RaceDay for schools

First meeting of the day

I meet Nick Cheesman and Christina Khalil at 9am. I have spoken with them many times, but this is the first time we meet. They could be a big client for our racecourse. They own their own training company and want to use a prestigious and exclusive venue for hosting a series of training events and workshops for companies. I talk them through my presentation, explaining that we could offer them superb conference facilities with business services, such as a proper boardroom, PowerPoint, a ‘Wi-Fi’ hotspot, photocopying and fax, as well as refreshments and the use of a high quality restaurant. They seem impressed but they want to think more about the price quotes I give them.

Wedding preparations

At 11am I go over to the main hospitality suite. We have a large wedding reception here today and I wanted to be there at the very beginning to make sure everything is ready. We’ve got over 100 guests and they have asked for the very best banquet – something we are delighted to do and do very well. I am pleased to see that everything has been done exactly as was requested.

Decisions, decisions

On my way back to the office I pass Sam Alexander. We’ve just recruited him as our new marketing executive and he’s really good. Sam tells me that he’s concerned about the prices we’re proposing for admission to horserace events next year: ‘I know we want to charge a high price so that we can earn a good profit for the owners of the racecourse, but I am concerned that if the price is too high, people will choose to go to another racecourse.’ I try to put his mind at ease: ‘Don’t forget that we will be hosting some really big race events next year and people from all over Europe will want to race their racehorses here. I think we could afford to charge a little bit more: there’ll be lots of demand.’ ‘Fair enough,’ says Sam, ‘but we’ll need to talk again before these numbers are confirmed’. I agree to Sam’s request. He’s right to be concerned: the decision we make on admission prices could help create a good profit or a bad loss for the racecourse; we need to get it right.

More events in the pipeline

Back at the office I have a set of posters to approve. The posters will be publicising the race events we’re holding next year. They look really good and I call Adco, our advertisement company, to check these will go on to our website too. I remind them that they haven’t confirmed numbers for their awards dinner next month. Every year we host Adco’s awards event, where they hold an evening of entertainment in our hospitality suite and give out awards for their most successful colleagues.

In the afternoon I have three meetings. The first meeting is with a very large clothing company that wants to use the hospitality suite for a fashion show in the summer. This looks really exciting and we will be host to almost 1,000 people.

I then drive over to ICT Solutions, which has its headquarters a few miles away. They want to hold a summer ball for their clients and we need to agree some important details. They are thinking of starting their event in the late afternoon and sponsoring the last race so that it will be called the ‘ICT Solutions Stakes’. I think this is a brilliant idea.

Exciting offers for our customers

The last meeting of the day is with the chef. We have created a package for people who want to have an exclusive day at the races and enjoy some fine dining. The package gives people admission to the racecourse, a luxury lunch overlooking the course and a chance to meet some of the jockeys. I like the chef’s suggested menu, but I ask him to ensure that there is more than just one vegetarian option for the main courses.

Keeping an eye on the money

I check my emails and confirm that I am meeting the chief executive of the racecourse tomorrow, to discuss which television company we think should get the rights to put our horseraces on television next year. This is potentially a very lucrative contract.

I get to my car and soon realise that my earlier good luck with the traffic was short-lived: the roadworks on the ring road have created a long traffic jam. That’s OK though: I have had a busy day but a really interesting one and I can start thinking about all the things I need to do when I get to my desk tomorrow!