Of course it has happened. As soon as everyone discovered the boogies in Belize were over, my phone calls and e-mails are off the charts for people wanting to attend a "VI".
The deal maker will be some financial assistance from the GOB/BTB. I have requested $75,000bz (always ask for more than you need). The money would distributed to Belizean business owners, not my company. This would cover fuel, a fuel truck, the barge ride for it, the welcoming dinner, the safety boat and dock fuel, etc. Skydive Perris is raising the cost of the ferry fee for the Shark. Without sponsorship I can't host the event. Pat has flown the plane down for dirt cheap in the past but needs to charge a bit more to cover the hours it logs.
The return on the investment as you all know will be tremendous. If I can keep the cost of the package deal down, that enables the jumpers to spend more $$$'s on dinner, SCUBA, tours, etc. I would be looking at bringing about 130-150 people for 10 days, February 20-March 1, 2010.
I have spoken with Dionne Miranda at BTIA and Minister Heredia. I will be phoning Tracy Trager at BTB next week to have this taken to the BTB board.
There are two main events I compete with. The 500 person world record attempts(yes, 500 skydivers in one formation!)will be next January in Thailand. The organizer for that event gets free aircraft(C-130's) and fuel from the Thai goverment.
The Puerto Rico event each February is sponsored by the government. They pay to ferry three ariplanes down from Chicago. They had 350+ skydivers there this year for four days.
It has grown impossible to host an exotic skydive boogie without assistance. Thanks again to MANY of the generous folks in San Pedro that have helped over the years. I'll keep you posted.