Villagers get the party started
By Andy Pearson
National broadcasters flocked to Swansea's Village Hotel last night for the start of Swansea City's open-top bus Premiership parade.
Head for the Effective Communication Facebook page – click here – and you’ll find an album of photos from last night’s Swansea City victory parade.
The parade saw the triumphant squad travel around city centre streets to The Guildhall. Thousands of fans cheered them on.
And all our images show how the Village Hotel gave the squad, officials and families the perfect launch pad for celebration.
Discreetly
General manager Andrew Petherick and his staff were approached last week about hosting the event. Things were handled discreetly as the Swans prepared for their Wembley clash with Reading.
The Village’s involvement was confirmed minutes after Monday’s final whistle and planning began in earnest.
A red carpet was dusted down, champagne flutes were lined up, the ice buckets were filled and balloons (black and white) were filled with helium.
Inspiration
The venue’s Inspiration Suite was laid out with chairs and tables, Sky Sports footage of the play-off victory was put on a loop on the hotel’s many public screens and car park spaces were reserved for the club.
Importantly, plans were made in consultation with Effective to handle the many members of the media expected to attend.
The rec carpet ride from the hotel foyer to the waiting big red bus would be the only place on the parade where players would be at ground level and shoulder to shoulder with supporters.
Opportunity
It was an opportunity too good to miss for photographers and camera operators.
And they turned up in force.
ITV Wales broadcast live from the red carpet, BBC Radio Wales had a man reporting live, there was Sky News on the bus, Swansea Sound, The Wave and numerous newspaper people.
Kickabout
National BBC children’s TV show Match of the Day Kickabout was also there with cameraman and reporter.
The reports and images went around the world resulting in a great PR coup for the Village and the Swans.
Their joined up thinking paid off. They planned early, liaised well and pulled off a launch event which will linger long in the memory.
Tags: Cardiff, open-top bus, parade, PR, PR agency, Premiership, Swansea, Swansea City, Village Hotel, Wales
