Hotel packages to book for this summer’s biggest sporting events

29.05.2024 - 20:33 / thepointsguy.com

Travel can and should be about exploring your passions, and what sparks more passion and emotion than the thrill of seeing a favorite sports team clinch a victory or a tireless competitor cross a finish line?

According to UN Tourism, sports tourism is one of the fastest-growing travel industry sectors. The United Nations estimates this type of travel — where tourists travel to watch or participate in a specific sporting event — will grow an estimated 17.5% by 2030.

Megawatt events such as the Olympics and the World Cup can catalyze major infrastructure development, while even smaller events can promote social and environmental action and expose visitors to authentic local experiences.

This summer, major sporting events are happening worldwide, from high-stakes horse races and soccer matches to car races and sailing regattas. Because of all the buzz, amazing hotels are offering packages and experiences that give guests a front-row seat to the action — and many still have availability for booking.

Here are the top hotels and packages to book for a sports-filled summer.

The oldest of the three Triple Crown events, the Belmont Stakes is one of the world's most prestigious horse-racing events ... and the most challenging. The grueling mile-and-a-half distance requires endurance and strategic thinking. While there will be no Triple Crown winner this year, as Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan failed to win the Preakness Stakes, too, the 2024 Belmont Stakes on June 8 at Saratoga Race Course in New York State will still be a thrill to witness, with the world's top 3-year-old thoroughbreds vying for the win. The four-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, from June 6 to 9, will include 24 stakes races with purses totaling over $10 million.

Where to stay: The Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center on picturesque Lake George is 23 miles away from Saratoga and offers the Belmont Package for a two-night stay between June 5 and 11. The package includes elegant accommodations, breakfast each morning, a $100 dinner credit for the Lakeside Restaurant & Lounge (one of three on-property restaurants) and a fire pit rental on the lake's edge for up to six people. The Fort William Henry Hotel also has an indoor pool with a sauna and an Olympic-size outdoor pool.

The Belmont Package at the Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center starts at $340 per night with a two-night minimum.

A fixture in Canada since 1961, the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix is one of the country's most beloved sporting events. The race, 70 laps of the 2,709-mile Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, takes place June 9, but June 6 marks the start of three days of competition and parties in Montreal. The leafy track and challenging course make for good