Venegas International Group partnered in 2015 with Necker Cup and Necker Open, the two most elite pro-am tennis and golf events in the world, which were hosted by Richard Branson on his private island, Necker Island. “I was very proud to have my firm in such prestigious company on Necker Island,“ remarks Monica Venegas, principal of Venegas International Group. “These events continue my longstanding belief in associating luxury real estate with tennis as I have supported the Miami Open through IMG for over a decade.”
This year marked the fifth annual Necker Cup tennis pro-am on Necker Island, with top ranked pros, icons, and celebrities alongside Branson, that was held early December. The inaugural Necker Open golf pro-am was held in late August at Sea Island, Georgia, and Necker Island, where winners were flown by private jet to join Branson for fun and frolicking golf games on his compound in the British Virgin Islands.
Hope Gainer, managing director for Venegas International Group sports, arts, and entertainment division, initiated the partnerships with Necker events for Venegas International Group. Gainer has a long history with world-class tennis events and players. She attended the inaugural Necker Cup and was extremely impressed with the caliber of the participants, partners, players, and event itself, not to mention the idyllic setting on Necker Island and the gregarious host Branson. “I was pleased to place a boutique brand like Venegas alongside global luxury brands like Rolls-Royce, Dom Perignon, and Rosewood Resorts," Gainer says. "It is an ideal platform for our luxury real estate firm to participate in to elevate our brand on a global stage as well as gain direct access to UHNW potential clients, including both the iconic tennis players as well as the business titans."
This year’s Necker Cup included tennis icons like Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, and Boris Becker, while Necker Open included golf royalty like Greg Norman. Both events had the good fortune of funny man, Chevy Chase, participating. Musical talent included Jewel and Sean Paul on Necker Island. The events included a charity component benefiting both Branson’s Virgin Unite and the National Tennis Foundation.
In 2016, Venegas International Group will once again have a luxury suite at the Miami Open tennis tournament in Key Biscayne, Florida, in the spring. “I have always believed in premier tennis events as a great vehicle for both entertaining real estate clients and exposing developer brands I represent," Venegas adds. "Plus, it is a great upscale, yet casual environment to network with the professional players and potential new clients."
Images courtesy of Manuela