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Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) will handle the travel and logistics requirements for the 2007 NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS™ Tour, HRG and the NBA (National Basketball Association) announced today. 

The NBA’s 11-day pan-European tour relies on HRG’s market-leading sports travel management expertise to ensure its smooth running.  Approximately 200 NBA staff members will be travelling for the tour and will be looked after by a dedicated HRG team.

HRG will also serve as an official marketing partner for NBA Europe Live in London, which includes a game between the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves on 10 October 2007 at the O2 Arena.

As part of 2007 NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS, the Celtics, Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors will conduct training camps and play exhibition games in six European cites in four countries over an 11-day period this month (October).  In addition to London, the teams will visit Rome and Treviso, Italy; Malaga and Madrid, Spain; and Istanbul, Turkey.

“NBA Europe Live Presented by EA SPORTS is a tremendous logistical undertaking that takes a great deal of coordination and support,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, Vice President, Marketing Partnerships and Business Development, NBA Europe.  “HRG’s expertise in coordinating travel logistics, its familiarity with the European markets and its long standing relationship with the NBA makes it an ideal partner to play this very important role in making NBA Europe Live a reality.” 

HRG is celebrating 10 years of managing the NBA’s air charter programme in the United States. During the 2006-07 season, 14 teams used the programme for travel. NBA teams play an 82 game, regular season that runs from November into April.

From the FIFA World Cup 2006^TM and the German national football team’s training camps for Euro 2008, through to America’s National Hockey League, HRG’s Sports division organises travel for many of the largest sporting teams and events worldwide every year.

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For further information:
Laurie Waugh, Public Relations Manager
Hogg Robinson Group
Tel: + 44 (0) 1256 312 623
Email: laurie.waugh@hrgworldwide.com

Carmine N. Tiso
NBA
+1 212 407 8208
Email: ctiso@nba.com

Alice Mayor / James Gilheany
Euro RSCG Biss Lancaster
Tel: +44 (0) 207 467 9200
Email: blhrg@bisslancaster.com

Notes to Editors:

Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) is the award-winning international corporate services company. Founded in 1845, HRG has over 60 years specific corporate travel expertise. Its corporate services interests include wholly-owned or majority controlled corporate travel operations in 25 of the key driver and growth markets throughout Asia Pacific, Europe and North America.  Supported by contracted partners, the HRG worldwide network extends to nearly 100 countries.

Totally committed to a value offering for clients, HRG offers a comprehensive range of corporate services which in addition to Sports includes Corporate Travel Management, Consulting, Expense Management and Events & Meetings Management.

The NBA, founded in 1946, is a global sports and entertainment brand that features 30 teams in the United States and Canada.  During the 2006-07 season, the NBA distributed 45,000 hours of programming to 215 countries and territories in 41 languages. The league’s worldwide reach can also be seen with 85 international players on NBA rosters. Domestically, the NBA broadcasted 142 games on national television last season on ABC, TNT, ESPN and ESPN2, and eclipsed attendance records for the fourth consecutive season.

NBA TV, launched in 1999 as the first 24-hour television channel created and operated by a professional sports league, is distributed to 73 countries.  NBA merchandise is sold in more than 100,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents; NBA.com gets more than half of its visitors from outside the United States.

NBA Cares is the league's social responsibility initiative that builds on the NBA's long tradition of addressing important social issues in the United States and around the world. Through this umbrella program, the NBA, its teams and players have committed to donating $100 million to charity, providing a million hours of hands on service to the community and creating 250 places where kids and families can live, learn or play. NBA Cares works with internationally-recognized youth-serving programs that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes, including: UNICEF; the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis.