SailGP, one of the world’s fastest-growing sports assets, has developed an expanded partnership with the US hospitality company, Sonesta International Hotels.
The partnership brings together two organisations that have experienced rapid growth in their respective areas in recent years. The new agreement makes the company the official hotel partner of the United States SailGP team for the forthcoming season’s four US SailGP events.
As part of the agreement, Sonesta International Hotels will offer the US SailGP team, SailGP supporters, and Sonesta Travel Pass holders premier accommodations and fan experiences during the season finale in San Francisco on July 13–14 and the New York Sail Grand Prix on June 22–23.
The hotel group started working with the US SailGP Team and the league in 2023, during the US Sail Grand Prix in Chicago at Navy Pier and the SailGP season three grand final in San Francisco.
The US SailGP team was acquired by a diverse collection of investors from the sports, technology, and media industries in what is being billed as the sailing league’s largest transaction to date.
Leading the investment group is the Avenue Sports Fund, which is headed by Avenue Capital Group CEO Marc Lasry. Other participants in the group include Ryan McKillen, the founding Uber engineer; two-time world champion sailor Mike Buckley; world champion boxer Deontay Wilder; former US soccer player Jozy Altidore; Assia Grazioli-Venier of Muse Capital; entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk; and National Football League (NFL) players DeAndre Hopkins, Malik Jackson, Roquan Smith, and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Sonesta’s Chief Brand Officer, Elizabeth Harlow, said, “We are thrilled to open our doors to the incredible athletes competing in this summer’s SailGP races and to welcome SailGP fans to our New York and San Francisco properties. At Sonesta, we’re dedicated to enriching the experiences of our Sonesta Travel Pass members with fresh and thrilling opportunities. This partnership further cements our unwavering commitment to offer our members an unparalleled access to experience SailGP Races.”
Mike Buckley, Co-owner and CEO of the U.S. SailGP Team, said, “We plan on putting together one of the most exciting sports experiences in New York this June with spectators traveling from all over the world. By partnering with one of the most reputable hotel companies, the team and I look forward to making Sonesta Hotels our ‘home away from home’ as we look to close out Season 4 with a strong finish in the U.S.”