THE National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited (NCB) will today sign a multimillion-dollar agreement in an effort to formalise its partnership with Dream Weekend Ltd — one of the two four-day party series staged in Negril during the Independence holiday period.

The agreement will see Jamaica’s largest financial institution providing its wide range of solutions to reduce the overall costs of staging the Dream experience.

“The collective of Dream Weekend promoters have, over the years, made the event a phenomenal economic activity as well as a resonant experience for Jamaicans locally and overseas. Attendant to this success is the need for a nimble financial partner,” said NCB Sponsorship and Promotions Manager Julian Patrick.

In this regard, NCB is providing “tailored business solutions such as the electronic fund transfer architecture which will reduce costs such as security to their business”, he added, noting that the signing of the ground-breaking NCB Dream partnership agreement will take place today at the NCB Wellness and Recreation Centre in Kingston.

Dream Weekend, each August, attracts over 15,000 partygoers, many of whom eagerly expend between $10,000 and 15,000 for season bands. The economic stimulus generated by the weekend is over $500 million, spanning industries such as hospitality, food and beverage, fashion and merchandising.

“We feel that the organisers of the Dream Weekend represent a significant collective of youth in business and a significant revenue potential for the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector,” Patrick told Splash.

Scott Dunn, Dream Entertainment Ltd director, reiterated Patrick’s sentiments: “We are thrilled to be partnering with NCB in what is truly a historic affiliation. It’s humbling for us that a financial group with such a rich history is able to appreciate the business behind the Dream experience.”

Added Philip ‘PP’ Palmer, another of the Dream directors: “A solid relationship with a financial institution is a necessary ingredient to the success of any business — especially in entertainment, where the opportunities for revenue can be diverse.”

He noted that “having NCB JA Ltd on board as a financial partner of the Smirnoff Dream Weekend offers us a great business platform and gives us an obvious edge over competitors in the marketplace”.