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Formula 1 2020 season calendar to feature 22 races
Events, Guides

Formula 1 2020 season calendar to feature 22 races

Formula 1 has revealed the draft calendar for the 2020 FIA F1 World Championship - and it will feature a record-breaking 22 races.  The 2020 season, which marks F1’s 70th anniversary, starts with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on 15 March and finishes with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 29 November. There’s no German Grand Prix on the schedule but F1 will go to two new destinations in 2020. The Vietnam Grand Prix will be held on the streets of Hanoi on 5 April then on 3 May the Dutch Grand Prix returns with the race at the Zandvoort circuit. Formula 1 2020 provisional calendar  15 March: Australia  22 March: Bahrain 5 April: Vietnam 19 April: China 3 May: Netherlands 10 May: Spain 24 May: Monaco 7 June: Azerbaijan 14 June: Canada 28 June: France ...
4,000 meetings take place at 2019 Scottish Golf Tourism Week
Sports Business, Sports Travel

4,000 meetings take place at 2019 Scottish Golf Tourism Week

The 2019 Scottish Golf Tourism Week (SGTW) was a resounding success with more than 4,000 meetings taking place during the event. Held from 28 October to 1 November at the five-star Fairmont St Andrews in Fife, the fourth edition of the trade event saw golf businesses network with international tour operators.  Organisers said on Twitter: “The Scottish Golf Tourism Week is the biggest tourism event for all businesses deriving revenue from the golf market. Over 100 businesses carry out more than 4,000 face-to-face meetings with over 100 international tour operators.” The 2018 SGTW is expected to directly contribute £19.1m worth of additional business to Scotland by 2021, and organisers expect the 2019 edition to be even more successful.  It’s also been announced that next year’...
Viagogo buys StubHub from eBay for $4.05bn: ‘a win-win deal for fans’
Sports Business, Sports Travel

Viagogo buys StubHub from eBay for $4.05bn: ‘a win-win deal for fans’

A major business deal has been confirmed in the sports ticketing industry with news that eBay Inc has agreed to sell StubHub to viagogo for $4.05bn in cash. The sale is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2020, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. Eric Baker, viagogo’s founder and CEO, also co-founded StubHub while in business school, but left before the business was sold to eBay for $310m in 2007. He said it has been his “wish” to unite the two companies.  “I am so proud of how StubHub has grown over the years and excited about the possibilities for our shared future,” Baker added.  “Buyers will have a wider choice of tickets, and sellers will have a wider network of buyers. Bringing these two companies together creates a win-win for fans -...
WSL Sydney Surf Pro in Manly to generate AUD$3.7m and 25,000 visitor nights
Sports Business, Sports Travel

WSL Sydney Surf Pro in Manly to generate AUD$3.7m and 25,000 visitor nights

Manly beach in Sydney, Australia, will host the World Surf League’s newest event – the Sydney Surf Pro – for the next three years. The NSW Government, through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, has secured the event exclusively for Sydney as part of the new global WSL Challenger Series. The WSL Sydney Surf Pro will include men’s and women’s events and is locked in for Manly from 2020 to 2022, with the first event to take place between 8-14 March next year.  James Griffin, member for Manly, said: “Manly staged the first-ever world championships in May 1964, and in March this year our iconic four-kilometre beach attracted 11-time world champion Kelly Slater to compete. “Where better to kick off the WSL Challenger Series than in the hub of surf culture that is Manly?”  ...
Le Mans Classic 2020: relive Le Mans ’66 with Grandstand Motor Sports travel packages
Events

Le Mans Classic 2020: relive Le Mans ’66 with Grandstand Motor Sports travel packages

Fans inspired by the new Le Mans ’66 film starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale have the chance to witness the same on-track battles at the Le Mans Classic in July 2020. The four-day event is one of the biggest in historic racing and features cars that took part in the famous Le Mans endurance race between 1923 and 1981.  Next year will be the tenth running of the biennial event, which has become one of the most popular classic car gatherings in Europe. Motor sport travel specialist Grandstand Motor Sports is offering three- and four-night travel packages to the Le Mans Classic. The event will be held from 2-5 July 2020. Grandstand’s Le Mans Classic self-drive packages include:  Three or four nights' accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis in a choice of hotels, guesthouses an...
IOC and Airbnb agree Olympic partnership: all the details about the deal
Sports Business, Sports Travel

