A small Bermuda start up, branding itself as an all-purpose ticketer and event management company, is expanding rapidly in the island’s live entertainment market.
Launched in 2009 from the software division of parent company Fireminds, Ltd., Premier Tickets was originally developed to manage online ticketing for the Bermuda Hogges soccer team and the Gilbert and Sullivan Society. Over the past two years, the company has not only built upon its original software base but has also developed additional tools and services for event organizers, ranging from on-site event management to renting portable box office equipment to managing payments and tracking sales.
According to customer care manager Clare Panchaud, the advantages of such a diversified business model are clear. “Premier Tickets aims to provide total service for event organizers and their customers,” Panchaud told TicketNews in a recent interview. “Utilizing our experience we can help organizers have a smoothly run event by ensuring the front of house is well organized and ticket sales are optimized.”
While maintaining headquarters in Bermuda, the company also provides online ticketing services for events in the Caribbean and the eastern United States, with customer service phone support outsourced to the United States, as well. Panchaud believes its geographic location positions the company perfectly for international business: “Premier Ticket’s base in Bermuda is ideal for international events that want to process their transactions in a sophisticated and well respected offshore environment.”
A primary goal for the company has been the improvement of the event production process and elimination of stress for organizers, and event management has comprised only part of the company’s growth in these past two years.
Premier Tickets, which earns revenue from ticket and advertising fees, as well as consulting services, also has expanded its reach to cover a vast array of events. The company is now involved in ticketing and management for concerts, film festivals, charity and other events, including large scale productions like this year’s Magic of Rick Thomas show, where a four-person staff processed 10,000 tickets for fans.
And growth into new arenas continues, with the company recently entering the tee reservation market with its Premier Golf division. In conjunction with Bermuda’s Department of Tourism and the country’s golf courses, Premier Golf provides the country’s central tee time system.
Other specialized tools include customized online portals for event organizers and access to virtual seat views for ticket buyers to assist them in making the best choice possible when booking seats.
The company aims to expand geographically as well, with immediate plans to move into the markets of other Caribbean countries, “providing online ticketing, registration and related online payment solutions in the smaller niche markets which are typically ignored by the larger ticket providers,” Panchaud said.
The customer care manager continued, “We have a great deal of expertise in event management, multi-currency payment solutions and software development, and thus will continue to leverage these talents to expand the company.”
