In 1992, Bobby Chantrelle held his first party with two friends, 'Selected Friends', and the entrance fee for this was a whopping $20! Fast forward to 2009 and he is still throwing parties but on a much larger scale.

In 2007, he established an event management and production company, Team Solutions, and according to Chantrelle this company was not a matter of if, but when it would get off the ground. "I guess it all started with us putting on events that we wanted to attend and doing things that we thought were missing from other events at the time. In reality, it was probably something that had to happen eventually, since we were always the last to leave the party, whether we put it on or not."

Own company

Before launching out on his own to form his company, Chantrelle worked as a network planning manager at Cable and Wireless (LIME). But it was event planning and production that had his full interest.

Being part of the ATI family since 2003, the experience has been fulfilling for the event planner. "There is a certain satisfaction in planning, managing and then executing most projects. There is a definite feeling of gratification in knowing that it will only get better."

For such an extensive party weekend, planning and marketing is critical, but Chantrelle noted that ATI is somewhat spared some of the hassle because of its brand. "ATI is particularly expensive to stage. To host 11 parties in Negril, including rooms for about 400 in the team, combined with three months of extensive marketing via the print, electronic and Internet media costs a pretty penny. Fortunately, the quality of the product has attracted the more savvy marketing teams in corporate Jamaica and a number of sponsors have once again come on board this year."

ATI, the brainchild of Alex Chin, is now an international brand and, come 2019, Chantrelle sees himself enjoying the ATI party weekend in Negril while perhaps sipping on some Appleton and Coke.

- L.G.

latoya.grindley@gleanerjm.com