Global hotel chain Hilton has become a sponsor of this season’s WTA Finals as the finale to the women’s tennis tour heads to Shenzhen, China for the first time later this year.
The agreement was brokered by China Sports Media (CSM), one of the agencies working non-exclusively with the WTA to source sponsors for the end-of-season finals.
Hampton by Hilton has been named as the Official Hotel Supplier to the event and will activate its sponsorship by providing “arena services” for players and fans, while also making tailored experiences, such as the selection of ball kids, available to Hilton’s ‘HHonors’ members.
The international hotel group is an existing client of CSM with the agency having recently worked with Hilton on its activation of International Championship Cup matches in China.
On Friday, Shenzhen’s Hilton Nanhai Hotel was the venue for the launch of ticket sales to the Finals.
Japanese personal care company Shiseido came on board as the tournament’s title sponsor in a deal announced last month.
CSM has added another sport to its portfolio through its non-exclusive WTA Finals sponsorship sales mandate. Tennis joins its existing work in boxing, football, motor racing and swimming.
The Beijing-based agency has previously sourced sponsors for M23, a Chinese boxing team, along with China’s NIO Formula E team.
CSM has also brought on board regional sponsors for the Portuguese Football Federation and brokered the sponsorship agreement between NongFu Spring, the Chinese mineral water brand, and Fina, the international governing body for aquatic sports.
The Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen will run from October 27 to November 3 at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center.
Shenzhen was announced as the new long-term host of the WTA Finals in January 2018. The Chinese city takes over from Singapore in a 10-year agreement.