CSTS and ShanKai Sports Join Forces to Build Global Sports Hospitality Platform
New Hong Kong headquartered venture aims to connect brands, corporate clients and fans with premium experiences at some of the world's biggest sporting events.
HONG KONG: CSTS Enterprises and ShanKai Sports have joined forces to launch CSTS Hospitality, a new venture targeting the rapidly growing global market for premium sports hospitality, corporate hosting and live event experiences.
The company, headquartered across Hong Kong and New York, brings together CSTS' international capabilities in sports, entertainment, travel technology and experiential marketing with ShanKai Sports' established expertise in China's sports hospitality market, sponsorship development and talent management.
CSTS Hospitality will focus on creating premium programmes around major international sporting events, offering corporate hosting, VIP experiences, travel and accommodation packages, sponsorship activation and bespoke experiences for brands, rights holders and clients.
The venture is positioning itself at the intersection of sport, travel, entertainment and experiential marketing, sectors that have increasingly converged as brands and consumers seek more exclusive and immersive live experiences.
Asia is expected to be a major focus for the new platform, with the partners seeing growing demand across the region for premium access to major global sporting properties.
CSTS Hospitality will be chaired by Abel Zhao, Group Chief Executive of CSTS Enterprises, while Larry Zheng, Vice President of ShanKai Sports International, will serve as Chief Executive.
Operations will span Beijing, Lausanne, New York, Shanghai and Singapore, with further market expansion expected as the company develops its international footprint.
Zhao said the venture represented an important step in building a global platform capable of bringing together intellectual property owners, rights holders, brands and fans through premium live experiences.
He said the growth of demand across China and Asia had created a significant opportunity for a business that could connect the worlds of sport, travel, entertainment and high value experiences.
Zheng said the partnership would combine ShanKai Sports' relationships and experience in China with CSTS' international scale and global reach.
The two companies believe the combined platform will allow CSTS Hospitality to deepen partnerships with major sporting organisations while creating greater value for corporate clients, brands and fans.
The company plans to offer end to end hospitality solutions connected to some of the world's most prominent sporting events, including official hospitality programmes, VIP travel, accommodation, corporate entertainment and sponsorship activation.
CSTS Enterprises operates across media, entertainment, sports and travel technology and has worked with international properties including the FIFA World Cup, Formula 1 and Waterbomb.
ShanKai Sports, founded in 2009, is one of China's established international sports management companies, with operations spanning sponsorship, hospitality, sports travel, event management, media and consulting.
The launch comes as the global sports industry increasingly looks beyond ticket sales and broadcasting towards premium experiences and hospitality as an important part of the commercial ecosystem surrounding major events.
For Hong Kong, the establishment of CSTS Hospitality adds another international sports and entertainment business to a city seeking to strengthen its position as a regional hub connecting China, Asia and global markets.
