As the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup approaches, the excitement among fans is soaring, driving a surge in sports tourism. Booking.com, the Official Accommodation Partner for the event, has unveiled its integrated campaign ‘Howzat for your perfect stay,’ blending the worlds of travel and cricket. A press event in Mumbai featured former cricketer Zaheer Khan, Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan, and Santosh Kumar, Country Manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia at Booking.com.
This fusion of sports and travel has a significant impact, with major sporting events like the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup attracting travellers to the host destination. The Booking.com APAC Travel Confidence Index indicates that 56% of Indians are eager to attend live events, including sports tournaments, this year. Search data from Booking.com also shows a surge in inbound travel, with travellers from the UK, USA, UAE, Germany, and Australia leading the way for inbound searches during the tournament.
Zaheer Khan, a former Indian fast bowler, expressed his enthusiasm for this union of cricket and travel, highlighting the role of travel in his cricket journey. The opportunity to witness top cricket nations on the field is a bucket list experience for many, driving millions of Booking.com customers to travel. Matches across India are sparking travel searches, with seven out of the top 10 searched destinations in India being host cities. Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad top the list, with Ahmedabad ranking high on specific match days.
Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan, a cricket enthusiast, emphasized his passion for both travel and cricket, endorsing Booking.com’s effort to bring joy and excitement to millions of fans through travel and accommodation.
Booking.com’s campaign for the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, ‘Howzat for your perfect stay,’ features Indian team captain Rohit Sharma and international cricketers Jos Buttler and Glenn Maxwell, highlighting the ease and variety of accommodations offered by Booking.com. With over 28 million listings in 171,000 destinations worldwide, including those hosting ICC matches, Booking.com offers a wide range of places to stay.
Santosh Kumar, Country Manager, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia at Booking.com, discussed the impact of major sporting events on travel desire and demand. As the Official Accommodation Partner for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Booking.com helps fans make their cricket-inspired travel seamless by offering flights, rental cars, taxis, attractions, and unique places to stay. The integrated campaign will run across digital, PR, social, and TV during the tournament from October 5 to November 19, 2023.
