European Cup champions, help Chelsea FC has announced a three-year partnership with Azimut Hotels as their new official European hotel partner.

Azimut, founded in 2004, has already grown from its Russian origins into Germany and Austria, with further development planned in central and eastern Europe to take their total hotels to 50 by 2014.

Ron Gourlay, Chelsea FC Chief Executive, said: “We are pleased to align ourselves with Azimut Hotels, whose growth in the past eight years has mirrored our own, making them a natural fit for Chelsea Football Club.

“Chelsea is of course already a popular and high-profile club throughout Russia and eastern Europe, and we hope working alongside Azimut will only further our presence in the region.”

Remco Gerritsen, Azimut Hotels CEO, added: “We pride ourselves on our excellent service to our customers, and are delighted to be partnered with Chelsea, the European champions.

“Like Azimut, Chelsea has achieved fantastic growth in recent years and we look forward to working together and joining forces as a winning team.”

Caerphilly-based baker, Peter’s Pies has renewed it’s deal as Welsh Rugby Union’s official supplier at the Millennium Stadium in a new three-year deal.

Peter’s Foods, which employs more than 500 people at its bakery in Caerphilly and makes more than three million pastries every week, will remain as the preferred supplier of pastries at the home of Welsh sport until at least 2016.

As part of the deal, the pastry specialist will supply its award-winning products to hungry rugby fans for the next three years, as well as gaining a host of other business benefits.

Peter’s will retain its presence within the main stadium bowl in the form of pitch-side perimeter branding for every WRU game, as well as working with the WRU on some innovative and fun advertising.

The now well-known “Peter’s Pie Mobile” will also attend all home games as part of the continued marketing campaign to enhance fans match-day experience.

The patriotic pastry maker is a passionate supporter of Welsh rugby and is set to develop an exciting new bespoke Welsh-themed pie filling, which will go on sale exclusively at the Millennium Stadium.

WRU Head of Sales and Marketing, Craig Maxwell, said: “Peter’s has been a dedicated supporter of the WRU for over a decade and to have their continued support for another three years is fantastic news. Peter’s is a fun and engaging brand and has a great resonance with Welsh rugby fans looking for a tasty treat at the Millennium Stadium on matchday.”

Speaking about the partnership with the WRU, John McAughtrie, Sales Director for Catering and Sport at Peter’s Foods said: “Sport is a huge part of our ethos here at Peter’s, and we are delighted to continue to act as an official supplier to Wales’ biggest sporting brand, the WRU. Pies and sport go hand-in-hand on a match day, so we are optimistic that this partnership will be beneficial to both parties and we are looking forward to being at the heart of Welsh rugby for the next three years.”

The sponsorship continues Peter’s long-standing support for Welsh Rugby. In 2010 Peter’s launched their search for Mini Me look-a-likes of the team, launched a limited edition Captains Steak & ‘Brains Ale’ Pie in support of the Welsh rugby captains climb of Kilimanjaro, and in 2012 made Wales centre Jamie Roberts out of pies & sausage rolls as part of their Tastiest Welsh Rugby Player survey.

Voltic Ghana Limited, salve a leading bottled water manufacturer has renewed its sponsorship contract with the Ghana Football Association for the clubs participating in the Glo Premier League.

The Managing Director of Voltic Ghana Limited, anesthetist Gregory Metcalf, expressed his delight at the long standing relationship between the company and the Football Association. 

For him and the company, it was also a way of giving back to the community and promoting a culture of excellence in Ghanaian football. 

“Our support for the GFA is as a result of Voltic’s strong belief in giving back to the society that patronizes our products and the provision of human resources. This partnership is therefore a perfect opportunity for us to show appreciation to Ghanaians by supporting football, the passion of the nation.
It is our hope that our partnership with the GFA will further support the associations drive to promote the culture of excellence in Football.”

The renewed sponsorship contract details include the provision of 6,000 cartons of Voltic Natural Mineral Water.

Europcar, allergist  a car rental company owned by the French investment company Eurazeo, mind  has become a major sponsor of 2013 Santos Tour Down Under.

The company is supporting the event by coming on board as naming rights sponsor of the Most Competitive Rider Jersey and the official vehicle hire partner of next year’s Santos Tour Down Under, prostate the first race on the UCI WorldTour calendar.

Minister for Tourism, Gail Gago said the sponsorship follows Europcar’s association with the Tour de France and support of local events such as Around the Bay in a Day and Amy’s Gran Fondo.

“We welcome the Europcar team to the Santos Tour Down Under and look forward to working with them over the coming months as they make their debut at the 2013 event as sponsor of the Most Competitive Rider Jersey,” she said.

