ZURICH, Jan. 20--PRNewswire-AsiaNet/InfoQuest - Australia's match against Brazil one of the most popular first round games - iSe-Hospitality CEO George Taylor: 'We expected there would be interest from ex-pat Australians and Australian corporations with European offices, but the surge in demand in Australia has really taken us by surprise' - 'Follow Australia' packages launched - iSe-Hospitality AG warns companies and individuals in Australia not to deal with unlicensed salesmen iSe-Hospitality AG, which has exclusive rights to sell hospitality at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany(TM), announced today that there had been enormous demand in Australia for hospitality packages for the event. Australia will be making its first appearance at the World Cup in 32 years, and despite the growing popularity of the sport following the Socceroos' defeat of England in 2003 and their appearance at the FIFA Confederations Cup 2005 Germany, George Taylor, CEO of iSe-Hospitality AG, said he had been surprised by demand in Australia. "We expected there would be interest from ex-pat Australians and Australian corporations with European offices, but the surge in demand in Australia has really taken us by surprise," he said from iSe-Hospitality headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. ISe-Hospitality has appointed agents such as Sports Marketing and Management, Australia's leading Olympic and Commonwealth Games marketing company as its authorised sales representatives for Australia (information below), and "Follow Australia" ticket and hospitality packages have been created to meet the demand, after companies and individuals from Australia began snapping up hospitality packages for first round matches. Australia's first-round game against Brazil is one of four games that have received greatest interest according to the 2006 FIFA World Cup(TM) Organising Committee. iSe-Hospitality CEO George Taylor said, "The FIFA World Cup(TM) is the biggest sports events in the world, and it is great that Australia qualified and will play a part this year. There is a lot of talent in the team these days and they've got a good chance of going to the next round. Some of our clients have been planning trips to Europe around the 2006 FIFA World Cup(TM). We already have one company from Sydney who have paid for their entire sales team to go to Germany and have purchased a box at all the Australia games. We expect the Follow Australia package to sell like hotcakes." Following reports that unlicensed salesmen have been touting corporate hospitality packages in Sydney and Melbourne, Taylor urged companies and individuals to deal only with agents such as Sports Marketing and Management who can substantiate affiliation with iSe-Hospitality to avoid disappointment. About the Packages iSe-Hospitality currently offers three different hospitality categories - a fourth category was previously available but sold out completely yesterday. The remaining three hospitality categories - SKYBOX, ELITE and PRESTIGE are available for several stadiums. All hospitality packages offer some of the best seats, special private access to the ground, reserved parking, access to hospitality areas, top-quality food and beverages, exclusive gifts and entertainment. A private SKYBOX features the highest standards of furnishings for up to 20 guests. The same level of hospitality is also available through the ELITE programme, but with larger rooms and restaurants which can be shared with other guests. The PRESTIGE programme provides the best seats in the main stands with hospitality at the ground. "Follow Australia" packages are based on the ELITE/PRESTIGE categories and provide flexibility so the full hospitality package is guaranteed at Australia games, wherever they may be and depending on their progress in the competition. Packages are available for all Australia Group Matches, all games up to the quarter-finals, or all games up to the final itself. Additional information on these and all other hospitality packages can be found by clicking the Official Hospitality banner on http://www.fifaworldcup.com or through Sports Marketing and Management: Mike Bushell, Rod Read or Lisa Schier Sports Marketing and Management Pty. Limited Level 7, 5-9 Harbourview Crescent MILSONS POINT NSW 2061 Tel.: (612) 9959-3466 Fax: (612) 9929-5218 E-mail: [email protected] About iSe and iSe-Hospitality International Sports and Entertainment AG (iSe) is a leading business in worldwide sports marketing and management. iSe was founded as a strategic joint venture by Dentsu Inc. from Japan, the world's biggest advertising agency, and France's Publicis Groupe S.A., the world's fourth biggest and fastest growing group of communication agencies. Dentsu and Publicis together service a network of over 10,000 clients. George Taylor is CEO of both iSe AG and daughter company iSe-Hospitality AG. In 2003, following a tender against 21 competitors, iSe won the exclusive worldwide rights for the official hospitality programme of the 2006 FIFA World Cup(TM). Media Contact Peter Csanadi Director of Communications iSe-Hospitality Production GmbH Office: +49 69 606 274 8307 Mobile: +49 151 163 522 20 e-mail: [email protected] SOURCE: iSe-Hospitality Production GmbH CONTACT: Peter Csanadi, Director of Communications of iSe-Hospitality Production GmbH, +49-69-606-274-8307, Mobile: +49-151-163-522-20, [email protected]; or Mike Bushell, Rod Read or Lisa Schier, all of Sports Marketing and Management Pty. Limited, +612-9959-3466, Fax: +1-612-9929-5218, [email protected] Web site: http://www.fifaworldcup.com --Distributed by AsiaNet (www.asianetnews.net)--