Goodwood is the business at doing business

In these challenging economic times, the British sporting event tradition of entertaining hospitality guests with a glass of warm white wine and some indiscernible slop that vaguely tastes like chicken will simply not cut it. As a result many hospitality clients are voting with their feet and simply not booking for the 2009 sporting season.

Thankfully poor quality mass catering has never been an issue for guests being entertained at the UK’s leading motor sport events, the Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival. Instead, entertainment at Goodwood offers the finest food and wines in unique, stylish and comfortable surroundings, meaning that even in these tough times, Goodwood’s hospitality bookings for this year are holding up impressively well compared to the overall sharp decline in this sector of the British entertainment industry.

Recognising the current economic slowdown and unusually harsh trading conditions, Goodwood is adapting its hospitality offerings for 2009 to reflect the on-going need for guests to keep doing business and networking. By introducing ‘Business at Goodwood’ Festival of Speed and Revival guests will be able hold a business meeting, conference or sales seminar in the morning at one of Goodwood’s on-site world-class facilities (e.g. The Goodwood Hotel, Goodwood House, Goodwood Sculpture Park, etc.), and then still take time out to enjoy an energetic afternoon of high-octane motoring action with great trackside viewing and plenty to see and do.

New for the 2009 Festival of Speed is the Supercar Pavilion, located next to the Sunday Times Supercar Paddock and offering guests – including families – top-class facilities at an affordable price. The popular Moss Pavilion was substantially upgraded in 2008 with an elevated structure, a revised layout and covered balcony, and is located just metres from the intense hill climb action.

At the Goodwood Revival, the new elevated Salvadori Pavilion Art Deco hospitality suites enjoy a prestigious track-side position located on the in-field near the action-packed Chicane, with views of the Lavant Straight, Woodcote Corner and the startline. All hospitality packages at the Festival of Speed and Revival include admission tickets, paddock access, reserved car parking, fine foods, wine and many more benefits.

Goodwood’s bucking of the current economic trend also extends to the sales of advance entry ticket for the Festival of Speed and Revival which remain strong. The same applies to grandstand places, many of which have been changed to roving seats for the first time this year to offer motor sport fans greater flexibility and alternative locations to view all of the on-track action. Demand for plots at Goodwood’s dedicated campsite for the Festival of Speed and Revival is also running comfortably ahead of the same period last year.

The 17th Goodwood Festival of Speed will open its gates to around 145,000 motor sport enthusiasts from 3-5 July, with the Goodwood Revival expected to attract over 120,000 historic motor racing fans from 18-21 September.

For more information, and to make bookings for advance tickets, grandstand seats, hospitality, and camping, visit goodwood.co.uk