An agreement to launch the challenge to the Torino Winter Olympic Games of 2006 has been signed between SME Associates, Business Unit of Maritz Travel Company, world leader for corporate incentive, travel and promotion services, an Gastaldi Global spa, the company dedicated to Incentive services in Italy within the Gastaldi Group.

The meeting of the two companies has given SMEA -Gastaldi Srl with the aim to manage the Torino 2006 Sponsor's hospitality programmes. One of the greatest assets is the consolidated ability of the two brands to maximize the value of the high investments of the sponsors in the unique opportunity that are the Olympics.

SMEA-Gastaldi will take care of every single stage of the project, from the strategic assessment to the creation of the programmes to the training of all the staff and to the assistance to the guests, from the on-going update of the clients database to merchandise, from ticketing to touristic programmes, all elements that will contribute to create "the Olympic experience".

SME Associates has a great experience in the management of hospitality services for the Olympic Games, beginning with the Games of Calgary and Seoul in 1988 up to the recent Athens Games of last August.

Gastaldi Global offers, since 1977, a number of Corporate services in Italy based on a constantly updated product, custom tailored programmes, global presence and high quality in all processes.

Hence SMEA-Gastaldi is the synthesis of the largest experience in the management of Olympic hospitality programmes, supplied by SME Associates, and a deep knowledge of the Italian local market and cultural background, given by Gastaldi Global.

Responsible for the Olympic Project for The Gastaldi Group is Benedetto di Tommaso, CEO SMEA-Gastaldi, and for SME Associates is Wayne Eldevik, Presidente of SMEA-Gastaldi