New Title Sponsor and Venue for Phuket Raceweek

Faced with the inevitability of a venue change after eight successful years, Phuket Raceweek organisers, Image Asia Events, has concluded multi-year deals with new Title Sponsor, Cape Panwa Hotel and Host Venue Sponsors, Cape Panwa Hotel and Kantary Bay Hotel.

Online registration for Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2012 opened today (30 April) with a special offer for early bird entrants.

“Cape Panwa Hotel and its sister property, Kantary Bay Hotel, on the tip of Cape Panwa in the southeast of the island, will give us the opportunity to lift the standards of Phuket Raceweek even higher than before, while introducing some welcome new elements – such as Cape Panwa Hotel’s stunning beach and beachside gardens,” said Image Asia’s MD, Grenville Fordham. “This agreement means that we continue to race in the same waters in and around Chalong Bay that are so popular with regatta participants, that we keep our signature ‘one regatta, one venue’ format – and that we have security of venue beyond 2012.”

According to Fordham, the Cape Panwa Hotel deal is testimony to the attraction of Phuket Raceweek as a commercial sponsorship platform. “This is not a charitable deal. Cape Panwa Hotel owners, Kasemkij Hotels, have taken a commercial decision and expect a return on their investment. We’ve spent the last few months ironing out the details with their senior management to ensure that they, the regatta organisers, the participants and other sponsors all get the value they should expect,” he said.

Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek

Coming into its ninth year, Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek comprises four days of world-class yacht racing and five nights of beachside parties – all captured for international TV broadcast to 140 million households.

Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek, run over six or seven classes including Racing, Multihull, Cruising and Bareboat Charter, has gained a reputation for its competitive racing for the serious boats and fun courses around the islands for the less serious racers. It is also the first event on the 2012/2013 Asian Yachting Grand Prix Circuit.

“We’re excited to be partnering with one of the region’s top regattas as it goes into its ninth year,” said Tirawan Pangsrivongse, Kasemkij Hotels’ Project Development Manager. “Sports tourism is the fastest growing sector in the global travel and tourism industry and Phuket is the sports tourism centre for Thailand. Leisure yachting and yacht racing are at the pinnacle of high-end sports tourism and this new partnership is a perfect fit with our position in the market. We look forward to showcasing our two Phuket properties, Cape Panwa Hotel and Kantary Bay Hotel to regatta participants and associated media this July.”

Lining up alongside Cape Panwa Hotel in one of the top sponsorship slots is worldwide regatta sponsor, Mount Gay Rum, who used the 2011 regatta as the Thailand a launch platform. After the success of their 2011 participation, they have increased their investment this year, returning as Presenting Sponsor.

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