World’s Leading Inter-Business Team Building Competition Series Marks Third U.S. Event
October 11-13, 2007 in Pocono Mountains
POCONO MOUNTAINS, Pa., January 25, 2007 — Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains has been selected to host the 2007 BG US Challenge presented by Fortune, October 11-13, 2007. The event is the main United States stop on the Intelligent Sport™ World Series, the world’s leading series of inter-business team building competitions. The Challenge expects to attract 300 senior level executives from 70 companies throughout the United States.
The Pocono Mountains will be the site of two days and nights of robust competition with a twist. Using the trademarked Intelligent Sport™ formula – a unique combination of physical and mental agility in which the primary goal is to create great teams for business ? the natural beauty and diverse landscape of the Pocono Mountains will be the ?playing field? for participants to accomplish a variety of strategic and intellectual challenges while navigating on mountain bikes, kayaks or trail running.
David Keane, Vice President Policy and Corporate Affairs at BG Group, title sponsor of the BG US Challenge said:
The BG US Challenge provides an important platform for the expression of our company’s values teamwork and commitment are important for us and we have seen these realized through our participation in this event. We are very excited to bring the BG US Challenge to the Pocono Mountains, as the region will offer some great new challenges to our returning teams. In addition, we have a goal to raise $1 million for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and we look forward to working with participating teams and our business partners to help us achieve that objective.?
Richard Adler, General Manager of US Challenge LLC, the US licensee of Challenger World, Ltd commented:
“The BG US Challenge and the Intelligent Sport™ formula is a most inventive platform for businesses to increase teamwork, morale and production. The event enables colleagues and clients to realize their potential by working together towards a common goal, while also providing a healthy dose of competition. We are thrilled to be working with the PMCVB as the host of the third annual BG US Challenge as the destination offers a much sought-after northeast location as well as renowned natural environment, the high quality of its active lifestyle and the booming growth of the local business community.?
PMCVB Executive Director Robert Uguccioni leant his support to the event, adding:
“We are delighted that the Pocono Mountains has been selected to host the 2007 BG US Challenge. The region is an ideal fit for this prestigious organization as our landscape and community offer the adventurous traveler unparalleled activities and services. Hosting this event provides a tremendous opportunity to showcase our scenic beauty and myriad of extraordinary outdoor recreation to potential visitors from around the country,”
In addition to preparing for the mental and physical challenges, teams are also encouraged to raise funds for the event’s official charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. St. Jude is the world’s premier pediatric cancer research center and has treated children from all 50 United States and more than 70 countries. Since opening in 1962, its research findings have been freely shared with medical communities worldwide. Families at St. Jude never pay for medical treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. Over the past two years, participating companies in the BG US Challenge have raised more than $850,000 for St. Jude.
About BG Group
BG Group plc is a global natural gas business. Active in 25 countries across five continents, BG Group operates four business segments ? Exploration and Production, Liquefied Natural Gas or LNG, Transmission and Distribution and Power Generation. BG Group seeks to support the social and economic development in the communities where it does business by providing structured funding for community initiatives that match its skills transfer theme.
About BG North America
BG North America has established itself as the leading player in the importation of LNG to the United States and has been able to do this through a combination of its capacity at the Lake Charles and Elba Island LNGreceiving terminals, a portfolio of LNG supply contracts, its gas marketing capability and its access to shipping. BG North America is in a strong position to build on both its supply and marketing positions in the United States through expansion of existing facilities and is pursuing new projects, such as the development of its North America power strategy. For more information, visit www.BG-Group.com.
About Challenger World, Ltd. and the Intelligent Sport™ World Series
Challenger World, Ltd, based in London, England, developed and owns the Intelligent Sport™ World Series, the world’s leading series of inter-business teambuilding competitions. Combining physical challenges with advanced strategic planning exercises, competitors are put to the test with an experience designed to teach invaluable lessons on the importance of clear communication, smart thinking, resource management and team conduct.
Over 300 companies have competed in the Intelligent Sport™ World Series around the world including Accenture, BG Group, Bechtel, IBM, Volvo, Dell, Cisco Systems, Microsoft, Washington Group International and others. In addition to the Western Team Challenge and the BG US Challenge, in the Eastern US, the 2007 Series will include the Microsoft UK Challenge, the Cisco Euro Challenge, the M1 Asia Challenge- Singapore, and events in South Africa, Sweden, and Portugal. The Series culminates in a World Team Final each December where teams from each event compete to take the title of the world’s greatest corporate team.
US Challenge LLC, based in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, is the US licensee of Challenger World, Ltd. For more information on how a company can participate in the BG U.S. Challenge, visita href=“www.ChallengerWorld.com”> www.ChallengerWorld.com, or contact us@challengerworld.com.
About the Pocono Mountains
With 2,400 square miles encompassing Pennsylvania’s Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties, the Pocono Mountains region is home to rolling mountain terrain, breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls, thriving woodlands and 170 miles of winding rivers. Winters offer guests the opportunity to ski, snowboard, snow tube and even snowshoe their way through snowy wonderlands encompassing over 163 ski trails, while summers also cater to the active traveler allowing exploration of 261 miles of hiking and biking trails, over 35 golf courses, white-water rafting, boating, fishing and open access to nine state and two national parks.
Any time of year is a good time to visit the Pocono Mountains, located within driving distance of most major East Coast cities. This region teeming with history offers year-round cultural tours and art exhibitions, abundant antiquing and brand-name shopping and a full calendar of festivals showcasing the heritage, music and food of the Poconos.
Even the most discerning traveler will find comfortable accommodations in the Pocono Mountains, which offers an eclectic mix of luxury hotels, distinctive boutique properties and quaint, family-run bed and breakfasts.
About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tennessee, St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. No family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fund-raising organization. Visit stjude.org for more information
Comprehensive Pocono Mountains visitor information is available online at www.800poconos.com or by phone at 800-POCONOS (800-762-6667). The Pocono Mountains Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization for the four counties of Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne in northeastern Pennsylvania.