IOC and Airbnb agree Olympic partnership: all the details about the deal

International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Airbnb have announced a major partnership agreement to support the Olympic Movement through to 2028.  The nine-year, five-Games deal includes accommodation provisions that will reduce costs for Olympic Games organisers and stakeholders, minimise the need for construction of new accommodation infrastructure for the Olympic Games period, and generate direct revenue for local hosts and communities. Working together with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Airbnb will also promote accommodation that supports accessibility for people with disabilities or other accessibility needs. Reactions to the partnership IOC president Thomas Bach “This innovative partnership underpins our strategy to ensure that the efficient staging of the Olympic Gam...
Event focus: Extreme Sports Expo | January 2020 | Dubai
Sports Business

Event focus: Extreme Sports Expo | January 2020 | Dubai

The Extreme Sports Expo returns from 9-11 January 2020 for its fifth edition at the Dubai World Trade Center in Dubai, UAE. Showcasing products from big brands in the world of action sports the Extreme Sports Expo, organised by Never Before Events in collaboration with the Dubai Sports Council, consists of three specialised events:  Dubai International Bicycle Exhibition Dubai Motorbike Festival Middle East Dive & Fish Expo More than 10,000 visitors are expected to visit the event over the three-day period, where they will be able to find out about special offers, product trials, raffle prizes, competitions and seminars. Zarir Saifuddin, of organisers Never Before Events, said: “The growth of the exhibition is in line with the popularity of action sports in the UAE as w...
‘Golfbreaks by PGA Tour’ brand created after golf organisations join forces
Sports Business, Sports Travel

‘Golfbreaks by PGA Tour’ brand created after golf organisations join forces

PGA Tour has invested in Golfbreaks and the two organisations have created a new golf travel brand - Golfbreaks by PGA Tour. The partnership will give golfers the opportunity to book golf holidays to more than 2,500 destinations throughout Europe and North America.  Founded in 1998 in the United Kingdom, Golfbreaks has become one of the market leaders in golf travel. Following 21 consecutive years of revenue growth, Golfbreaks now looks to accelerate the expansion of its North American business.  Andrew Stanley, Golfbreaks CEO, said: “We opened our US office in 2016 to help the 30 million-plus golfers with a one-stop travel service offering of high-quality, good-value golf vacations.  “Having achieved three years of double-digit growth, the time was right for us to find ...
Christmas gift guide for sports fans: event tickets, trips, experiences, driving, golf and more
Holidays & Trips

Christmas gift guide for sports fans: event tickets, trips, experiences, driving, golf and more

Got a sports-mad guy or gal who you need to buy a Christmas present for? Check out our sports Christmas gift guide, which includes activities, travel breaks, golf getaways, sports event tickets, and unique experiences such as driving, sailing and surfing.  Jump to each section in the sports Christmas gift guide: Sports gift boxes | Stadium tours | Race days | Golf masterclasses Weekend sport trips and activity breaks Golf weekend breaks and escapes Driving breaks and driving experiences Bear Grylls Survival Academy Sports tickets for UK events in 2020 Sports gift boxes | Stadium tours | Race days | Golf masterclasses  Liverpool FC Anfield stadium tour for two adults - £40 Duration: one hour for two people; valid for 10 months  Where: Anfield stadium, Liverpool, Merse...
2019 sports business calendar: events, conferences and exhibitions
Events, Sports Business

