Free hospitality and passes etc for TT 2025

Summary

The request sought details on free TT 2025 hospitality and passes given to Tynwald members and government employees, including their value and purpose. The Department for Enterprise disclosed that 6 Tynwald members and 3 employees received hospitality access, while 4 of each received Promoter Passes, explaining these were for strategic hosting and economic development.

Key Facts

• 6 Members of Tynwald and 3 Government employees received complimentary access to the Mercury Club hospitality.
• 4 Promoter Passes were issued to Tynwald Members and 4 to Government employees for strategic hosting and event delivery support.
• The Department stated there is minimal direct cost for hospitality tickets as catering costs are operationally fixed.
• Public retail rates for Mercury Club tickets in 2025 ranged from £350 to £1,000 plus VAT.
• Complimentary access is governed by an established policy and requires approval by the Department's Accountable Officer.

Data Disclosed

• 6 Members of Tynwald
• 3 Government employees
• 57 Promoter Passes
• 4 Promoter Passes to Tynwald Members
• 4 Promoter Passes to Government employees
• £350 plus VAT
• £1,000 plus VAT
• 2025-06-04
• 2025-07-03

Original Request

Dear Department for Enterprise I would like to know how many members of Tynwald and Isle of Man Government employees received free access to areas the ordinary public cannot access during any part of TT 2025. My request includes, but isn't limited to, hospitality; grandstand tickets; tickets for private viewing areas; pit lane passes, etc. As I do not know all the 'free gifts' that might be available, please include anything that could be within the spirit of the request. Please add the value of these gifts. Finally, please explain the purpose of the gifts. With thanks.

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Co-ordinator 1st Floor, St Georges Court Upper Church Street, Douglas Isle of Man IM1 1EX

Telephone: (01624 686400) Website: https://www.iomdfenterprise.im/

Our ref: 4704509 3 July 2025

Dear ###,

We write further to your request, received 4 June 2025, which states:

"Dear Department for Enterprise

I would like to know how many members of Tynwald and Isle of Man Government employees received free access to areas the ordinary public cannot access during any part of TT 2025.

My request includes, but isn't limited to, hospitality; grandstand tickets; tickets for private viewing areas; pit lane passes, etc.

As I do not know all the 'free gifts' that might be available, please include anything that could be within the spirit of the request.

Please add the value of these gifts.

Finally, please explain the purpose of the gifts.

With thanks."

Our response to your request is as follows:

TT Hospitality

The Department for Enterprise, as the event promoter of the Isle of Man TT Races, operates the Mercury Club hospitality facility as both a profitable commercial function and a strategic platform to support wider governmental and economic objectives. The Mercury Club has grown into a high-value networking environment, where commercial, governmental, and strategic relationships are cultivated to the benefit of the event, the Island’s economy, and its long-term positioning.

Access to the hospitality provision within the Mercury Club was extended to 6 Members of Tynwald and 3 Government employees. 2 | P a g e

Complimentary access to TT Hospitality is provided in accordance with the Department’s established policy on the basis of ensuring:

• Representation by political members or officers of the Department;

• Engagement with potential commercial partners and sponsors;

• Hosting of key stakeholders who may provide or facilitate economic benefit to the TT Races or the Isle of Man more broadly;

• Provision for visiting dignitaries or VIPs as part of discretionary hospitality allocation.

Complimentary access under these provisions is strictly limited and subject to approval by the Department’s Accountable Officer.

There is minimal direct cost to the Department for these tickets, as the costs incurred would relate to the catering and service only which are operationally fixed prior to the event based on capacity levels, therefore any costs incurred are offset by the commerciality of the Hospitality unit overall.

The retail value is therefore not reflective of the cost, however, to be of assistance, the public rate for Mercury Club tickets in 2025 ranged from £350 plus VAT (Tier 3) to £1,000 plus VAT (Tier 1, including grid access).

In addition to hospitality access, a small number of start line and grid passes were provided to facilitate the movement and hosting of visiting officials or VIPs, with no direct cost incurred by the Department.

The provision of complimentary hospitality access to political members and officials serves multiple strategic purposes:

1. Representation: It ensures that Government representatives are able to fulfil hosting duties for key stakeholders and international guests, enhancing the Island’s reputation and facilitating high-value introductions.

2. Economic Development: As part of the TT’s wider commercial development, the Mercury Club is used as a platform to engage with potential sponsors, investors, and business partners - both from on-Island and internationally.

3. Policy Implementation: The Department uses its hospitality allocation to support cross-government objectives, including support for cultural, sporting, and good-cause organisations where appropriate.

