New city vendor
Tickets Plus riding
on buyer perks

Tim Ryan
Star-Bulletin

Service, customer convenience, options, and state-of-the-art technology highlight Ticket Plus, which has a three-year contract with the city, replacing Minnesota-based The Connection.

While The Connection charged a flat $3.75 in additional fees above the price of tickets to local events, Ticket Plus will have a sliding scale depending on the price of the ticket, about $1.10 to $4.25 an order.

Ticket Plus will provide a variety of free and optional services never before offered here. That includes Internet purchases on its web site -- www.Hawaiitix.com (the site is not running yet); door-to-door ticket delivery or mail service; and credit card purchases at all outlets including MasterCard and Visa, and soon, Discover and American Express; and any event worldwide in the Ticket Plus system can be purchased in Hawaii.

The additional cost for delivery is what the courier service charges Ticket Plus, said Manuel Sanchez, Ticket Plus chief executive officer.

The company will maintain a database of a previous customer's preferred seating, then offer them the same seat for future events when available.

For some major or multi-day events, such as the upcoming Hawaii Super Grand Prix, when tickets can be more expensive than usual, Ticket Plus will initiate "installment buying." In the Grand Prix case, a three-part staggered payment plan will be offered.

Ticket Plus began operating here about three weeks ago with the announcement of the "Best of Broadway" series.

Current Ticket Plus clients are Neal Blaisdell Center, Honolulu Symphony, Maui Music Festival and Hawaii Super Grand Prix. Ticket Plus officials hope to add to their client list concert promoter Goldenvoice, the Aloha Stadium and University of Hawaii sports.

The company is affiliated with with Ticket Express Inc. in Malaysia and the Philippines. Ticket Plus is backed by the Pass software developed by Select Ticketing System and associated with TicketsLive, an internet provider selling tickets through the world wide web.

The company, based at 932 Ward Ave., will have 28 employees including 20 local telephone operators taking ticket orders.

That's the Ticket TICKET PLUS: Event ticketing service LOCATIONS: At music and grocery stores and mall information booths statewide SERVICE CHARGES: A sliding scale depending on price of the ticket; generally $1.10-$4.25 per order OPTIONS (extra cost): Delivery service day of purchase; purchase via internet; specially printed greetings on ticket envelopes; tickets available on world wide web for any event worldwide listed by Ticket Plus.

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