A specialist sports operator is targeting closer ties with the trade as it unveils Fifa World Cup packages exclusively available through travel agents in the UK.
Expat Sport has created the Football Fans Dubai Experience hotel package in Dubai of four, eight or 12 nights from November 21 to December 18 to coincide with the tournament. It includes daily return flights from Dubai to Qatar for fans with match tickets.
The company is the exclusive sales agent in the United Arab Emirates for the official hospitality programme for Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022.
It hopes to work with agents whose clients already have tickets but need to organise their stay in the region. It is unable to sell match tickets to agents.
Managing director Alan Holt said there could be “hundreds” of agents with customers who are football fans but need “expert support” with their travel plans on the ground in Dubai and Qatar.
“We’ve been based in the region for 12 years and can offer a full turnkey solution,” said Holt, who added: “In the UK, we are only working through agents. We also want to grow our business in the UK beyond the World Cup.”
Industry veteran John McEwan is non-executive chairman for Expat Sport, which is contacting consortia to promote the Football Fans Dubai Experience, with bookings commissionable to agents.
Accommodation is at the 500-room NH Dubai The Palm hotel, with a four-night package priced from £1,032, based on two people sharing a room.
Packages include airport transfers, access to official fanzones to watch matches in the hotel, free shuttle buses to Dubai fanzones and beach games such as football darts. UK-Dubai flights must be booked separately.
expatsport.com