Corporate panda packages to cost £12,000

By Jennifer O’Mahony
Published on Friday 2 December 2011 12:32

COMPANIES are being invited to buy corporate packages featuring private viewings with Scotland’s new pandas, at a cost of more than £12,000 each, as Edinburgh Zoo looks to cash in on its star attractions.

Firms will have to buy all the available tickets for the enclosure for an hour to give their staff and guests exclusive access to the bears.

On Sunday, the breeding pair of Tian Tian – meaning “sweetie” – and Yang Guang – “sunshine” – will touch down at Edinburgh Airport, after flying from Chengdu in China in special containers, and will then be transported to their new enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo.

Their arrival has been eagerly anticipated for three years and if they do successfully breed it will be the first time a panda has been born in Scotland.

More than 1,500 panda fans snapped up tickets to see the rare creatures within hours of sales opening earlier this week, and zoo bosses hope Tian Tian and Yang Guang will have a similar impact on corporate sales.

A maximum of 110 people can occupy an event room at the zoo’s 200-year-old Mansion House with a buffet lunch for the day at £57.60 a head.

That alone costs more than £6,000, but for a private viewing of the pandas, companies must also pay just under £6,000 again for the equivalent of 420 tickets, costing £13.95 each.

For just ten people, an exclusive 60 minutes with the pandas, including a corporate lunch and facilities such as flipboards, room hire and inclusive parking, would cost £6,400.

Lime Venue Portfolio, the company that organises events at Edinburgh Zoo and Mansion House, says 23 different types of event could potentially be held in the ten venues on the site, including gala dinners, team-building exercises, and even masonic weekends.

Despite the price, corporate guests will not be allowed to enter either the male or female panda enclosures to get any closer to the bears than visitors paying for ordinary tickets.

Safety concerns and a six-month quarantine on Tian Tian and Yang Guang mean visitors must keep their distance at all times.

A zoo spokesman said: “They are carnivores – they are wild animals and need trained keepers to go near them.”

Edinburgh Zoo is not unusual in offering corporate hospitality packages.

Corporate events at London Zoo are priced at £69 a head for groups of 20 upwards, including a boardroom and catering, and one hour free at the zoo.

It also offers a “Keeper for a Day” experience, costing a group of four £1,120. For that they will get the chance to feed giraffes, muck out rhinos, clean the penguin pool and go behind the scenes in the big cat enclosures.

The Keeper package for four at Chester Zoo is £170 per person for just four hours, and the Penguin Island Encounter for two, lasting just 30 minutes, is £150.

However, Edinburgh Zoo is one of the few outside London to offer more than just basic away-day fare for companies, with lecture theatres, board rooms and gourmet catering coming as standard.

Describing Mansion House events on its website, Edinburgh Zoo states: “Over 200 years old, it offers charm, elegance and beautiful views across the Pentland Hills.

“Our impeccable service, warm hospitality and delicious catering promise that your event with us will be a complete success.”

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Comments

There are 14 comments to this article

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14

ToweringGenius

Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 01:14 AM

£12000 for a private 'audience'? Would they not be just as happy with an A4 head and shoulders photographic portrait of Dusty plus her 'Greatest Hits' long-playing record?

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13

silverback

Friday, December 2, 2011 at 11:00 PM

I can't believe noone has picked up on the description of them as carnivores - whatever happened to "eats shoots and leaves"? What next - coniferous lions and tigers?

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12

tianjinian

Friday, December 2, 2011 at 07:24 PM

Signing up the corporate packages might explain why the zoo hasn't yet responded to the letter my daughter, also called Tian Tian (aged 7) sent them over a month ago, welcoming Tian Tian to Scotland. At least she's over the moon that she will be able to pick up some merchandising with her own name on it when we visit.

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11

Mercutio

Friday, December 2, 2011 at 05:47 PM

Who will invest in a bear market?

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10

Never A Fake

Friday, December 2, 2011 at 04:15 PM

pandabbydozy

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9

freeesian

Friday, December 2, 2011 at 01:57 PM

No #1, they won't be paid, just like amny other chinese immigrants who are trafficked over here every year. #7, I'll bet the women are better in the sack than the pandas as well

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8

Sally Longlegs

Friday, December 2, 2011 at 01:20 PM

I know the Zoo is a registered charity and need cash but this seems excessive. Perhaps Eck Salmon should tax it.

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7

mahatmacoat

Friday, December 2, 2011 at 11:48 AM

Why bother..there are lots of Panda-eyed women and girls who pander to the latest 'beauty' trends who would no doubt welcome private viewings.

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6

Ghytier

Friday, December 2, 2011 at 09:16 AM

This comes across has incredibly repulsive. The idea that an endangered species can be rented out to repulsive union leaders (e.g Dave Prentice - £92k pa) for their own private entertainment doesnt sit well. Could Edinburgh Zoo not come out with a better way for revenue generation?!

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5

claymore's edge

Friday, December 2, 2011 at 09:06 AM

This comes across has incredibly repulsive. The idea that an endangered species can be rented out to repulsive bankers and business for their own private entertainment doesnt sit well. Could Edinburgh Zoo not come out with a better way for revenue generation?!

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4

postmark55

Friday, December 2, 2011 at 08:57 AM

Comment removed by moderator

3

JimA3220

Friday, December 2, 2011 at 03:26 AM

#1 Charlie, they're working for free food and board mate. Leave it at that ;-)

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2

antiparasite

Friday, December 2, 2011 at 12:47 AM

The only animal stupid enough to be fooled by money are humans!

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1

Charles Linskaill

Friday, December 2, 2011 at 12:21 AM

Lets hope the panda's are being paid royalties for all their publicity showings, Afterall why should the panda's be exploited for free, who knows the panda's may need this earned money right to bring their friends to Scotland.

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