DESTINATIONS THE US |SPORTY STAYS
exper expert ASK THE
Jackie Ennis, vice-president global trade development, Brand USA
“Sport is an increasingly big motivator for travel. Our USA Discovery Program includes modules on many of the cities that will host upcoming sporting events. The newly refreshed online training platform has been designed specifically to assist agents selling the US; it is the ultimate hub, featuring more than 60 training modules.”
Ben Mortimer, managing director, MVP Travel
“The authenticity of live events – accompanied by value-adds such as a pre-game party with local fans or a stadium tour – is a unique selling point. Sports holidays also provide agents with a chance to differentiate their offerings. Many fantastic but lesser-visited destinations such as Pittsburgh and Nashville are home to amazing sporting events and have direct flights. Explore these options, as specialist operators are happy to help.”
Jimmy Rowan, head of Spectate “Spectate has started to offer
more US sports holidays, as we have seen growth in this area recently. We are selling the NFL in New York this winter and will monitor its success to see if there is an opportunity to grow [this area] in other cities.”
42 19 SEPTEMBER 2024
host cities and ticket details have yet to be announced. Turning to a different kind of football, expect pop culture moments aplenty at the 59th Super Bowl, which takes place on February 9, 2025, in the Creole culture-filled city of New Orleans – making it a superb sell even for non-sports fans. Direct flights to New Orleans mean it’s easy for clients to watch their favourite NFL team (or pop superstar) play, enjoy the city’s electric atmosphere in the run-up to Mardi Gras or simply eat and drink their way around town. Do Something Different offers a cocktail tour in the French Quarter from £56 per person. And if clients want to extend their holiday into a multi-city trip, they can tag on the NBA All-Star game in San Francisco on February 16. In other big-hitting sports,
baseball’s World Series begins in March, with teams from the US and
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: American football game at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles; French Quarter, New Orleans, home of next year’s Super Bowl; Masters golf tournament,
Augusta, Georgia PICTURES: Shutterstock/Kavram; Phil Anderson
fast act
Sports tourism generates a 10th of travel spending worldwide, and is set to grow 17.5% a year until 2030, says UN Tourism
BOOK IT
Touchdown Trips offers a five-night Super Bowl tour to New Orleans from £13,595, departing February 9, 2025. The price includes flights, room-only accommodation, a welcome party, Super Bowl Experience ticket, entry to the Pre-Super Bowl all-inclusive VIP party , tickets to Super Bowl LIX and transfers.
touchdowntrips.com
USA Golfholidays sells a four-night US Masters trip from £5,300. The price includes B&B accommodation,
car rental, two 18-hole rounds of golf, tickets and transfers to one day of the Masters and flights departing April 10, 2025, plus luggage.
usagolfholiday.com
Spectate Travel sells a four-night Las Vegas Grand Prix package from £6,350 per person, including flights on November 20, a room-only stay at Caesar’s Palace, three-day main grandstand tickets to the race plus luxury transfers.
spectatetravel.co.uk
Japan competing. The game is more than sitting in the bleachers: savour foot- long hotdogs and beer or sing along at pre-game ceremonies, and it won’t matter if you don’t understand the rules.
REVVING THE ENGINES If motor sports are more your clients’ speed, next year, Miami and Austin will each host one of the six new Sprint races in the Formula One calendar. Covering a third of the distance of a typical grand prix, the sprint race ²
travelweekly.co.uk ast fact
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
