Jonathan Pinto, a dynamic second-generation entrepreneur, is at Buzz Events, Goa’s premier event management company. Founded two decades ago by his father, Mr. Jerry Pinto, the company has grown into a dominant force in the industry, specialising in bespoke weddings, major corporate events, and award shows. Jonathan now leads the charge with innovative ideas and extensive expansion plans, propelling Buzz Events to new heights. In an exclusive interview, Jonathan shared insights into his journey in the event management field and his visionary plans for the future of the family business.
Jonathan completed his early education at Rosary High School and continued his secondary education at Don Bosco School in Panaji. “I started at Don Bosco in the 7th grade and completed my 12th grade there before pursuing an Integrated MBA course at Goa University, which played a crucial role in shaping who I am today,” he shared. Jonathan was part of the second batch of this newly introduced program at Goa University.
“I learned a lot during this course, but the most significant lesson was managing various business domains, including production, post-production, obtaining quotes, and handling contracts. The subjects were efficient, covering areas such as Hospitality, Human Resources, Marketing, and other business-oriented topics that equipped me for a career in event management,” he added.
According to Jonathan, his father, Jerry Pinto, founded Buzz Events 18 years ago. “I began getting involved in the business around seven years ago,” he shared, noting that this was during his final years of study. “I managed the work part-time while completing my studies,” he added. One of Jonathan’s early contributions to the business was the introduction of the photo booth concept, which was a novelty in Goa at the time.
“The photo booth concept was not only new to Goa but also very instant, attracting many,” he explained. The entire process, from taking the picture to printing it, took only a couple of minutes. “The machine could complete the whole process in a fraction of a minute,” he said.
Jonathan was inspired to bring this idea to life after seeing it in a movie. “In Goa, this idea was very unique, and we were pioneers in implementing it. The idea did very well, and I quickly recovered my entire investment. It was my first venture into the business, and its grand success encouraged me to take on bigger responsibilities in life,” he recounted.
Jonathan was always clear about his plans and knew he wanted to enter the business world, following in his father’s footsteps. “I didn’t know the specifics—what, how, or when—but I was certain that I wanted to get into business,” he said. As he continued, he explained how things gradually fell into place. “The main reason behind pursuing my MBA was my orientation towards business. I also believe in practical knowledge, so I started working. However, my dad was against my plans and insisted I finish my studies first before diving into the business.”
Jonathan emphasised that there was no pressure from his family to join the family business. “My father always wanted me to complete my studies before getting into the business. From the beginning, I had a passion for photography, which inspired the idea of the photo booth,” he added.
According to Jonathan, his family has always had a deep love for food. “As a family, we are very food-oriented, and there is nothing like food to start a conversation and create a bond between people. Memories are built from and around food, a passion we all share. My younger brother Craig decided to take this forward and transformed it into a business in the form of a restaurant,” he explained.
Jonathan’s journey into the practical world of business began with an internship at Grand Hyatt Goa. “I was in the F&B section at the back of the hotel, where I learned a lot. From F&B, I moved to the front office and then to the VIP section, which is a grand club lounge. Within a couple of months, I got my name on the Medalia Rating system, which was a great achievement,” he said.
However, the hospitality industry did not hold his interest for long. “I never found it challenging enough, and that led me back home to our family business of event management,” he added.
Upon joining the family event company, Jonathan quickly realised the immense creativity required for success. “We are in the business of destination weddings and conferences, which demand a lot of creative work. Social media is a significant driver for our business, and we’re grateful for that. Today’s destination weddings are on another level, with everyone seeking that ‘movie moment.’ The major challenge is creativity, but for me, it was child’s play as creativity has always been a part of my work. This began to show in my presentations, and that creativity helped me build my name in the event market. I created my own identity in a very short period, with all the support from my father.”
Jonathan describes the event business as one of the most challenging fields. “It’s very stressful, with little sleep and family time, and no work-life balance. However, when a bride or groom tells you that you’ve made their dream day come true, that feeling keeps us going.”
Discussing the challenges faced and how he overcame them, Jonathan emphasised the intense competition in the event industry. “Challenges shape who we are. I’ve faced many challenges and overcome them with a never-give-up attitude and persistence.” He recounted a specific incident where a prestigious five-star property in Goa exclusively favoured competitors. “I wanted to break into that territory but didn’t know how. When someone pointed out the elements our presentations lacked compared to competitors, I decided to break that barrier with something unique. I revamped our approach in design, costing, and concept, and finally secured the biggest wedding contract from that property. Through this exercise, even the hotel recognized our capacity, and today, that property is one of our closest and biggest clients.”
Speaking on his plans, Jonathan revealed his focus on targeting corporate events and destination weddings in Goa. “My plan is to scale up our production capacity. Since we own most of the elements needed in this industry, scaling up will allow us to manage multiple events in a day and capture events on a much larger scale, both within and outside the state. Our primary advantage over the competition is our in-house production capabilities, which many event companies in Goa lack. We own a lot of production assets, like décor production parts and signature props. I plan to expand this inventory to cater to bigger markets and demands.”
Jonathan also highlighted the importance of governmental support in achieving these goals. “The support of the Goa government can help local production companies scale up, particularly by assisting with the costs of warehousing. Additionally, there’s a need for an event management institute in the state to address the shortage of trained manpower. If these aspects are taken care of, the event industry in Goa will boom,” he concluded.
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