For the fourth year in a row, Scottsdale-based master agency PlanetOne Communications hosted its top sales partners and preferred vendors at the Phoenix Open PGA tour stop.
PlanetOne once again had a SkyBox Suite at the 16th hole, the so-called “rowdiest hole in golf.” PlanetOne agents who reached $30,000 in new sales for 2013 qualified for a trip to Arizona to join PlanetOne for a birds-eye view of the action at the Open, where Kevin Stadler won his first PGA Tour title after Bubba Watson missed a 5-foot par putt on the 18th hole. Partners also danced the night away at the Coors Light Birds Nest; this year the entertainment featured country star Jake Owens, Weezer and O.A.R.
“This is an internationally recognized, world class event and venue—first-rate, in every sense,” said Roger Paschal, senior director of the indirect channel at Time Warner Telecom. “The PlanetOne suite situates top sales performers and carrier partners alike in a relaxed and open manner that accomplishes exactly what it sets out to achieve. This is an opportunity to make new connections, refresh old ones, and spend quality time in a casual, exciting setting. For the carrier it is a superb opportunity to deepen relationships, and for the top performers it represents a highly sought after reward for sales achievement.”
The trip is part of PlanetOne’s incentive program, the first of three rewards for top sales in 2013. Later in 2014, the agency will bring an array of top-selling partners to Scottsdale, Ariz. for a baseball Spring Training outing, and will honor its “High Rollers” with a five-star luxury tour of Napa Valley, including private wine tastings, limousine service and custom culinary experiences.
The Spring Training events and the High Roller grand prize are new elements of the rewards structure for PlanetOne, which has always prided itself by offering unique incentives and experiences for its leading partners unmatched in the industry.
“This is our opportunity to host our top partners and congratulate them for outstanding efforts in 2013, in an environment that brings the opportunity to relax, enjoy the weather and build their business, all at the same time,” said PlanetOne president Lauren Shapiro.
Patrick Etheridge, president at agency Telecom Efficient, noted that the company’s approach to its events goes down well with partners. “The Phoenix Open event sponsored by PlanetOne is definitely one of the premier carrier events of the year, and the one event I and my team strive towards so that we’re able to attend each year,” he noted. “It’s a perfect mix of successful agents and industry executives, which makes it something that’s both a great networking event, and a lot of fun—which is rare for these types of events.”
“You couldn’t yell, ‘run caddie run’ this year, but there were still plenty of high-fives and chest bumps to go around,” added Shane McNamara, vice president of the partner channel at XO Communications. “As usual, Ted Schuman, Lauren and the rest of the Planet One team put on a spectacular event to foster more relationships between XO and PlanetOne sales partners.”
