What did “surprise delights” on a tour of Italy teach me about enhancing sponsorship value?

Our Trafalgar of Italy had many highlights …. superb tour director, excellent guides, historic buildings and fountains, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, VIP tours, outstanding meals, etc.

We especially remember the “surprise delights” of our Italy tour: the coupons for the “best gelato in Italy”; the live entertainment at an authentic Italian restaurant; the free snack at a café in a small village near the Swiss border; the “Rome by Night” bus tour when returning to the hotel after dinner.

Associations can provide memorable “surprise delights” to add value for top-tier corporate sponsors:
⏩ Advance notice about news and announcements
⏩ Invitation to a special briefing on a hot topic
⏩ Packet of useful products at the association’s expo (tissues, chap stick, granola bar, hand sanitizer)
⏩ Introduction to a trade publication reporter to be interviewed on an important issue
⏩ Call from the association’s CEO to wish a sponsor executive a happy birthday

⭐ Sponsor benefits are the core of the value proposition.
⭐ “Surprise delights” can help to solidify association/sponsor relationships.