A leading schools and sports clubs travel specialist has joined The Midcounties Co-operative Travel Consortium.
International Sports Tours trading as inspiresport provides clients with the opportunity to train and play at some of the world’s top football and rugby clubs
The Cardiff-based company works closely with professional clubs and with exclusive endorsement of many of the national governing bodies.
The decision by inspiresport to join the consortium comes 18 months after an investment by Simon Powell, founder of Comtec, and Richard Calvert former managing director UK tour operations of Thomas Cook.
Founder and director Tom Shorey said: “We deliver once in a lifetime sports development programmes at the top professional clubs and sporting destinations around the world.
“Our plan is to make our team sports development tours an important part of the sports development strategy at a school. Ultimately we want it to become an integral annual fixture that will be enjoyed by even more than the 120,000 pupils who attend a school ski trip each year.”
He added: “We are delighted to join The Co-operative Consortium because it is a good fit for us. It will help us continue to expand our product offering that will further expand our customer base and future order book.”
Group general manager travel at The Midcounties Co-operative Alistair Rowland said: “It is more than a business decision for us. As an ethical co-operative retailer we have clear social goals to benefit the communities where we trade. Promoting health and fitness is very much part of that.
“We can use our strong links to schools, local organisations and clubs through our community programmes – as well as our wider membership – to raise awareness of inspiresport’s sporting tours as an enjoyable way to keep fit and healthy.”
The Consortium’s business development manager Gillian Travis added: “The consortium is attracting a wide variety of travel businesses and we are happy to hear from others who share our vision and want to work with us.”