In Focus: Destination Sport Travel - Keeping Football Moving

As football clubs look to gain an advantage, Destination Sport Travel’s Managing Director, Rob Slawson, explains how travel management has become a key part of a club’s preparations.

As we approach the ‘business end’ of the football season, football clubs are already busy planning for the close season and looking ahead to the next. Alongside teams travelling to away fixtures, pre- and post-season tours are being organised, club executives are finalising new partnerships and recruitment staff are compiling their reports on summer transfer targets.

Destination Sport Travel is at the leading edge of football’s global travel operations. Serving many elite sports organisations including over half of the Premier League, the specialist sports travel management company is part of Destination Sport Group, a unique collection of businesses providing a comprehensive sports travel solution. Managing Director of Destination Sport Travel, Rob Slawson, discusses how travel management is now a pivotal component of football club operations and explains how his team handles the complex logistics of football travel, ensuring teams and staff are always ready for the next game.

Tailoring Travel to Elite Football Clubs

Football is famously a game of fine margins, and clubs will do everything in their power to make sure their staff and players are suitably prepared before they cross the white line. That’s where the role of a specialist travel management company can help, explains Rob Slawson.

“We handle all the travel logistics so the team and staff can focus on the match ahead. Whether it’s a domestic away game or a European fixture, we take care of everything including the intricate details that are required with elite-level football,” he says.

“We’ll do everything we can to make the journey as seamless as possible. That can include chartering flights with airside pickups, fast-tracking security and using private terminals away from the busy main terminals.

“It can be arranging for medical and exercise equipment to be brought into the hotel, locking mini bars in rooms and restricting access to certain floors for privacy and security. We’ll even bring in entertainment like table tennis tables and PlayStations to keep everyone comfortable during longer stays.”

Rob explains how the role of a sports travel management company (TMC) is different to that of a regular TMC, stating: “There are lots of nuances that you have to prepare for in professional football. During a European game, a player might need to undergo a post-game drug test. This process can take time, as the player has to provide a urine sample, which isn’t always quick. Destination Sport Travel will have separate vehicles on standby to take the player back to the hotel or airport if there’s a flight home, rather than keeping the team bus waiting.

“During pre-season, players may come and go frequently. We ensure that the team aircraft is ready to move the bulk of the team while being prepared for individual players who need to join or leave the group. We handle these situations separately from the wider team, ensuring smooth transitions.

“What sets us apart is our complete focus on professional sport. We don’t play in any other fields. Travel may only be a small part of our partners’ and clients’ world, but it’s our sole focus and we aim to make sure it’s as smooth, efficient and cost-effective as possible to set them up for success on and off the pitch.”

Local Knowledge of a Global Game

The expansion of European competitions and the popularity of overseas training camps and tours means that travel is an increasing priority for clubs at all levels of the football pyramid.

Rob says: “I’ve been working with football clubs for over 20 years and the biggest change is the significant increase in the amount of travel. European competitions have evolved, involving more clubs from a wider network of countries. Teams are now travelling to new cities and destinations, and the volume of games has increased over the course of the whole season. 

“Twenty years ago, there was a natural break during the summer, with just a few clubs doing pre-season activities like high-altitude training in Switzerland or warm-weather training in Spain. Now, there’s no real break. Premier League seasons finish in May, and clubs immediately go on tours to places like Australia and the US, then come back and start the season again. Football never seems to stop now. Even if teams are out of domestic competitions, they go somewhere for warm-weather training.

“Commercial activities have ramped up alongside football. Pre-season tours used to involve just the first team squad and a few senior execs. Now, these tours can include 150+ people, including players, commercial teams, backroom staff and execs. These significant tours require a lot of planning and that’s what we specialise in.

“We have close to 100 staff globally who are specialists in sports travel, as part of around 400 staff that form the wider Destination Sport Group.

“Our support goes beyond just A-to-B travel and accommodation; we offer a broader knowledge and expertise. We often work with clubs that are new to European competitions or travelling into new countries or regions. It’s reassuring to them that we have local knowledge of that area and can ensure everything runs like clockwork.”

Delivering Beyond Team and Business Travel

Destination Sport Group, the parent company of Destination Sport Travel, is a comprehensive sports travel business that works with sports clubs, governing bodies, federations and major events, with global a global presence throughout the UK and Europe, North America, Middle East, Asia and Oceania.

Rob Slawson was one of the founding members when the group came together in 2019. He continues: “When we started Destination Sport Group, we decided we wanted to take a unique approach to sports travel and offer holistic partner opportunities to clients that not only cover travel management but include fan travel, youth tours, hospitality experiences and more.

“The business has grown very quickly, and we now work with 100+ major sports clients across the globe.

“When we work with a football club, we can offer them a one stop-shop for all their travel needs as opposed to them having to deal with numerous suppliers. There are lots of operational and commercial benefits to that, and it’s something that works particularly well with football clubs due to the scale and global popularity of the game.” 

The Future of Sports Travel

Having spent over two decades in the industry, Rob Slawson has seen a lot of change. But what about the future? He predicts that the game will continue to ‘go global’ but admits that sustainability is a key driver for clubs and travel management companies alike.

“Sustainability is at the forefront in all aspects of travel now. We have a responsibility, alongside clubs, to acknowledge and proactively address it. This means considering the environmental impact of our travel arrangements and making conscious efforts to reduce our carbon footprint. For example, we’ve recently launched a new online booking tool for business travel that has carbon reporting built-in and allows clubs to select the most sustainable options and track their emissions.  

“Football is a global commercial opportunity. Clubs see the potential to take their brand around the globe, not only to play games in different territories but also to commercialise their brand in those regions.  

“This puts Destination Sport in a unique position to support clubs not just in team travel but across all aspects of travel for staff, supporters and commercial partners. Our specialism across these areas and our physical presence in multiple territories around the world means we’re ready to support football clubs with their increasing global demand.” 

 You can learn more about Destination Sport at: destinationsport.com or contact them at: info@destinationsport.com

Images: Destination Sport Travel