The National Basketball Association (NBA), Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), and Booking.com have announced a significant multiyear partnership.
The alliance has established the global digital travel leader as the official online travel partner for both leagues.
This landmark agreement aims to elevate the fan experience by making it easier for basketball enthusiasts to travel and support their favourite teams and players.
The collaboration is set to tip off with the commencement of the 2025 WNBA season on Friday, May 16, and will extend to the 2025-26 NBA season, which begins in October. This strategic alliance underscores Booking.com’s commitment to connecting fans with unforgettable travel experiences centred around their passion for basketball.
As part of this comprehensive partnership, Booking.com will enjoy prominent visibility across a wide array of NBA and WNBA platforms. This includes integration into the leagues’ social media channels, digital properties, and broadcast programming. Basketball fans will also see Booking.com’s branding featured on-court during both regular season and postseason matchups.
A key component of the collaboration will be the joint development of integrated marketing campaigns. These initiatives are designed to inspire and facilitate basketball-related travel, leveraging Booking.com’s extensive selection of accommodation options – from hotels to vacation rentals – and its user-friendly platform to offer seamless travel solutions for fans attending games nationwide and internationally.
Speaking on the occasion, Ben Harrell, Managing Director, U.S. at Booking.com, said, “Our mission at Booking.com is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world – and that includes bringing fans closer to the sports they love. Through our official partnership with the WNBA and NBA, we’re looking forward to engaging with basketball enthusiasts in the U.S. and other key travel markets in helping them find their perfect place to stay, wherever the game or season takes them. With the broadest selection of hotels to vacation rentals and a quick and easy booking experience, we’re making sure Booking.com is present where fans are most inspired to create memorable travel experiences.”
Julie Morris, Head of Commercial Development and Media at the NBA, added, “We look forward to collaborating with Booking.com, one of the world’s leading digital travel companies, as we help bring NBA fans around the world closer to their favourite players and teams. Booking.com’s seamless travel platform will make it easy for our fans travelling to experience the game in person, no matter where it unfolds.”
Colie Edison, Chief Growth Officer at the WNBA, concluded, “As the WNBA continues to reach new heights, we are thrilled to work with Booking.com as our official online travel partner. With a league that is reaching more people than ever before, this partnership underscores our continued commitment to elevating the player and fan experience – and to connecting our loyal and growing fan base to supportive brands.”
Notably, this partnership marks Booking.com’s first sponsorship agreement with a major U.S. women’s sports league, signifying the WNBA’s rapidly expanding prominence and appeal in the sports landscape.
This alliance is strategically poised to tap into the burgeoning sports tourism market, providing dedicated resources and inspiration for fans to plan their basketball-centric journeys and forge lasting memories.
