US Sports Travel has become part of Venatour Sports Travel following a merger of the two specialist sports businesses.
The move will see US Sports Travel become Venatour USA and open an office in the US.
Venatour Sports Travel was founded by Alister Strahan, who has 25 years experience in sports travel, and ex-international rugby union player Gareth Chilcott. It specialises in outbound and inbound sports travel for supporters, schools and clubs, with a heavy focus on rugby and cricket.
US Sports Travel was set up by director James Ellwood in 2019, originally as NFL Weekends, to offer ticket and travel packages to American football games. It broadened its product range last year to include baseball, basketball and ice hockey.
The merger allows Venatour to expand into the US sports sector and enables US Sports Travel to grow using Venatour’s client database and office infrastructure.
The Venatour USA brand officially launches in January.
Strahan said: “We have had plans to start a US arm to our business for a while now and further to our partnership with USA Rugby, this is the next step.
“James has a specific expertise in this area and after running US Sports Travel for four years whilst running a variety of trips, he will really compliment what we already have in place here, we can’t wait to get going.”
Both businesses work with travel agents and are keen to work more closely with the UK trade.
Ellwood said Venatour USA could sell traditional sports packages or act as a ground handling agent offering hotels and transfers as part of a package for agents’ clients.
He said: “Our plan is to cover many bases and be the one-stop shop for inbound and outbound American sporting travel. We definitely want to work with travel agents.”
The move also puts the company in “pole position” to capitalise on large scale forthcoming events to be held in the US, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2031 Rugby World Cup, he said.
“We will be using Venatour’s client base and infrastructure and they want to get involved in the US so the merger makes sense,” he added.
By opening an office in the US, the company would be able to oversee trips more closely and support inbound business from the US to the UK. Venatour is the official travel partner of USA Rugby.
“This gives the brand a presence in both the UK and the US which is a huge part of giving clients assurance the trip is being managed closely from enquiry through to delivery while allowing the company to grow relationships with suppliers and partner schools and clubs,” said Ellwood.