2019 sports business calendar: events, conferences and exhibitions

Sports business conferences and events are a huge driver for the tourism and travel industry. Here we look at the sports industry conferences, exhibitions, events and awards for 2019 and 2020. Plus we pick out the top travel and tourism events which feature sporting exhibitors. 2020 sports business and sports tourism calendar: events, conferences, exhibitions December 2019 International Luxury Travel Market (ILTN) Cannes When: 2-5 December 2019 Where: Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, Cannes, France Sports exhibitors: outdoor sports, golf, ski, sailing Website: iltm.com/cannes Women in Sport – Next Generation When: 3-4 December 2019 Where: London Stadium, London, UK Website: everythinginsport.com ICSTILO 2019: International Conference on Sport Tourism Industry and Local Org...
Portes du Soleil 2020 events guide: Youth Winter Olympics, Rock the Pistes, Snowboxx
Events, Guides, Holidays & Trips

Portes du Soleil 2020 events guide: Youth Winter Olympics, Rock the Pistes, Snowboxx

In 2020 the Portes du Soleil region will host a number of major sports and music events, including the Youth Winter Olympic Games, Rock the Pistes and Snowboxx. Here we look at what’s on in Portes du Soleil in 2020... About the Portes du Soleil The “Gateway to the Sun” covers the neighbouring Alpine regions of French Chablais and Swiss Valais, encompassing two countries and 12 resorts. These include Avoriaz, Champéry, Les Gets and Morzine with one liftpass providing access to them all.  Located between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc, this huge ski area boasts 650km of pistes and 196 lifts. Portes du Soleil enjoys an annual average snowfall of nearly eight metres, with the region a flurry of activity throughout the winter and the ski season wrapping up in late April. Youth Winter Olympics Th...
Saddle Skedaddle announces new cycling holidays in 2020
Holidays & Trips

Saddle Skedaddle announces new cycling holidays in 2020

Saddle Skedaddle will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2020 and to mark the milestone the company has announced details of its new cycling holidays. “New for 2020” cycling trips include a 15-day adventure in Ethiopia; an eight-day, guided holiday in Jordan; a nine-day, coast to coast road cycling trip in Italy; and a seven-day, electric mountain bike holiday in Croatia. See more details on the cycling holidays below or at skedaddle.com Guided cycling adventure holiday in Ethiopia This 15-day guided cycling adventure holiday in Ethiopia begins at the Blue Nile Falls near the city of Bahir Dar before heading to the country’s former capital, Gondar. The riding continues into Simien Mountains National Park – one of Ethiopia’s nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites – for a night spent camping und...
South Africa wins right to host the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022
Sports Travel

South Africa wins right to host the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

The Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 will be held in South Africa after the World Rugby Council awarded the hosting rights for the tournament at a meeting in Tokyo.  In September 2022 the eighth edition of the showcase event will take place in Cape Town in what will be the first time that Rugby World Cup Sevens has been hosted on the African continent.  The world’s best 24 men’s and 16 women’s rugby sevens teams will take to the field at the Cape Town Stadium in Green Point where they will compete for world champion status over three days of exhilarating action.  The 55,000-capacity stadium is the same venue that has hosted the HSBC Cape Town Sevens since 2015, and for the first time this year will host both men’s and women’s teams across three days of competition as part of the new-lo...
Interview: StubHub president Sukhinder Singh Cassidy talks NFL, London, Brexit and ticket trends
London, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Interview: StubHub president Sukhinder Singh Cassidy talks NFL, London, Brexit and ticket trends

Hosting major US sporting fixtures has cemented London’s position as an international sports hub - and the perception of the UK has improved for fans who attended the events.   That’s according to a study published in October by online ticket company StubHub which looked at sales data ahead of the 2019 NFL London Games. This year London hosted the NBA regular-season match between the Washington Wizards and New York Knicks at The O2 in January. And for the first time baseball arrived on UK soil with the Boston Red Sox taking on rivals New York Yankees in two MLB matches at the London Stadium in June. In October and November American football has once again been on the London sporting calendar. Two NFL games were played at Tottenham and two are taking place at Wembley.    The StubHub stu...
Charlotte Hornets star Willy Hernangomez urges NBA to host a game in Spain
Events

