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Luxury, Legacy & the Future of VIP Sports Travel: Insights from São Paulo

By Rohit Saxena, CEO of Coraaj Travel

For elite athletes, teams, and executives, travel isn’t just logistics—it’s performance. The right itinerary can mean arriving in peak condition, while the wrong one can mean missed recovery, disrupted focus, and lost opportunities.

At an exclusive São Paulo summit last week—hosted by British Airways, Oetker Collection, and Blue Tree Hotels—global leaders in sports, luxury hospitality, and elite travel came together to discuss the next era of sports mobility. With major tournaments on the horizon and VIP travel evolving fast, one thing was clear: The future of sports success starts long before game day.

The Billion-Dollar Shift in Sports Travel

The global sports travel industry is on track to hit $1.8 trillion by 2030, fueled by high-net-worth travellers, sponsorship deals, and the growing influence of private aviation. At the same time, VIP travel is expanding at 7% CAGR, with demand for hyper-personalised, frictionless experiences at an all-time high.

🔹 Private jet travel: Sports-related bookings rose 10% YoY as teams prioritise control over travel schedules.

🔹 VIP hospitality & accommodation: Five-star hotel demand jumped 15% during major events, from F1 circuits to the Champions League.

🔹 Concierge services: Growing 20% annually as top athletes and executives expect bespoke solutions—from security and wellness to exclusive event access.

With the Paris 2024 Olympics, 2026 FIFA World Cup, and an expanded F1 calendar on the horizon, sports organisations can no longer treat travel as an afterthought.

Key Takeaways for Sports & Broadcast Leaders

🎯 Winning Starts with Smarter Logistics

High-performance travel isn’t just about comfort—it’s about gaining a competitive edge. Real-time itinerary updates, fatigue management, and precision scheduling are now critical factors in athlete and executive performance.

📊 Data & Personalisation Define the Future

A one-size-fits-all approach no longer works. 74% of HNW travellers demand custom itineraries, from nutrition-aligned menus to AI-driven concierge services that sync with competition schedules.

🌍 Sustainability is Reshaping Elite Travel

With 68% of luxury travellers willing to pay more for eco-conscious options, the shift towards sustainable aviation fuel, carbon offset programmes, and green hospitality is accelerating.

🚀 Technology is Closing the Gap

AI-powered concierge tools, predictive scheduling, and automated travel management platforms are eliminating friction and making elite mobility smarter, faster, and more connected.

How This Shapes the Future of Sports Travel

For global sports organisations, the challenge is clear—move beyond reactive travel planning and integrate smarter, data-driven solutions that prioritise performance, security, and exclusivity.

At Coraaj, we’ve seen first-hand how top teams and executives turn travel into a strategic advantage—whether it’s ensuring seamless transitions between continents, aligning itineraries with peak performance windows, or securing world-class hospitality for athletes and VIPs. As the landscape evolves, those who invest in smarter mobility will set the pace for the future of sport.

The next era of sports dominance starts off the field. The question is—who’s ahead of the game?

🏆 Stay Ahead of the Game—Optimise Your Travel Strategy with Coraaj. Get Started Today