Troncossi Public Relations has launched a suite of services for businesses, sailing teams and sponsors in the lead up to the America’s Cup World Series later this year and through to the event final in 2017.

It is using its network of contacts and 15 years of experience in public relations in Bermuda to provide a range of services through its Cup Communications venture.

It will offer corporate/VIP entertaining, employee team building events, presentations and social media competitions, as well as public relations and social media support to the competitor teams.

Troncossi is not associated with the America’s Cup Event Authority or the ACBDA (America’s Cup Bermuda Ltd), although it was one of the bidders for the position of communications partner with the ACBDA, a role which was awarded last month to the COMM Group.

Hamilton-based Troncossi’s initiative is a demonstration of on-Island entrepreneurship springing up ahead of the international sporting event.

Its Cup Communications venture has a dedicated website and aims to help companies and organisations enjoy the build up to the World Series races in Bermuda later this year and the qualifiers and America’s Cup final in 2017, while also guiding them so that they can adhere to trademark restrictions.

“The key thing for me is that we have to respect the event’s trademark and the use of its name,” said Elizabeth Tee, Troncossi’s managing director, who met with the ACEA (America's Cup Event Authority) before the launch of Cup Communications.

She researched previous America’s Cup competitions to see what activities took place around the event and to develop her own ideas.

Explaining how the venture will work, she said it was divided into three categories.

“One is for Bermuda-based businesses. Maybe they want to have an employee team-bonding event, or hire a boat so they can watch the sailing teams practice, or host a cocktail party with clients,” she explained.

“Then there are the official sponsors who might want to host an event here, after all Bermuda is a glamorous location. They might want to fly clients down and host a cocktail party. We can organise that for them — from the quality caterers to the best sound system.

“The third group are the actual teams, who may want public relations and support in Bermuda.”

Troncossi has also linked up with an expert on the America’s Cup who will be available to give presentations to clients about the history of the event and to explain the ins and outs of the races.

Ms Tee said it was up to entrepreneurs to develop new business ideas and think outside the box, while ensuring they abide by restrictions on trademarks and usage of the America’s Cup name.

The Cup Communications website was launched yesterday and has attracted positive feedback from a number of Troncossi’s existing clients, Ms Tee said.

She and her team are excited about the possibilities the event presents. They monitored the build up to the announcement last December that the Island would host the 35th America’s Cup and immediately afterwards launched a 32-day Twitter campaign that featured fun facts about the event.

“As excitement builds we know that businesses and sponsors will start to think about how they can get involved and participate while still adhering to the various America’s Cup trademarks,” said Ms Tee.

The Cup Communications website is at www.cupcommunication.com.

For further information contact Ms Tee on 292-5838 or e-mail liz@troncossi.bm.