TUI Travel’s Specialist & Activity Sector has teamed up with top leaders in Sport Tourism to launch a ground-breaking conference, co-located alongside the climax of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in Auckland, New Zealand.

The World Sport Tourism Congress (WSTC) will take place 10-14 October 2011 on the luxury cruise ship – the P&O Pacific Dawn – and will comprise of four days of inspirational panel debates, leading-edge presentations and priceless networking opportunities, all conducted whilst cruising in style around New Zealand’s beautiful Bay of Islands.

The fully-inclusive cruise package departs from Queen’s Wharf, Auckland on 10 October, returning on 14 October in time for the Rugby World Cup Semi Finals.

(Congress with a difference: Pacific Dawn will play host to WSTC on a unique cruise around the Bay of Islands)

Themed “Sharing the Sport and Tourism Boom”, WSTC presents an unmissable opportunity to network and engage with industry’s elite, gain invaluable insights from the world’s leading experts and meet face-to-face with the key Sport Tourism buyers as deals are brokered for future sporting events.

An unrivalled line-up of confirmed speakers includes Jeanine Pires (Minister Special Advisor, Rio 2016 Olympics & former President, Embratur), Geoffrey Lipman (Advisor to Secretary General UNWTO), Campbell Jamieson (Commercial Director, International Cricket Council) and Darren Mee (COO, TUI Travel PLC, Specialist & Activity Sector).

(A panel of top Sport Tourism thought leaders will head WSTC during the Rugby World Cup in Auckland)

The delegate rate of £950 includes access to all sessions on the WSTC programme, four nights accommodation on board the P&O Pacific Dawn, exclusive VIP receptions and gala dinners, very special networking events and excursions as the ship cruises around New Zealand’s North Island.

With WSTC Delegate places strictly controlled and limited, only senior executives will qualify to take part in this once in a lifetime Sport Tourism opportunity at the heart of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

(Tony Prince of WSTC with Rafael Nadal)

In recent years the integration of sport, sporting events and spectator and participation travel has seen the sector become the industry’s fastest growing, and is now worth in excess of $600 billion, and an astonishing 14 percent of overall travel and tourism receipts.

The strength of the market was illustrated recently, with confirmed sales of one million tickets for the Rugby World Cup. WSTC is designed to both reflect this staggering growth and contribute further to it, and help delegates reap maximum benefit from this sector.

For those delegates wishing to make the most of their trip to New Zealand, a selection of exclusive Rugby World Cup 2011 Add-On Packages are available including tickets and accommodation for the RWC Semi Final, or for both the RWC Semi- Finals and Final.

(Luxury comes as standard throughout WSTC)

TUI Travel Specialist & Activity Sector is part of TUI Travel PLC. The Sport Division, which includes Thomson Sport, is a unique collection of some of the most established sports travel & event brands in the world.  The division specialises in delivering exceptional services and logistics to major worldwide sporting events for fans, teams, clubs and sponsors. 

Appointments include official Travel Agent for Rugby World Cup 2011, British & Irish Lions Tours, Ashes Series, ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC World Twenty20, ICC Official Tour Provider, Rugby World Cup Sevens, Hong Kong Sevens, Participating Tour Operator for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Official Overseas Travel Provider for England fans, The FA’s official supporters club and Travel Provider for UEFA Under 21 Championships 2009, Wimbledon Championship and The British Grand Prix.

To view the full programme and to book visit wstc.co

Venue: P&O Pacific Dawn
Embarkation: Queen’s Wharf, Auckland
Dates: 10-14 October 2011

Contact: Sion Rapson, Global Business Director, +44 (0) 20 7925 0000 / +44 (0) 7795 966661 / [email protected]