Teams and clubs
Get the whole team to the meet, and home again.
Swim meets, tournaments and club trips, planned from Waynesville, Ohio. I've served as meet director for the Bill Keating, Jr. Memorial Cincinnati Para-Swimming Open, so I've seen team travel from the event side too. I travel with a power wheelchair myself, so I check the details adaptive teams depend on.
"Start a team trip" opens a short form on Fora Travel, my host agency, in a new tab. In the notes, include the event, dates, venue, headcount, and how many travelers use wheelchairs.
What does it cost? Team trips have a coordination fee, set per traveler with a minimum per trip. I quote it in writing before any work starts. It covers the work suppliers don't pay for, like ground transport and the rooming list.
What I handle
- A room block near the venue. I count the accessible rooms your team needs before the contract is signed. Many hotels have only a few, and they're the first to run out.
- The rooming list. Who sleeps where, arrival and departure dates, and the changes as your roster changes.
- Getting there. Transport for people and gear, by road or air.
- One contact for parents and coaches. Questions come to me instead of five different websites.
- A written plan. An itinerary you can hand to your board, coaches and families.
What to have ready
You don't need all of it to start, but these get you a plan faster.
- The event name, dates and venue address
- Headcount: athletes, coaches, staff and family
- How many travelers use wheelchairs or other mobility devices, and any other access needs
- Who's paying: the club, each family, or a mix
- Your budget, if you have one
Common questions
Do you only plan adaptive sports travel?
No. I plan for all kinds of teams and clubs. Adaptive teams are where my experience helps most.
How far ahead should we start?
As soon as you know the meet dates. Hotels near popular venues fill early, and the accessible rooms inside a block go first.
Can families pay for their own rooms?
Yes. Each family can pay for its own room.
Is there a fee for team trips?
Yes. Team trips have a coordination fee, charged per traveler with a minimum per trip. You get the number in writing before I start, so your board can budget for it. Many tournaments require teams to book hotels through the event's housing company, and buses and accessible vans rarely pay advisors, so the fee is how this work gets paid.