In all cases, the provision of complimentary access is governed by an established policy framework and subject to internal oversight and approval. The Department is confident that the use of complimentary tickets and passes is proportionate, strategic, and provides demonstrable value to both the event and the Isle of Man Government’s broader economic and reputational objectives. 3 | P a g e

Promoter Passes

Promoter Passes allow access to all areas, some of which may normally be restricted to general public access, and are utilised by the Motorsport team, volunteers and contractors directly engaged in event delivery to undertake essential duties.

57 Promoter Passes were issued for such purposes.

In addition to the above, there were 4 Promoter Passes issued to Tynwald Members and 4 issued to Government employees for the purposes of strategic hosting, escorting economic development guests or to support the overarching event delivery.

Whilst the Promoter Pass does permit access to all areas of the event, including Hospitality, they do not entitle the holder to catering or seating provision within the facility.

Please quote the reference number 4704509 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. 4 | P a g e
Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

This response took two hours to complete.

Freedom of Information Co-ordinator 1st Floor, St Georges Court Upper Church Street, Douglas Isle of Man IM1 1EX

Telephone: (01624 686400) Website: https://www.iomdfenterprise.im/

Our ref: 4704509 3 July 2025

Dear ###,

We write further to your request, received 4 June 2025, which states:

"Dear Department for Enterprise

I would like to know how many members of Tynwald and Isle of Man Government employees received free access to areas the ordinary public cannot access during any part of TT 2025.

My request includes, but isn't limited to, hospitality; grandstand tickets; tickets for private viewing areas; pit lane passes, etc.

As I do not know all the 'free gifts' that might be available, please include anything that could be within the spirit of the request.

Please add the value of these gifts.

Finally, please explain the purpose of the gifts.

With thanks."

Our response to your request is as follows:

TT Hospitality

The Department for Enterprise, as the event promoter of the Isle of Man TT Races, operates the Mercury Club hospitality facility as both a profitable commercial function and a strategic platform to support wider governmental and economic objectives. The Mercury Club has grown into a high-value networking environment, where commercial, governmental, and strategic relationships are cultivated to the benefit of the event, the Island’s economy, and its long-term positioning.

Access to the hospitality provision within the Mercury Club was extended to 6 Members of Tynwald and 3 Government employees. 2 | P a g e

Complimentary access to TT Hospitality is provided in accordance with the Department’s established policy on the basis of ensuring:

• Representation by political members or officers of the Department;

• Engagement with potential commercial partners and sponsors;

• Hosting of key stakeholders who may provide or facilitate economic benefit to the TT Races or the Isle of Man more broadly;

• Provision for visiting dignitaries or VIPs as part of discretionary hospitality allocation.

Complimentary access under these provisions is strictly limited and subject to approval by the Department’s Accountable Officer.

There is minimal direct cost to the Department for these tickets, as the costs incurred would relate to the catering and service only which are operationally fixed prior to the event based on capacity levels, therefore any costs incurred are offset by the commerciality of the Hospitality unit overall.

The retail value is therefore not reflective of the cost, however, to be of assistance, the public rate for Mercury Club tickets in 2025 ranged from £350 plus VAT (Tier 3) to £1,000 plus VAT (Tier 1, including grid access).

In addition to hospitality access, a small number of start line and grid passes were provided to facilitate the movement and hosting of visiting officials or VIPs, with no direct cost incurred by the Department.

The provision of complimentary hospitality access to political members and officials serves multiple strategic purposes:

1. Representation: It ensures that Government representatives are able to fulfil hosting duties for key stakeholders and international guests, enhancing the Island’s reputation and facilitating high-value introductions.

2. Economic Development: As part of the TT’s wider commercial development, the Mercury Club is used as a platform to engage with potential sponsors, investors, and business partners - both from on-Island and internationally.

3. Policy Implementation: The Department uses its hospitality allocation to support cross-government objectives, including support for cultural, sporting, and good-cause organisations where appropriate.

In all cases, the provision of complimentary access is governed by an established policy framework and subject to internal oversight and approval. The Department is confident that the use of complimentary tickets and passes is proportionate, strategic, and provides demonstrable value to both the event and the Isle of Man Government’s broader economic and reputational objectives. 3 | P a g e

Promoter Passes

Promoter Passes allow access to all areas, some of which may normally be restricted to general public access, and are utilised by the Motorsport team, volunteers and contractors directly engaged in event delivery to undertake essential duties.

57 Promoter Passes were issued for such purposes.

In addition to the above, there were 4 Promoter Passes issued to Tynwald Members and 4 issued to Government employees for the purposes of strategic hosting, escorting economic development guests or to support the overarching event delivery.

Whilst the Promoter Pass does permit access to all areas of the event, including Hospitality, they do not entitle the holder to catering or seating provision within the facility.

Please quote the reference number 4704509 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. 4 | P a g e
Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

This response took two hours to complete.