Smirnoff Dream Weekend goes international -Event to be launched in the United States; Dream Team adds diamond package

After an overwhelming response in 2010, Smirnoff Dream Weekend is already announcing dates for this year's staging.

The festival will commence on Friday, July 29 and run until Monday, August 1.

According to a release from Dream Weekend, "the patron feedback is clear, the Negril party experience at Smirnoff Dream Weekend is unrivalled."

That being said, the Dream Team, made up of promoters of events in the series, has created a number of new partnerships this year.

The title sponsor of the event is once again Smirnoff, one of the brands in the Diageo group. The Diageo group in its entirety are the exclusive alcohol partners of the event.

The brands include Red Stripe, Heineken, Guinness, Johnnie Walker, Baileys, Nuvo, and Rum.

The Jamaica Tourist Board is another of the returning partners, along with LIME.

Pepsi and Red Bull are also on board.

Media Coverage

For television coverage leading up to, during and after the weekend, CVM TV are official television partners, while The Gleaner continues to be the official print sponsors of the event.

Travel packages for this year's staging are being developed for both local and international revellers.

The international packages will remove much of the hassle in booking.

The group has also said it will roll out a website where prospective patrons can view and purchase packages. The site also provides online armband sales.

As this event continues to grow, it seems rivalry with event festivals like Caribana in Toronto, Trinidad carnival, and Spring Break in Cancun is an inevitability.

Foreign waters

That growth has lead the organisers to foreign waters.

On Thursday May 12, for instance, Dream Weekend will be launched in Soho, Manhattan, and New York City.

A week later, there will be the Dream Girl auditions at Fiction Nightclub, before the May 27 launch at Club Euro, downtown Fort Lauderdale.

The launch of the event in Jamaica will take place on June 1.

Returning to the line-up of events are the all-star favourites - Xtreme Wet and Wild, Smirnoff Flavours, Daydreams, Yush, Smirnoff Xclusive, Twisted Spiritz and Beer Vibes.

This year there will also be a new event, making a total of eight events on the Smirnoff Dream Weekend armband.

This year there will also be what is termed 'the Diamond Experience'.

That experience is supposed to provide patrons with a more personalised type of service, access to diamond lounges at each event, specially designated shuttles, as well as designated entrances at each event.

The prices for Diamond bands will be announced on June 1, along with our regular armband prices.

Transport solutions that can take many patrons to Negril from major towns across the island is another feature this year.

Patrons are also encouraged to carpool when going to Negril.

This year shuttle buses will be provided from designated parking lots, hotels and major hubs across the town of Negril as there will be no parking on the strip during the weekend.