Anonymous
Post 07/17/2024 15:41     Subject: Stay to Play the only option?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm not a soccer parent so please bear with me as I ask questions. What does the tournament organizer get out of having people book hotel rooms? The more rooms booked don't offset field rental costs since those are 2 separate companies. I don't understand it.


The issue I am having is not in the "booking" of the rooms. It's the requirement to go through the specified travel agency. So the travel agency is charging a higher rate than you can get directly through the hotel. There is either a kick-back scheme going on or the tournament organizers also own the travel agency.


Yes. There is an incentive back to the organizer, and more often back to the local community. These fields are all largely built with tax payer money, and the local or regional economic development office and the regional sports promotion NGO have a lot of work in making these successful - so standardizing the travel is one way the community can measure the economic impact of the investment they made, as well as continue to sell the community to other organizers, businesses, sponsors, etc.

It sucks for sure, and is more expensive. But if it is just the best way control the controllable for the community AND the visitor experience.


Do you work for a PR firm?? This is some spin for sure. The local community gets money whether I book directly through the hotel or utilizing a travel agency that probably isn't even registered in said state. The local community gets money when I go out to eat. The local community gets money when the tournament organizers pay to rent the fields and facilities with the $$ they already charged you to play. It for sure is not a way to control the community and visitor experience .
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2024 15:33     Subject: Stay to Play the only option?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm not a soccer parent so please bear with me as I ask questions. What does the tournament organizer get out of having people book hotel rooms? The more rooms booked don't offset field rental costs since those are 2 separate companies. I don't understand it.


The issue I am having is not in the "booking" of the rooms. It's the requirement to go through the specified travel agency. So the travel agency is charging a higher rate than you can get directly through the hotel. There is either a kick-back scheme going on or the tournament organizers also own the travel agency.


Yes. There is an incentive back to the organizer, and more often back to the local community. These fields are all largely built with tax payer money, and the local or regional economic development office and the regional sports promotion NGO have a lot of work in making these successful - so standardizing the travel is one way the community can measure the economic impact of the investment they made, as well as continue to sell the community to other organizers, businesses, sponsors, etc.

It sucks for sure, and is more expensive. But if it is just the best way control the controllable for the community AND the visitor experience.


I don’t believe that, would local community prefer not to have tournaments? It is helping them whether we use the travel agent or not. The travel agent does nothing other thank making it frustrating for attendees.


Believe whatever you want to believe.

Not a single travel tournament is hosted without local government or sports body’s involvement.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2024 15:29     Subject: Stay to Play the only option?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm not a soccer parent so please bear with me as I ask questions. What does the tournament organizer get out of having people book hotel rooms? The more rooms booked don't offset field rental costs since those are 2 separate companies. I don't understand it.


The issue I am having is not in the "booking" of the rooms. It's the requirement to go through the specified travel agency. So the travel agency is charging a higher rate than you can get directly through the hotel. There is either a kick-back scheme going on or the tournament organizers also own the travel agency.


Yes. There is an incentive back to the organizer, and more often back to the local community. These fields are all largely built with tax payer money, and the local or regional economic development office and the regional sports promotion NGO have a lot of work in making these successful - so standardizing the travel is one way the community can measure the economic impact of the investment they made, as well as continue to sell the community to other organizers, businesses, sponsors, etc.

It sucks for sure, and is more expensive. But if it is just the best way control the controllable for the community AND the visitor experience.


I don’t believe that, would local community prefer not to have tournaments? It is helping them whether we use the travel agent or not. The travel agent does nothing other thank making it frustrating for attendees.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2024 15:28     Subject: Stay to Play the only option?
Organizer gets kickback or free comp room do they give comp rooms to the clubs/ coaches.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2024 15:04     Subject: Stay to Play the only option?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm not a soccer parent so please bear with me as I ask questions. What does the tournament organizer get out of having people book hotel rooms? The more rooms booked don't offset field rental costs since those are 2 separate companies. I don't understand it.


The issue I am having is not in the "booking" of the rooms. It's the requirement to go through the specified travel agency. So the travel agency is charging a higher rate than you can get directly through the hotel. There is either a kick-back scheme going on or the tournament organizers also own the travel agency.


Yes. There is an incentive back to the organizer, and more often back to the local community. These fields are all largely built with tax payer money, and the local or regional economic development office and the regional sports promotion NGO have a lot of work in making these successful - so standardizing the travel is one way the community can measure the economic impact of the investment they made, as well as continue to sell the community to other organizers, businesses, sponsors, etc.

It sucks for sure, and is more expensive. But if it is just the best way control the controllable for the community AND the visitor experience.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2024 14:47     Subject: Stay to Play the only option?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm not a soccer parent so please bear with me as I ask questions. What does the tournament organizer get out of having people book hotel rooms? The more rooms booked don't offset field rental costs since those are 2 separate companies. I don't understand it.


The issue I am having is not in the "booking" of the rooms. It's the requirement to go through the specified travel agency. So the travel agency is charging a higher rate than you can get directly through the hotel. There is either a kick-back scheme going on or the tournament organizers also own the travel agency.


oh I see. That's not right.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2024 14:46     Subject: Stay to Play the only option?
Anonymous wrote:I'm not a soccer parent so please bear with me as I ask questions. What does the tournament organizer get out of having people book hotel rooms? The more rooms booked don't offset field rental costs since those are 2 separate companies. I don't understand it.


The issue I am having is not in the "booking" of the rooms. It's the requirement to go through the specified travel agency. So the travel agency is charging a higher rate than you can get directly through the hotel. There is either a kick-back scheme going on or the tournament organizers also own the travel agency.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2024 14:41     Subject: Stay to Play the only option?
I'm not a soccer parent so please bear with me as I ask questions. What does the tournament organizer get out of having people book hotel rooms? The more rooms booked don't offset field rental costs since those are 2 separate companies. I don't understand it.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2024 14:30     Subject: Stay to Play the only option?
Anonymous wrote:FYI - Basketball tournament we have been to require reservation # when you check in the player or you can't check them in = can't play.


Please don't give them any ideas on how to make this even worse. That is insane, if the fees for the tournaments are not high enough to cover the costs they should increase those. Next they are going to be charging entrance fees for you to watch your kid play soccer at the tournament your team paid an entrance fee for and that you paid twice as much for a hotel when you live down the street. Can't wait!
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2024 14:18     Subject: Stay to Play the only option?
It’s “Play to Stay”, not “Stay to Play”
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2024 13:07     Subject: Stay to Play the only option?
FYI - Basketball tournament we have been to require reservation # when you check in the player or you can't check them in = can't play.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2024 13:06     Subject: Stay to Play the only option?
Anonymous wrote:Are all tournaments these days Stay to Play? Having to book through a travel agency paying more $$ just so that another cog in the wheel can fleece you for more. They can't even hide it as we are getting you the best rates because they aren't. If you are local you have to get permission not to stay in a hotel. What happens if you want to room with another family do you need permission for that too?

Obviously there isn't really a choice here, I suppose my question is are there any tournaments that don't have this sleezy practice?




No need to get upset. Soccer Stay to Play isn't as bad as basketball tournament. You can bunk room with another families, or stay with friends and families nearby, no need to get permission. If you are local to the tournament you don't even need a hotel.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2024 12:36     Subject: Stay to Play the only option?
It's a money grab
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2024 12:33     Subject: Stay to Play the only option?
It's more of a question of those that actually enforce vs. just blindly stating it as a policy. Keep in mind, team just usually needs to meet a minimum # of rooms threshold. Even the worst tournaments won't very every single player.
Anonymous
Post 07/17/2024 12:30     Subject: Stay to Play the only option?
Are all tournaments these days Stay to Play? Having to book through a travel agency paying more $$ just so that another cog in the wheel can fleece you for more. They can't even hide it as we are getting you the best rates because they aren't. If you are local you have to get permission not to stay in a hotel. What happens if you want to room with another family do you need permission for that too?

Obviously there isn't really a choice here, I suppose my question is are there any tournaments that don't have this sleezy practice?