Hospitality company hopes China fans will gorge on 2018 World Cup delights
The official partner of the Russian tournament is hoping to lure more Chinese and Asian clients to buy high-end tickets
China’s push to become a global football power is already stirring the nation to strengthen its professional teams, import big-name foreign players and boost grassroots development programmes. However, with World Cup involvement – as hosts or participants – the ultimate goal, it is likely that China’s football fans will lead the way.
BH Hospitality, the official partner offering hospitality packages for Asian fans hoping to watch the 2018 World Cup in Russia, has just set up operations in Hong Kong with an eye on luring more Chinese fans to the tournament.
John Parker, managing director of BH Hospitality in Asia, said the number of world-class sports events being held either in the region or within easy access presented numerous opportunities for Asian and Chinese sports fans to take advantage of hospitality packages.
“We set up an office in Hong Kong to really look at ways we can possibly assist or accelerate growth within this region of some of the products we believe we are capable of servicing,” said Parker, who is also a board member at Fifa’s official hospitality partner Match Hospitality.
“We have purchased the hospitality rights for the region [for the 2018 World Cup and 2022 Qatar World Cup]. We are looking to have sales agents in specific countries and at the same time be the sales agents in specific countries where we can’t find suitable agents.”
