Business entertainment

Members ask us for help with business and corporate entertainment because:

• They know what they want to do (go to Wimbledon, the FA Cup Final or the latest West End opening) but don't want to buy standard ‘off the shelf' packages
• They don't want to take their staff or clients to badly organised and generic hospitality tents
• They want inspirational ideas for events and packages tailored to their aims
• We have extensive experience taking care of members' entertainment needs

Our head of corporate entertainment Lucy Brennan says: 'The best corporate hospitality makes people feel special. Our members want more than the standard hospitality and entertainment packages and we help them set up unique, personal experiences, such as a cricket nets session with Phil Tufnel, cooking lessons with a celebrity chef or a trip around the Isle of Wight with one of the world's fastest yachtsmen. Standing in a tent drinking warm cava with 200 used-car salesmen at the British Grand Prix simply won't cut it.'

We can access premium hospitality at the most sought-after events around the world. We've arranged tickets for top sporting fixtures, such as the FA Cup and Wimbledon, and got members into VIP parties and premieres at Cannes. We handle a wide range of hospitality requests, from members who want to motivate staff to entrepreneurs trying to impress prospective investors.

'The industry has grown rapidly in recent years, but this has flooded the market with average tent-and-bubbly events, leaving many jaded with the concept of corporate entertainment. This, combined with the current economic climate, has led to a search for smaller scale, more individual – and, ultimately, more special – events.'

More and more members are realising that, to get the most out of their entertainment budget, it's better to take a small number of people to a one-off event that they won't forget rather than trying to impress 50 people with a standard hospitality package. We specialise in suggesting and arranging these extra-special touches.

‘The secret to successful corporate entertainment is finding something that is genuinely entertaining to the clients involved,' says Lucy. ‘We've found that bespoke cooking lessons with Michelin-starred chefs and champagne or whisky tasting sessions at a private West End wine cellar are perennially popular, as is attending sports events such as Cowes, golf and cricket with well known sports celebrities – these kind of events are stalwarts as they're safe, and generally fun for all involved. In previous years, members have had the option of going on a boat with Lewis Hamilton and the opportunity to entertain at the Ryder Cup, Champions League Final and the Olympics.'

Originality in corporate entertainment is often curbed by practicality – something sounds great, but would be a pain to organise. We do that for people; the team here is used to linking itineraries with private jets, helicopter transfers, restaurants and hotels.

The key is for us to sort whatever it is out in such a way that the hosts are relaxed enough to spend quality, enjoyable time with their guests.

Insider tips:

• Who's invited? Knowing exactly who is attending will make it far easier for us to tailor suggestions. Think carefully about what your guests would enjoy.
• While it's helpful to have an idea of the budget from the outset, be prepared to be flexible. The opportunity may come up to include extra-special additions to the package.
• Think carefully about how many people will be invited. For many, a smaller, more exclusive event works better and allows for quality time with the people who really matter.
• We can set up travel and hotels and suggest itineraries for members attending corporate hospitality abroad.