The Speciality Coffee Association of Europe‘s annual origin tour is coming to the Island of Hawaii for the first time ever this October 26-31st, organized and led by Andrew Hetzel of CafeMakers (Kamuela) and author of The Hawaii Coffee Book, Shawn Steiman (Honolulu). Approximately 20 delegates who are buyers, roasters, retailers and other coffee professionals in Europe are expected to participate as members of the trade delegation.

The tour will visit a cross-section of Hawaii’s coffee businesses and growing regions on a busy 5-day itinerary around the island.

Each of the delegates is funding their own trip to explore the coffees of Hawaii Island, so we have developed a sponsorship program that will help to reduce out-of-pocket costs and additionally allow Hawaii’s businesses to gain additional recognition for their support of the tour.

We are presently seeking sponsors in the categories below:

Welcome gift (unlimited) $150 per item or service: A welcome gift bag will be provided to each of the attending delegates as a souvenir of their memorable trip to Hawaii. Sponsors of the gift bag may include one small promotional item or sample (such as coffee) and marketing brochure or business card.

Morning Coffee (5 sponsors) $250 + 5 lbs of roasted coffee: Each morning before beginning the daily program, we will brew and serve coffee provided by and acknowledge that day’s morning coffee sponsor.

Box lunch (5 sponsors) $500: Up to 5 lunch sponsors may provide a promotional item, brochure or product sample that will be included with our provided box lunch or distributed at one of the organized lunch events. Lunch sponsors will also receive recognition in the SCAE’s membership follow-up report of the trip and recognition on the SCAE website for a period of not less than 30 days.

Sunset cruise (1 sponsor) $1,000: One sponsorship is available for a sunset cruise event planned for one night of the tour, originating from the Mauna Lani Resort along the Kohala Coast. The sunset cruise sponsor will receive admission for one to join the cruise in addition to recognition in the SCAE’s membership follow-up report of the trip and recognition on the SCAE website for a period of not less than 30 days.

Ground transportation (1 sponsor) $2,000 or In-kind: One sponsorship for a ground transportation provider is available to offset fees associated with tour van rental or to provide a suitable vehicle(s) for the group’s use. Please inquire for in-kind specifications.

Dinner (2 sponsors) $1,500 or In-kind: Two sponsorship slots are available for each of two organized meals that will be held by the delegates during their stay on Hawaii. Dinner sponsors will receive admission for two to participate in the sponsored dinner in addition to recognition in the SCAE’s membership follow-up report of the trip and recognition on the SCAE website for a period of not less than 30 days.

Event (1 sponsor) $3,000: One event sponsor will have their business featured as a stop on our 5-day tour of the island for no less than 1 hour and additionally will receive dinner admission for two to attend one of the two organized dinner events OR sunset cruise. This is an ideal opportunity to spend quality time learning about the delegates, their business needs and interests both in a business and personal setting – a commercial opportunity that is not likely to be repeated this year. As with the other key sponsorships, your business will be recognized in the SCAE’s follow-up report and will obtain recognition on the SCAE website for a period of not less than 30 days.

Airline (1 sponsor) In-kind: One airline will be named the official sponsor of our visit and be the preferred carrier of travel arrangements for the tour. Note that 2 bids for this sponsorship have already been received.

Media (1 sponsor) In-kind: One media sponsor will be named the official media outlet of the 2009 SCAE tour and receive exclusive use of daily reports, stories and photos from the tour for the period of not less than 90 days.

All sponsorship agreements must be signed and paid in full or before October 1, 2009. Availability is limited and can be confirmed only upon execution of a sponsorship agreement. The Speciality Coffee Association of Europe and Cafemakers, LLC reserve the right to refuse sponsorships at our sole discretion. Taxes and additional terms may apply.