Playon, the international network of retired sports professionals, has appointed leading global sports travel management agency ATPI Sports Events, part of the ATPI Group, to manage the travel arrangements for the team participating in the 2017 Soccer Sevens. Playon’s tournament debut in Hong Kong will feature names such as ex-England stars Emile Heskey and David James as well as Scottish defender Colin Hendry and Dutch icon Regi Blinker.
The Soccer Sevens is an international seven-a-side football tournament held annually in Hong Kong. The event follows a two-stage format, firstly the group stage which is then followed by the knockout stage. Teams are made up mostly of academy squads from clubs in Europe who compete against players from leagues across Asia.
The ATPI Sports Events team will be responsible for the management of travel arrangements for Playon including flights and hotels bookings and on the ground transportation with on-site project management for the duration of the tournament. ATPI Sports Events has extensive experience in managing team and tournament travel programmes for Premier League, Championship and National Football teams.
The business also has involvement in managing major sporting events, including ticket packages for the Rugby Union World Cup 2015. In the wider sports arena, ATPI Sports Events is the global official hospitality agency for the 2017-18 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race. The company is the Official Ticket & Travel Agent (NL) for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games and was recently appointed by the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) as its Official Ticketing and Hospitality Services Partner. ATPI Sports Events will also be managing the travel arrangements for the England, Wales, Scotland and Armed Forces teams participating in the upcoming Rugby League Festival of World Cups which takes place in July this year in western Sydney.
Kate Suddards, Head of Sports at ATPI Sports Events commented:
“The ATPI Sports Events team working with Playon are experts in tour travel management and logistics. Working with an experienced provider is key to ensuring the delivery of an efficient and successful travel programme, in what can be a changeable environment. Our global network of 100 offices, including Hong Kong, means we can utilise our local knowledge of the market and connections to ensure the most efficient delivery for our clients”
Viv Anderson, Founder, Playon commented:
“Appointing ATPI Sports Events to manage the logistics for our team travel to this year’s Soccer Sevens has been integral to the success of our participation in the tournament. The team’s understanding of our requirements, coupled with their on the ground support is invaluable and we’re looking forward to a successful working relationship and success in Hong Kong.”
Playon’s concept in providing retired sportspeople with the opportunity to extend their playing career means that the organisation also creates its own tournaments worldwide in America, the Far East, the Middle East and China.
ATPI Sports Events is one of the world’s fastest growing events businesses with specialist teams delivering travel, events, corporate hospitality, ticketing, branding and sponsorship activation for leading events and sports brands around the world.
The ATPI Group has a network of over 100 offices worldwide and is a global leader in travel management for corporate, shipping and energy businesses, sports and corporate event management and online travel technology.
Playon media enquiries:
About Playon:
Playon is a unique concept that gives the opportunity to retired sportsmen to extend their careers as long as they are fit to play. It provides the dressing room atmosphere and camaraderie that so many miss when they hang up their boots. Aside from playing in masters tournaments such as the Hong Kong Sevens, Playon will create its’s own tournaments world - wide with emphasis on America, the Far East, the Middle East and China. Amongst the Playon attractions will be a savings and wealth management scheme as well as the ability for players to connect on social media with fellow pros and the public, enhancing their profiles even after retirement.
Playon is fronted by former England stars Viv Anderson (CEO) and Trevor Steven, both of whom are members of the Playon board. Amongst those taking part in Playon’s tournament debut in Hong Kong will be more ex-England players, including Emile Heskey and David James plus former Scotland defender Colin Hendry and Dutch icon Regi Blinker.
About ATPI Sports Events:
ATPI Sports Events is one of the most well-respected sports travel and events brands in the world. With a long track record in the Olympic Games, Football, Running, Sailing and more, ATPI is the sports specialist of choice for many sports bodies, organising committees and corporate businesses.
About the ATPI Group:
The ATPI Group is one of the world’s leading and long established global travel management and events businesses. With a footprint of wholly owned offices and network partners in over 100 locations around the world. The business boasts market leading travel booking technology, corporate event management skills and specialist knowledge in sectors such as shipping, energy and offshore, sports, retail, finance and professional services.