As interest in trips surrounding the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris is
heating up, suppliers and advisors have forged new partnerships to
offer a variety of ways to experience the Games.
On Location Experiences, the official hospitality partner of the 2024
Summer Olympics, has been working to jump-start its relationship with
travel advisors ahead of the Games.
The company provides access to all Olympic competitions, special
events such as the opening and closing ceremonies and other official
Olympic events taking place across Paris.
Kier Matthews, vice president of global luxury sales for On Location,
said the company builds packages that include tickets to the Olympic
sporting events, accommodations, transportation to and from events and
on-site hospitality, "meaning a venue that we've reimagined with food
and beverage, entertainment, athlete appearances, etc".
There are more than 250 "travel packages" that include the Games and
hotels, which range from three- to five-star properties and are
available for up to 10-night stays. Those packages may also include
priority access to cultural and tourism activities and transportation.
There are also more than 50 "hospitality packages", which don't
include accommodations but in addition to tickets to the Games include
an experience within a shared or private space at a sporting venue or a
dedicated, central location in Paris, such as Clubhouse 24, a lounge in
the heart of the city that will host a number of live entertainment
events and special guest appearances.
Travel packages start at around US$540, with hospitality packages
starting from as low as US$217. Matthews said that affordability and
accessibility are top priorities for On Location. In its outreach to
advisors, the company wants to convey a clear message: The Olympics are
for everyone.
"There is a perception that you have to be significantly wealthy to
attend these events – but you really don't have to be," Matthews said,
pointing out that some of the leading packages for the Olympics are no
more expensive than taking a family vacation. "You can afford to take
your family to the Olympics. I want to make sure we demystify that."
What Olympics travellers want
Zoe Kamman, senior travel advisor at Savanti Travel in Phoenix who is
working with On Location, said clients want packages that solve the
logistical challenges and the many "moving parts" that come with the
Games.
"We have clients who have expressed interest in all-encompassing,
high-end luxury experiences for the Olympics," Kamman said. "They're
asking about the best way to secure tickets, how to get from one event
to the next, how to ensure they are comfortable at the Games and
availability at the hotels they are interested in."
Other advisors said they are finding unique ways to offer clients Olympic experiences both in and outside of Paris.
A visit to Marseille, where the Olympic flame's journey from Olympia will pass through, offers a fun and easy way for suppliers to add an Olympic flavour to the journeys of Olympics-bound clients. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/pillerss
Keytours Vacations, a wholesale supplier, is actively working on
crafting experiences for guests who want to see events taking place
outside of Paris, such as the Olympic torch relay. The ceremonial start
of the Games, the event involves the Olympic flame's journey from
Olympia, Greece, to Paris, visiting cities including Marseille and Lyon
as it travels through France in the weeks leading up to the opening
ceremony.
"Marseille and Lyon offer not only easy access to Paris but also to
Switzerland, Italy and the rest of Europe, making it a fun and easy way
to add an Olympic flavour to their personalised travel experience," said
Sandra Thomas-Comenole, director of marketing at Keytours.
The Olympics also offer advisors the opportunity to craft pre- and
post-trip experiences. Kamman is booking such trips for Olympics-bound
clients in Champagne, the south of France and the Italian Riviera.
Advisors with clients looking for ultra-luxe Olympic packages can turn to custom tour operators.
Tour operator Scott Dunn is looking into providing helicopter shuttle
services for VIPs of its exclusive membership club, Scott Dunn Private,
in addition to securing reservations at Paris' best restaurants, VIP
shopping opportunities and access to special events and
behind-the-scenes experiences during the Games, such as being able to
observe training and meet-and-greet opportunities.
"We work with our 'black book' of contacts who got early access to
tickets before they went on sale to the public and have the ability to
score last-minute tickets even after events may have sold out," said
Nick Cunningham, Scott Dunn's destinations manager for Europe.
Source: Travel Weekly