Booking a hotel accommodation for a touring sports team is not like booking a weekend break. There are many more factors that need to be considered to ensure that the hotel chosen is suitable for all members of the touring party.
Proximity to Venues
First and foremost for a sports tour, the hotel chosen must be close to the touring party’s training ground and match venue(s). A lengthy coach transfer to and from matches, particularly on the morning of a match, will eat into warm-up time and may also interfere with the team’s pre-match routine. When selecting possible hotels, the specialist will map out the journey times to and from the various training grounds and match venues to ensure that the chosen hotel is convenient for the touring party.
Room and Bed Configuration
A normal double room is usually not suitable for an athlete. Often sports travel specialists look for rooms with two single beds and enough space for all their equipment. Also important is the number of bathrooms to ensure that the athletes can get ready for their match in time. Hotels have a limited number of rooms that can be put on a group block, which should be checked by the sports travel specialist in advance.
Meal Timing and Post-Match Dining
Touring teams require early breakfasts, such as 6.30 am starters, to enable a morning training session. In addition, they require hot food after an evening fixture to enable a late return to the hotel to recover for the next day’s events. These services are not typically highlighted on a standard booking portal for corporate travel, but are negotiated by the sports travel specialist with the hotel’s catering manager prior to contracting the hotel. See also Specialists in Sport Travel.
Recovery and Storage Facilities
Recovery facilities: Such as ice baths, a pool, a quiet space for stretching, etc. As mentioned previously, UK Sport have released guidance on performance and welfare standards for athletes in competition and during preparation, and this clearly outlines the importance of recovery environments and how they can aid in an athlete’s performance during a multi-day tour. The ability for a team to store large equipment bags in a secure area is also an important factor that some leisure hotels may not consider.
Noise and Rest Environment
The specialist will look at where your rooms are located within a hotel. They will steer clear of hotels on busy roads, in noisy areas of town, near clubs and bars and in hotels that regularly hold conferences and events that may run late into the night. Ideally a touring sports team requires a quiet, well-ventilated room in which to rest.
Getting all of this right before you depart is what makes for a great tour, and a well-run tour as opposed to one that is exhausted before the first whistle of play.
