• French NBA up-and-coming star and Detroit Pistons guard Killian Hayes reveals his top Paris travel tips and his perfect Paris hotel collection, so fans can enjoy a breakfast with a view and stay close to the coolest basketball court in the city
• Hotels.com Travelling Hoops study uncovers that basketball fans would travel on average over 750 miles to watch their favourite team, with 78% of British basketball fans having already travelled to watch a game
• The survey states NBA fans visiting Paris intend to visit the Eiffel Tower, enjoy some French pastries and head to the Parc des Princes stadium
2023 is tipping off with a bang, as The NBA Paris Game 2023 presented by Nike between the Chicago Bulls and the Detroit Pistons will take place at the Accor Arena on 19 January. Hotels.com, an official travel partner of the NBA, has found that 78%1 of British residents have travelled outside their city before to watch a basketball game, showing the dedication from basketball fans.
This year, as fans hunt out their “perfect somewhere” while on the road, Hotels.com found that there had been a 55%2 spike in hotel searches in Paris for the night of the big game (19th January) compared to the same date the following week. Americans and Koreans lead the international nations booking out the city hotels3.
Those fans who travel for sport
According to the new Hotels.com Travelling Hoops study, basketball fans say they would travel on average over 750 miles to watch their favourite NBA team, with 8% even saying they would travel over 2,000 miles.
Les Bulls, favourite to win?
When it comes to the on-court matchup, British fans are nearly unanimous as almost 80% of fans surveyed think the Bulls will come away with the win. The Bulls also rank as the top NBA team that fans in the UK would travel for to watch, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks.
When asked what fans would do at a hotel if they met their favourite player, having dinner together (48%), playing a basketball video game in the room (29%), a workout in the hotel gym (26%) and having a sportsman’s breakfast together (26%) topped the list.
Killian Hayes’ perfect Paris Hotel Collection:
Who better than Killian Hayes, the NBA up-and-coming star who grew up in France, to share his best tips with fans who want to (re)discover Paris.
Killian Hayes said: “France is where my career began, and Paris is one of my favourite cities in the world. It really is my perfect somewhere filled with culture, arts, food and history. I have been to Paris too many times to count over the years, but with so much to explore and see, you can just never see it all.
“One of my favourite memories is coming to watch the Christmas lights switch on along the Champs-Élysées — it was magical. My top tip when visiting this spectacular city is to bring a pair of trainers and walk everywhere. There is no better way to get a feel for a city than spending a day walking through the streets and taking in the atmosphere. If you can, take a trip down to the court in Pigalle, it really is a special place. I also love fashion, so I often head to the ‘le Triangle d’Or’ to shop when I visit Paris.
“I’m looking forward to returning to France for The NBA Paris Game 2023 and am hoping to take home a W and lots of new Paris memories.”
Hotels.com has partnered with the Pistons player to release a Paris hotel collection made up of Killian’s “perfect somewheres,” all places he loves for very different reasons and different seasons.
- Pley Hotel – Killian’s perfect somewhere for a sportsperson’s breakfast
Breakfast is Killian’s favourite meal of the day. This stunning 4-star hotel not only offers a huge breakfast selection but also has a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower, so you can enjoy breakfast with a view of Killian’s favourite Paris attraction. Rooms start at £116* per night.
- Grand Powers – Killian’s perfect somewhere for a sports massage
After a hard game, there is nothing more soothing than a sports massage. Killian is a fan of both a relaxing spa setting and a deep tissue massage to relieve those aches and pains, and at the Spa Grand Powers, he can enjoy both. This elegant spa is near Killian’s favourite area of Paris, the Champs-Élysées, and features a stunning hot tub, hammam, sauna and even a fully equipped gym. Rooms start at £440p er night.
- Terras Hotel – Killian’s perfect somewhere near Pigalle
This hotel is just around the corner from the city’s coolest neon basketball court. It is the perfect spot to cool down with a refreshing drink on its rooftop bar after a scrimmage on the court. It’s a bonus that the views are spectacular. Rooms start at £150* per night.
- Hotel Paradiso – Killian’s perfect somewhere to play video games
Killian is a gamer and each room at this hotel comes complete with a games console, so you can play to your heart’s content. If you really love gaming, opt for Le Loft room as it also has an arcade unit, a foosball table, VR headset and a projector to watch all the sports you love.
Rooms start at £180* per night.
- Hôtel Parc Saint Séverin – Killian’s perfect somewhere to shop
Killian always likes to look sharp, so this hotel location is a hidden gem, on a quiet side street just minutes from one of the great shopping streets of Paris, Boulevard Saint-Germain. This pretty street is lined with trees and beautiful Parisian buildings, where fans can find a gameday outfit or pop into the NBA store. Fans who love anime, like Killian, can visit the many anime and comic bookstores just off the main boulevard. Rooms start at £214* per night.
While fans cited visiting the Eiffel Tower and sampling some French pastries as the top two activities they would do in Paris, it was followed by visiting the PSG football stadium, which surpassed visiting the Notre Dame, La Louvre and a boat ride up the Seine.
Action on the court and calm at the hotel
When it comes to travel for sport, there exists a different hotel criterion altogether. The most important factor for fans is staying somewhere close to the stadium (35%). This outranked having a comfy bed (33%), a great breakfast buffet (27%) and being near the airport (27%). The basketball mania even goes one step further, with 5% of Brits admitting they would pay more than £1,500 to stay at the same hotel as their team.
While more than a third of British fans surveyed (37%) opt for 4-star hotels above 5-stars, a friend’s house or a hostel, the French prefer to book 3-star hotels (34%). Although comfort is key for the Brits, a surprising 11% said that because the hotel bed has been so comfy, they have previously slept in and missed the game they were there to see.
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