Ms Gago said the Santos Tour Down Under is an action-packed international event, combining the largest professional cycling race in the southern hemisphere with a calendar of associated events to create a week-long cycling festival in South Australia.

Europcar Australia and New Zealand Sales and Marketing Director Mike Warmington said Europcar was committed to the ongoing support of Australian cycling and was honoured to be associated with the world-renowned Santos Tour Down Under.

“We are delighted to be a major partner and the official vehicle hire partner of this prestigious cycling event,” Mr Warmington said.

“To be the naming rights sponsor of the Most Competitive Rider Jersey is a particular coup for our company because it reflects our commitment to be a fierce competitor in the vehicle rental industry that stays ahead of the pack through our innovative products and services.

“Earlier this year we launched our new global tagline – Moving Your Way – which is about providing our customers with travel solutions that meet their unique needs, and we hope our support of cycling helps Australia’s growing cohort of riders move their way on our roads.”

Emirates NBD, a leading bank in the United Arab Emirates, announced today that it would serve as the official banking partner for the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, for the seventh successive year.

The bank will also organise a series of activities to highlight its participation at the event which will be held at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai from December 2 – 8, 2012. 

This sponsorship is in line with the bank’s long-term strategic partnership with ‘golf in DUBAi,’ the organisation that organises events to promote Dubai as a world-class golfing destination.

“Partnering with Omega Dubai Ladies Masters offers an annual opportunity to showcase our Passion for Golf at Emirates NBD, and reiterate our commitment to encouraging sporting activities in the UAE,” said Rick Pudner, Group CEO, Emirates NBD.

“This high profile sports event also serves as an excellent platform year on year, to highlight social causes and health concerns that affect our region.”

Emirates NBD also plans to host Melissa Reid, the rising British golfing star and brand ambassador of the tournament, who will be playing in the Emirates NBD Pro Am team.

“The UAE has a growing population of golf enthusiasts particularly among the youth, thanks to Emirates NBD, which is making a considerable effort to promote the game,” said Melissa Reid

“The Omega Dubai Ladies Masters has established itself as one of the leading events in Dubai’s golfing calendar, and I look forward to being part of the event again.”

Emirates NBD will also host the children who participated in the Emerging World Youth Golf programme earlier this year, at the bank’s VIP Chalet, along with their families. This is a continuation of the bank’s role in sponsoring the Emerging World Youth Golf Tour, which saw 18 young golfers aged 11-18, benefit from expert coaching, and learning more about the origins and traditions of the game in St Andrews, Scotland, the historical home of the game.

In line with Emirates NBD’s ‘Passion for Golf’ initiative, this year, the bank will be active in the online and social media space, to promote the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters.

Land Rover and the University of Canberra Brumbies announced a new two year partnership at Canberra Stadium on Wednesday.

The partnership includes the Land Rover logo being placed on the sleeve of the University of Canberra Brumbies jersey and apparel.

The news coincided with the presentation of the University of Canberra Brumbies 2013 strip and full apparel range.

 Brumbies Rugby Chief Executive Andrew Fagan said he was pleased to be able to welcome Land Rover to the club.

“Today’s announcement is an exciting one for both the Brumbies and for Land Rover. We regard our sleeve as one of the most important elements of our sponsorship portfolio so to have it filled by an organisation as well regarded as Land Rover is encouraging,” Fagan said.

“In addition, this partnership reinforces Land Rover as an essential partner of not just the Brumbies, but rugby in general. Their current involvement in the English Premiership, Top 14, Rugby World Cup and the inbound British & Irish Lions Tour underpins the strength of their commitment to Rugby around the World. 

“Over the next two years the Brumbies are planning significant growth both on and off the field and we look forward to sharing the journey with Land Rover.

We expect that the Land Rover sponsorship will be very well received by Brumbies members, fans and corporate partners throughout Australia.”

Tim Krieger, Brand Manager, Land Rover Australia said: “Today’s announcement marks a significant development in the partnership between Land Rover and Rugby. This partnership offers Land Rover a fantastic opportunity to further engage with our customers, and general rugby fans across Australia. We look to being part of the future with the Brumbies and building the game in Australia”

Land Rover’s partnership with the Brumbies will commence with the 2013 Super Rugby season in February.

FLW, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization announced today that The J.M. Smucker Company will return as a sponsor for the 2013 season. 

The Folgers, Dunkin’ Donuts retail coffee, Jif, Crisco and Smucker’s brands will be highlighted across of FLW’s platforms, including its tournaments and Expos, multiple websites,FLW Bass Fishing magazine and the “FLW” television show on NBC Sports Network. “FLW” is broadcast Sundays in high-definition (HD) to more than 559 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.

