website referencing the Latin Festival in St. Kitts”.
She shared one of such emails, which read: “I love the different aspects of how you’ve highlighted the Festival there in St. Kitts. I never realised St. Kitts had such a festival. Please keep me updated as to the next Latin fiesta so I can plan ahead, as I travel to different countries following Latin artistes and I’m often in Puerto Rico for different Latin festivals.”
The Festival’s Chairman, José Rosa, recalled how the idea to host the event was born.
According to Rosa, it started in 2010 with an “informal conversation”. The Chairman stated that he and Roger Brisbane from Spice Mill, along with two Cuban musicians who had been playing in St. Kitts for the past eight to nine years, spoke about it and decided to organise a small festival.
He informed that about 700 people had attended the inaugural Festival.
“It was a beautiful day at the Peninsula that day and everybody enjoyed it. And we said, ‘Well...I think we can do our second one.”
Rosa spoke about the organisers’ expectation for this year’s event and the confidence he has in the team.
“Our expectation is higher and we will improve year after year. I don’t have any doubt about it that the team we have this year and the team we had last year are dedicated persons to the festival.”
He also praised the team members for being “committed and engaged” to the festival.
For more information about the Latin Festival, LLC, this year’s event and becoming a sponsor, interested persons can email: latinfestivalstkitts2012@gmail.com; phone: 1 (869) 760-1981 or visit the website at www.latinfestivalstkitts.com or the Festival’s Facebook and Twitter social networks.
