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."
On the Record
Kier Matthews of On Location Experiences discusses the company's strategy.
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 $540, with hospitality packages starting from as low as $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 travelers 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.
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 flavor to their personalized 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 ultraluxe 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.