Charlotte Hornets star Willy Hernangomez urges NBA to host a game in Spain

Charlotte Hornets centre Willy Hernangomez has urged the NBA to expand its international series by hosting a future match in his homeland Spain.  Madrid-born Hernangomez and his French team-mate Nicolas Batum will line up for the Hornets against the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Paris Game 2020 on 24 January.  The 25-year-old is looking forward to the game in France, but is pleading with the NBA to start planning for further events. He said: “Personally, I think it’s great for me and Nico Batum, the European players to have the opportunity to play an NBA game in Europe. “Hope it will be in Spain soon, but it will be great to see my family and friends, they want to fly there for sure. But for the NBA, I think it’s great to show the world how the NBA works and the game.  “I ...
MLB World Series to generate $6.5m economic impact for Washington DC
Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

MLB World Series to generate $6.5m economic impact for Washington DC

Washington Nationals’s qualification to the 2019 Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series is set to generate a $6.5m economic impact for Washington DC. Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organisation for the US capital city, has announced that the impact will come from two World Series home games against the Houston Astros on Friday 25 October and Saturday 26 October.  Both matches will be played at Nationals Park in the Capitol Riverfront neighbourhood in south-east DC with the potential of a fifth game on Sunday 27 October. “The World Series is an amazing opportunity for the Washington Nationals, their fans and the economic impact for the nation’s capital,” said Elliott L. Ferguson II, president and CEO, Destination DC.  “We’re excited to showcase Washington DC ...
Runnin’City wins 1st UNWTO Sports Tourism Start-up Competition
Sports Business, Sports Travel

Runnin’City wins 1st UNWTO Sports Tourism Start-up Competition

Smartphone app Runnin’City has been named the winner of the 1st United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Sports Tourism Start-up Competition. Launched in partnership with the Barca Innovation Hub and supported by the Qatar National Tourism Council, the competition saw hundreds of start-ups enter. Five companies - Runnin’City; Fly-Foot; Kamui Daisetsu Barrier-free Institute; Oevit; and WeFish - were then shortlisted for the final. In October, the five finalists took centre stage at the Global Tourism Economy Forum in Macau, with the first SportsTech edition of the WTO’s Tourism Tech Adventures initiative celebrating the most disruptive ideas and innovators from around the world.  Within the framework of the Forum, the five finalists were invited to Macau for a special masterc...
Man Utd and Marriott Hotels unveil the ‘Seat of Dreams’ at the Theatre of Dreams 
Hotels & Resorts, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Man Utd and Marriott Hotels unveil the ‘Seat of Dreams’ at the Theatre of Dreams 

Manchester United and Marriott Hotels have unveiled the “Seat of Dreams” - a new concept that will be launched at the club’s Old Trafford stadium. United’s Premier League clash against rivals Liverpool on Sunday 20 October will see the Seat of Dreams used for the first time. This unique matchday experience allows supporters to watch the action from a coveted vantage point in the ground while also enjoying special perks such as complimentary food and drinks, early entry to the stadium, and the opportunity to meet Man Utd legends. The new addition at the Theatre of Dreams will be awarded to four fans at random through a complimentary upgrade to their existing match ticket. Official hotel partner The debut of the Seat of Dreams concept also marks the kick-off of a larger relationship be...
F1 Miami GP economic impact: $400m, 35,000 room nights and 4,000 new jobs
Events, Sports Travel

F1 Miami GP economic impact: $400m, 35,000 room nights and 4,000 new jobs

Formula 1 has announced that it has agreed in principle a deal with the Hard Rock Stadium to host the first-ever F1 Miami Grand Prix. Should it join the United States Grand Prix on the F1 calendar, it’s predicted that the F1 Miami GP could have an economic impact of more than $400m (£311.8m) and bring in 35,000 hotel room nights in South Florida.  The event would also create 4,000 new jobs, according to the organisers. F1.com reports that should the race be given the green light in a vote by the Miami-Dade County on 28 October, it would see Formula 1 return to the state of Florida for the first time since the 1959 United Stated Grand Prix at Sebring. Announcing the agreement, Hard Rock Stadium vice-chairman and CEO Tom Garfinkel and F1’s managing director commercial operations Sean Bra...

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