ShanghaiRanking<\/em>.<\/p>\nThe faculty at UCF supported Patterson in pursuing internships with UCF Athletics, the Orlando Magic and Orlando City Soccer Club, which helped her gain real-world experience, she says. Those lessons have served her well in her career and particularly on this new project.<\/p>\n
Shifting Focus<\/h2>\n During her six years in the industry, Patterson says she\u2019s seen a shift in the consumer market focusing on experiences over material things as social media and content creation have grown \u2014 especially after the pandemic. Her goal at On Location is to provide guests the opportunity to not just attend an event, but to be a part of the action in a new way. An example is an on-field celebration for Super Bowl guests, complete with confetti.<\/p>\n
For the Olympics, On Location will provide an experience for fans attending the Summer Games, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies. Hospitality suites such as Clubhouse 24 \u2014 located in the Palais de Tokyo and set against a backdrop of the Eiffel Tower \u2014 will provide guests a guaranteed ticket to the game of their choice, food and beverages, entertainment, special appearances, activities and more.<\/p>\n
Global Takeover<\/h2>\n While Patterson has worked at major events, the Olympics will be different because of the scope. The massive 19-day event features 10,000 athletes in 44 sports across 41 venues in Paris, 16 other cities across metropolitan France and Tahiti, a French Polynesian island. Coordinating travel for fans across these locations and events is no small task, and organizers expect 2 million visitors from outside France.<\/p>\n
\u201c[The job is] trying to take the hassle out of travel for [attendees so] they can just show up and have a good time and celebrate this moment with their friends and family,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
The Game Plan<\/h2>\n Before this year\u2019s Olympic and Paralympic Games, visitors booked travel through local agencies in their home countries and coordinated transportation to the event on their own. This year, On Location is creating travel packages for fans, from hotels to transportation to Olympic events.<\/p>\n
Since the early days of planning, which began in 2021, Patterson\u2019s weeks have been full of meetings, data analysis and presentations, financial reviews and projections, in addition to creative work like content creation and on-site planning.<\/p>\n
Iconic Sites<\/h2>\n Through a partnership with Olympics and Paralympics stakeholders and local organizers, Patterson and her team are offering guests the chance to experience the best of the City of Lights. On Location is providing tours showcasing the local culture and passes to famous attractions like the Louvre Museum and other iconic venues.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s an extra focus on highlighting the history [and] the beauty of our host cities, sharing the culture and experiencing a new part of the globe \u2014 on top of the games themselves,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Golden Moments<\/h2>\n While planning for the event, Patterson has analyzed consumer trends, identified what the market is really looking for and worked to tailor On Location\u2019s approach to ensure guests have a valuable experience. She has also gained new perspectives on planning, considering what people across different cultures want out of their experience \u2014 which is especially important for the Olympics.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone, regardless of where they\u2019re from, can\u2019t help but feel a bit more patriotic,\u201d she says. \u201cWe can all get a bit swept away in the romance of representing [and cheering on] your home country, seeing your flag rising up and hearing your anthem played,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":24808,"template":"","categories":[999],"tags":[248,297,1452],"class_list":["post-24705","story","type-story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumknights","tag-alumni","tag-rosen-college-of-hospitality-management","tag-ucf-alumni","issues-spring-2024"],"yoast_head":"\n
Going for the Gold: The Summer 2024 Olympics<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n