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36 th Bristol International Balloon Fiesta Thursday 7 th to Sunday 10 th August 2014

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

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This presentation was given at the APM South Wales and West of England branch AGM on 21st May 2014, in Bristol. The chairman introduced Ben Hardy of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Ben explained that he has been involved with the fiesta since 2000, and the full time event director since 2010. The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta was started in 1979 by Don Cameron. It is run as a not for profit company with a board of 8 trustees, Don being the Chairman. Its constitution requires it to be a credit to Bristol, promote employment in the area and be free from admission charges. It is known worldwide and attracts some 500,000 visitors each year. Ben outlined the organisational structure and his team’s role in project managing the event each year. The fiesta costs £596K per year, with an income of £600K which is weather dependent, and so represents a considerable financial risk. The fiesta is good for the local economy, for every £1 in costs, it is estimated that £15 is spent in the local economy by visitors from outside the local area. The fiesta has huge media impact, with 1.891 billion circulation figures worth nearly £2M in marketing value. Before the recession, the event was supported by key sponsors who underpinned the financial risk, but this is no longer the case. Some sponsorship is gained via the ‘100 Club’ of local Bristol firms, but the financial risk is clear and the event has needed ever tighter planning and management. Ben explained some of the challenges he has had to deal with, including improving crowd safety, establishing a value for money focussed procurement strategy, getting the ballooning community re-engaged, and attracting visitors for the whole day to help increase foot-fall for the traders. Ben described his role as multidisciplinary. A lot of time is spent on managing the stakeholders, the local councils and residents. The fiesta is seen as Bristol’s event, but Ashton Court is actually in North Somerset, and so the stakeholders have not always been easy to align. There is now an operations planning group with key stakeholders to coordinate and direct the planning. For the future, a strategic risk register has been developed, which includes plans for alternative venues. This, and the creation of a financial reserve, will help manage the financial risk. Ben has found the Podio collaborative tool ideal for project managing the fiesta.

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Page 1: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

36th Bristol International Balloon Fiesta Thursday 7th to Sunday 10th August 2014

Page 2: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Contents

Context and Background

Key Functions

Key Challenges

A Personal Perspective

Page 3: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

The Fiesta Project Manager!

2000 – worked as a member of the Event Team

2003 – invited to join the Organising Committee

2009 – Deputy Chairman of the Organising Committee

2010 – Event Director

Page 4: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

About the Fiesta

Founded in 1979

Non-profit making company

Constitution states:

Fiesta should be a credit to the City of Bristol

No admission charge to the public

Fiesta will promote employment in the local area

Page 5: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Structure

Page 6: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Finances - Income The Fiesta is self funding, generating c. £600k per annum

25%

20% 35%

13%

7%

Car Parking

Catering

Trade Stands

Sponsors

Other

Page 7: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Finances - Expenditure The Fiesta costs c. £595k per annum

14%

8%

75%

3%

Overheads

Ballooning

Event Services

Entertainment

Page 8: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

50% of our visitors travel 50 miles or further

Destination Bristol assessment in 2011 concluded a total value of

£15 million is spent by non-local people who would not have

otherwise been to the city

In other words, for every £1 the Fiesta costs, £15 is spent in the

local economy by its visitors

Economic Impact

Page 9: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Media Impact

2013 circulation figures: 1,891,012,415

Direct media value: £646,179

CIPR approved value: £1,938,539

Massive social media increase:

18,930 Facebook likes (doubled in 2013) reaching 257,554 in a single day

and over 1 million people during the event weekend

Page 10: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Film

Page 11: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Our Plans for 2014 One of the most exciting years yet

Commemoration of World War One

World famous displays from the RAF

Seven Mass Ascents featuring 150 hot air balloons

Two Nightglows featuring 30 choreographed balloons

Page 12: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

The Fiesta – 2010 onwards Dis-engaged private sector

Significant concerns from Responsible Authorities

No procurement strategy – value for money v. quality of

product/service

Ballooning community unmotivated

Page 13: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

My role – mutli-disciplined Event Management

Emergency Planning

Marketing

Brand Manager

Media

Exhibition Sales

Site Management

Retail

Accountant

Board level to toilet cleaner……..!

Page 14: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Understanding our Functions

Page 15: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Reporting structure back to Organising Committee and Board –

templates and time scales

Creating teams/departments and identifying their challenges

Mapping key stakeholdes and how to communicate with them

Delivery: Project Management

Page 16: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Site Management:

Procurement Strategy in place

Understanding the outputs – site plans, productions

schedules, purchase orders

Operational Management

Engage all partners

Clear Meeting schedule and deadlines

Delivery

Page 17: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Understanding our Functions

Page 18: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Social Media – gaining commercial value

Commercial Opportunities

Protecting the environment and event sustainability

Creating a reserve

The Future

Page 19: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Communicate – and use the right communication at the right time

Efficiency – email!

Technology

Tools for the job

Project Management – a personal

perspective

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cid:B8098F41-1DA2-403A-8A9C-

CE81D2D073D3@public

Page 21: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta