Plan Your Next SportsTeam Outing Online (NAPSA)—One of the many highlights of having kids is playing an active role in their sports activities. This can run the gamut from calling sideline cheers and being “team mom or dad”to playing coach and actively planning their trips when the need arises to compete against long-distance teams. The good news: Trip planning for “away” games is no longer as daunting as it once was, thanks to the Internet and useful online capabilities on the part of travel companies ready to do business with you 24/7. Parents who are tech savvy can easily book and managetheir sports team travel online—including hotel rooms, team-rally event space, food and beverages, and audiovisual options—and receive an instant online contract and confirmation. Whether you’re traveling cross-state or across the country to compete in soccer, baseball, softball or football leagues, etc., event bookingsites like e-Events (www.hiltonfamilyeevents.com), through the Hilton Family of Hotels, offer customers an all-inclu- sive online planning and booking tool for five to 25 guest rooms. More than 2,500 Hilton Family of Hotels available on thesite offer a wide rangeof price points. Added-value tip: Embassy Suites Hotels, Hampton Inn, and Homewood Suites by Hilton offer “With families trying to manage work, home and play, we developed e-Events to address the growing needs of parents to plan, book and manage their sports team hotel stays online, at their convenience,” said Bob Brooks, vice president, eSales Strategy and Performance, Hilton Hotels Corporation. “With trip planning out of the way, moms and dads Booking sports team travel online leaves more time to gear up for the big game. can spend more time on thefield complimentary breakfast as part of the hotel rate, which adds significant value to traveling sports your own group rooming list so teams. With some online hotel solu- tions like e-Events, once an event is booked, customers have imme- diate access to manage their guest room list and create a customized page for their event. The customized page lets sports-trip planners list helpful information such as a team event agendaincluding practice and tournament times, game locations, team rallies, photos, pizza parties and local things to do for families so everyoneis at the right place at the right time. Also, once you book function space, you can also reserve audiovisual components online so that when the team arrives, you can show a video montage to pump up team spirit. with the kids.” In addition, some hotel brands like Hilton will let you manage that you may manage your group’s room count, book multiple reservations (up to five at a time) and view your group’s guest room reservations and information. Despite the high-tech way of planning a team outing online, hotels have managed to maintain a personal touch, too, for those who need a bit of help “crossing the finish line.” Once trip planners book an event and a block of rooms online, they receive a call by the end of the next business day from a staff member at the hotel, who offers additional assis- tance and support. Now you can relax about the trip planning for your next team outing and can put some extra thought into the team cheerto celebrate “bringing the trophy home.”
