Celebrating its 50th year, the 2024 Berlin Marathon made history with 13 world records recorded and a record total of 54,280 runners crossing the finish line.
In the fourth event in the Abbott World Marathon Majors calendar, runners from all over the world took to the streets of Berlin on the 29th of September, many of them having travelled with Marathon Tours & Travel, which forms part of Destination Sport Experiences.
A Record-Breaking Year
Marathon Tours & Travel is the world’s largest specialist running travel company and takes competitors to over 40 events annually, including all World Marathon Majors. However, this year, MTT saw its own records smashed at the Berlin Marathon.
A record 1,000+ runners booked a travel package for the event with MTT, up 125% on the previous year’s race. They travelled to Berlin from 37 countries around the world, demonstrating the huge global growth of Marathon Tours & Travel since it joined the Destination Sport Group in 2022.
More Than a Race Bib
Designed and delivered by a team of running enthusiasts, Marathon Tours & Travel packages go above and beyond to ensure their customers have a seamless and memorable experience. The 2024 Berlin Marathon was no exception, with services including:
Accommodation Options: They offered nine carefully selected and inspected accommodation options, ranging from 3-star to 5-star hotels, catering to all budgets and preferences. Each hotel was chosen for its quality and proximity to the start line.
Customer Events: Marathon Tours & Travel organised a variety of events to enhance the overall race experience. These included a welcome drinks reception, a shake-out run, a host escort to the Berlin Marathon Expo, a pre-race pasta dinner and a post-race celebration party.
On-Site Support: To provide personalised assistance, support staff were stationed in Berlin, including at each hotel reception, ready to help guests with any needs or questions.
Dedicated Cheer Zone: A special cheer zone was set up for family and friends, allowing them to support and motivate the runners during the marathon.
Comprehensive Travel Itinerary: Guests received a full travel itinerary, personalised maps, and WhatsApp groups for each hotel.
Discounted Travel Insurance: To ensure peace of mind, Marathon Tours & Travel offered discounted competitive sports travel insurance, covering various aspects of the trip and the marathon.
These comprehensive services not only facilitated a smooth and enjoyable marathon experience but also highlighted Marathon Tours & Travel’s commitment to providing world-class support to their customers.
The Result
Elgrace, who entered the Berlin Marathon with a travel package from Marathon Tours & Travel, shared her experience after the race:
“After countless times of trying and having no luck in entering the world marathon major events, the option to do it with a tour agency is a chance that we would not miss. After researching several tour agencies, I found that Marathon Tours & Travel was the best option for me and my husband. They have the cheapest package compared to other tour operators yet the service was above my expectations.
“The Intercity Hotel where we were booked was a great choice too. Breakfast has a lot of choices and we really loved the pasta dinner before race day. Christian and George were most of the time available for our queries. And above all, meeting like-minded people with whom we share the love of running through Marathon Tours is one that will stay in our memory forever. I highly recommend Marathon Tours for your next race.”
Christian Locke, Head of Product & Operations at Marathon Tours & Travel UK added,
“Marathon Tours & Travel (MTT) delivered a fabulous customer experience in Berlin with a total dedication to providing a professionally run event with included extras for our customers.
“Meticulous planning for many months ahead of the race meant that our customers were able to focus purely on their run (or finding the best places to cheer on loved ones). MTT provides seamless customer service from the time their booking is made to checking out of the hotel, after potentially securing a PB at one of the fastest marathons in the world, and having also enjoyed their whole experience.“
Packages are on sale now for the 2025 Berlin Marathon with Marathon Tours & Travel. Click here to find out more.
