Go Daddy Defies Economic Trend -- Planning Enormous Holiday Party!

Spending $2 Million to Honor Go Daddy Employees Who Delivered Record $ Year

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - While most American companies are cancelling their annual holiday parties and scaling back cash incentives for their employees this year, Go Daddy is throwing its biggest party ever! In fact, Go Daddy is pumping $2MM into the economy to fuel the holiday party.

This year’s Go Daddy holiday bash, like last year, will be held at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix... but this year the company is flying in all of its out-of-state employees and their guests, chauffeuring them from the airport and putting them up in a brand new hotel. In all, nearly 4,000 people are expected, attending from Arizona, Iowa, Colorado and Washington, D.C.

“Someone asked me, why spend all the money on such a spectacular, expensive party...I say, why not? We’ve had our best year ever as a company and this achievement is because of our employees,” explained Go Daddy CEO and Founder Bob Parsons. “I learned a long time ago, if you treat your people right, the rest takes care of itself.”

Go Daddy, like its CEO, has always been aggressive, even in the face of criticism. Just last week, as some long-time Super Bowl advertisers dropped out, Go Daddy announced it would advertise for a fifth consecutive year. Likewise, as many companies downgrade their charitable contributions, Go Daddy is beefing up its donations. Go Daddy expects to top its philanthropic works total from last year, with 2008 contributions exceeding $1.65M.

As for generosity with employees, Parsons has been setting high standards ever since he launched the domain name registrar and Web site hosting company eight years ago. Go Daddy has earned a rich reputation in the Human Relations arena for paying top performers’ mortgages for a year and giving away other attractive incentives such as cars, cash and exotic vacations. The company also foots the bill on taxes associated with the prizes.

And as many companies focus on slashing jobs, Go Daddy is hiring and later this week expects to be honored on the annual Best Places to Work list for a fifth consecutive year. In those years, Go Daddy rose to dominance and, in fact, turned profitable during the dotCOM bust, as other Web companies crashed.

The Internet is considered by some to be a saving grace for the struggling economy; others see the Web as ‘the place to be’ in a competitive climate. Recent statistics from Cyber Monday reported a 15 percent increase in retail revenue this year over last. 1

Go Daddy owns and offers more than 40 Web related products, including a wide variety of Web site hosting options. Its primary mission though is to provide registration for Web site addresses. Go Daddy has grown to be more than three times the size of its closest competitor2 and is on track for a 40 percent increase in overall revenue, year to year.

“So why shouldn’t we celebrate a little this year?” Parsons asked with a smile. “We have a 45 percent market share of new domain names worldwide and are growing in every area of our company. Our people deserve a party.”

More than 2,000 employees and their guests will be treated to food, drinks and gifts. Everyone, even employee guests, will be given a gift. Parsons is expected to roll into the stadium on a motorcycle and dole out random cash prizes as he did last year. As for entertainment, two legendary rock bands are booked to perform, along with an internationally acclaimed comedian, plus there will be a laser show to put the exclamation point on what promises to be an evening to remember.