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It’s kick-off for Choice Hotels Australasia (CHA) with its new grassroots travel program, Choice Sports.

Choice Sports enables sporting clubs throughout Australia and New Zealand to receive a discount on the best available rate for accommodation.

In addition, for each booking made, a commission is paid back to the registered club, providing an additional revenue stream for the organisations.

The new initiative will provide sporting clubs with discounted rates when making group accommodation bookings for team travel around the country. Additionally, Choice Sports provides a discount to club officials and family members who often travel to watch their relatives compete.

Clubs including Little Athletics Australia, Football Federation Victoria, WA Institute of Sport and Swimming South Australia have already signed up to the new program and with more than 30,000 sporting clubs dotted throughout Australia, it’s an offer that can help alleviate the ever increasing cost of running and maintaining a sporting club.

Aileen Cobern, CHA’s General Manager Sales and Marketing, said the launch of the Choice Sports program opens up a whole new market for the hotel group while also assisting clubs to better manage their accommodation costs.

“We are proud to support Australia’s vast network of sporting clubs through the new Choice Sports travel program,” she said.

“With 230 Choice hotels to choose from across the country, we hope this new incentive will help ease the financial burden on clubs as well as allow them to travel more regularly.

“We are delighted to be in a position to support grassroots sporting organisations as they play such a critical role in local communities throughout Australia,” said Cobern.

Martin Stillman, Chief Executive of Little Athletics Australia, said the new Choice Sports scheme will be received well amongst members.

“Little Athletics Australia is delighted to be involved with the new Choice Sports initiative,” he said.

“With over 105,000 children enjoying the activities we have to offer each year across the country, this new travel program will enable families to reduce their travel costs while also supporting Little Athletics in Australia.

“As summer approaches and with the 2013/14 Little Athletics season just around the corner, we encourage families to get involved in physical and healthy activities. Little Athletics is all about family, fun and fitness and the Choice Sports initiative helps us to achieve this,” said Stillman.

The Choice Sports travel program can be used for a range of travel needs including; overnight away games, members’ travel or holidays by administrators, officials, supporters and families.