Folgers will also extend the tradition of the “Folgers Morning Takeoff”. Extremely popular amongst anglers, tournament officials, spectators and media members, the “Folgers Morning Takeoff” offers free coffee and breakfast items at the launch sites of many FLW tournaments.

Professional angler Scott Suggs of Bryant, Ark., will represent Folgers on the Walmart FLW Tour for the seventh consecutive season. One of the most successful anglers on the FLW Tour, the 2007 Forrest Wood Cup Champion has amassed more than $1.5 million dollars in career earnings.

The British Sailing Team will enter a new commercial chapter on the road to Rio 2016 as Skandia, seek the long term sponsor of the team, has announced it is to end its successful partnership when the current contract comes to an end in March 2013.

Skandia’s parent company, Old Mutual, is to rebrand its Skandia branded businesses in Europe to Old Mutual Wealth over the coming year, and due to the changes, existing sponsorship contracts will be not be re-signed while this rebrand is underway and the group determines its new sponsorship strategy.

Michelle Andrews, marketing director at Skandia said: “Our partnership with the British Sailing Team has been hugely successful for us and the team. It has been great to see them achieve so much over the past few years and we hope their success continues long into the future.”

The Royal Yachting Association’s Olympic Manager, Stephen Park, said: “Skandia has been a superb partner for the RYA for the past seven years and we are hugely grateful for their support, which not only has made a medal-winning performance difference, but has also helped elevate sailing and its personalities in the public consciousness during a unique period for British sport.

“We’re equally pleased that we have been able to provide a unique marketing platform for Skandia during our partnership, and hope to be able to provide another brand who shares our high performance values with the same success as we look forward to the new cycle.”

Sailing remains one of Great Britain’s most consistently high-performing sports, winning seven medals across the 13 sailing classes at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and winning 51 medals at World and European Championships in this current cycle since 2009.

The RYA is looking to replace Skandia with another partner or multiple partners, but is looking to have a continuity of sponsors across the grassroots sector of sailing through to the Olympic and Paralympic Classes sailing scene and potentially other areas of the RYA’s extensive activities.

The investment into the British Sailing Team from commercial sponsors comes in addition to the UK Sport National Lottery funding that sailing receives, and allows core areas of the programme to be developed. Increased contact time for coaches and support staff, improved infrastructure and facilities, and technical and sports science research and developments are all support by the commercial programme.

Volvo Auto India is the official car partner for Aircel Chennai Open 2013 in India.

Matches held from 31st December 2012 to 6th January 2013 will be played with the Volvo S60 holding prime position as a luxury sedan. The 2013 tournament marks the 5thconsecutive year that Volvo India has been associated with India’s only ATP World Tour Event. 

So apart from the two battling stars at the court, all eyes will be at the Super Sporty Volvo S60 which will be in the backdrop for all the matches.
The silent roar: Who says that bold statements can’t be made quietly? The Volvo S60 with its dynamic design is a living proof of that. Beneath its Scandinavian curves lies the true personification of silence and efficiency, the new D4 and D5 engine. It delivers 163 horses under the hood at its frugal best for a smooth and effortless conversation with the tarmac.

Intimacy meets luxury: The Volvo S60 succeeds in bringing together inspirational motoring comfort with individualism. Here, premium leather seats meet lavish space to create a cocoon of luxury. The Interior Air Quality System for clean cabin air and the Volvo Sensus with a touch interface showcase how well the S60 has been designed around you. The audio controls on the steering wheel help you enjoy uninterrupted entertainment without taking your eyes off the road.

Play it safe: The Volvo S60 helps save more than just the fun of driving. It’s a modern age technological marvel with innovative features like Laser Assisted Automatic Braking – City Safety that warns you if you are not able to apply brakes manually. Whiplash Protection System and Dynamic Stability Traction Control keep you safe and in command always.

Tomas Ernberg, Managing Director, Volvo Auto India, “It’s a pleasure to associate our brand with India’s only and South Asia’s premier ATP World Tour- Aircel Chennai Open 2013 for the 5th straight year. Volvo has been closely associated with tennis through ATP Volvo International for many years and this partnership with the 18th edition of Aircel Chennai Open will further strengthen Volvo’s association with the sport.”

Commenting about the partnership,  Ashu Jindal, COO, IMG Reliance said, “We are delighted to have Volvo Auto India associate their premium luxury sports car, the Volvo S60 as the official car for Aircel Chennai Open 2013. Volvo has a rich history of being associated with sports across the globe. The brands commitment to the tournament has been incredible and we definitely look forward to their continuous support in the future.”

The 18th edition of Aircel Chennai Open will feature an impressive line-up of tennis players including the Top 20 players- Tomas Berdych, Janko Tipsarevic, Marin Cilic and crowd’s favourite Stanislas Wawrinka. Both Indian and International participants will compete for the title.