ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 official tour operator selected

Cricket Logistics 2007 has been selected, subject to contract, as sole Official Tour Operator for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, after an open tender process that closed in April 2005. The announcement comes today from Chris Dehring, Managing Director and CEO of ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Inc.

"We are delighted to announce that an Official Tour Operator has been chosen. The successful company is a consortium, made up of Gullivers Sports Travel, UK, and Hospitality in Partnership UK. They both have a long history in the delivery of sports tours and hospitality packages. Gullivers will handle all aspects of travel; Hospitality in Partnership will deal with all facets of match-day hospitality."

He went on to outline the exact role of Official Tour Operator. "Cricket Logistics 2007 will be the sole source of commercial tickets, meaning match tickets sold as part of a tour and travel or hospitality package, for the ICC Cricket World Cup. They will also manage all travel and accommodation arrangements for participating teams, officials and event sponsors, as well as providing for media where required."

"In addition to managing travel and accommodation for those participating in ICC CWC 2007, as Official Tour Operator, Cricket Logistics 2007 is mandated to appoint a worldwide network of Official Travel Agents (OTA), through a public tender process, in consultation with ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc. These Official Travel Agents will be responsible for the sale of official supporters' packages, consisting of travel, accommodation and match tickets for overseas supporters."

Dehring has always advocated that one of the major objectives of ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc. is to fufill the Caribbean Economic Enterprise initiative (CEE), which is the policy put in place to ensure that "Where contracts are awarded to a non-Caribbean entity through the competitive process, that organisation, in turn must develop programmes which will satisfy us that Caribbean companies or nationals will benefit both economically and developmentally."

Cricket Logistic 2007 are fully committed to the CEE. David Hall, Director of Cricket Logistics 2007 affirmed this.

"One of the main aims of Cricket Logistics 2007 will be to maximize revenue for the local communities. By the very nature of the event, the only companies that Cricket Logistics 2007 will deal with in the Caribbean will be of Caribbean origin. As a result many hotels, bed and breakfasts, ground handlers, guides, bus companies, boats and ships in the region will all benefit from CWC 2007."

Cricket Logistics 2007 is highly experienced in working with Tourist Boards and Local Organising Committees, managing joint initiatives. For CWC 2007, Cricket Logistics 2007 will be in touch with every Tourist Board in the Caribbean to open dialogue on how Cricket Logistics 2007 can be of assistance or what opportunities are available for both parties to work in partnership.

He went on to address staffing opportunities for the organisation prior to and during the tournament.

"Initially some senior roles will be undertaken by persons who have worked on ICC CWC 1999 or 2003. Going forward the aim is to employ only Caribbean nationals. All staff will be trained in the ways of `large sporting events' and will be given the opportunity to attend travel seminars and other training opportunities. Both knowledge sharing and skill transference will be a top priority for Cricket Logistics 2007."

"During the event itself, there will be a need for many part-time staff and all these people will also be Caribbean nationals. They will receive considerable training so that they know how to deal with teams, officials, media, as well as overseas visitors and will benefit from seeing how a large event like ICC CWC 2007 is run at first-hand."

For further information on Cricket Logistics 2007 email:
Margaret Gibson: info@cricketlogistics.com