Sports Travel Organization

Organizing sports travel:

It's our specialty !
Let us organize your dream sports team tour. Start by filling our contact form . HOT Sports will contact you within 24 hours

Our team's experience is an asset !

Don't wait !
Let us organize your dream sports team tour . Simply Start with our simple contact form. HOT Sports will contact you within 24 hours.
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Our team of specialists in sports travel organization

Carl Lavigne

A graduate from Université de Montreal Carl Lavigne also earned a certificate in linguistics and foreign languages from Sarrebrucken University, in Germany. Growing up in Montreal as a hockey fan and a die-hard supporter of the Canadiens, his life revolved around hockey and, eventually, traveling which led to becoming a specialist of hockey tours all over Europe and North America.

Carl played minor hockey in the Montreal area, mostly in Ahuntsic, before suiting up with the Cégep Saint-Laurent Patriotes of the Collegiate Hockey League. He then headed for Europe hoping to make a living playing hockey. He tried out with 3rd division teams in Königsbrunn and in Hamburg, but quickly realized that he lacked the skills. After completing his education, he worked as a teacher with the Inlingua Language School before returning to Canada.

Following a short stint as freelance writer for the Canadiens magazine he became a regular contributor before being promoted to editor but in 1992. He accepted an offer from the NHL’s Ottawa Senators to lead their publications department, he returned to Montreal in 2000 as managing editor and publisher of the Canadiens Team Magazine.

In the early 1990’s, he joined a travel agency specialized in sports tours, mostly to Scandinavia countries and Russia. He would go on to develop hockey tours to Finland, Sweden and Russia for a dozen minor hockey and old timers’ teams. Over the years, his network reached upwards of 200 teams and associations in over 20 countries from Iceland to Spain, including Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Italy, France, Andorra Belgium, Luxemburg and several others.

As a member of the House of Travel team, he is responsible for all sports and hockey tours in Europe and North America, also acting as an incoming for European teams traveling to Canada.

Carl’s philosophy is that each tour is unique as it is customized to the needs of each group and there are no two groups alike. Each of the hockey tours is developed to fit the age group, level, skills based also on the destinations as well as the needs and interests of the participants.

Each itinerary features attractions, activities, visits, discoveries and experiences that meet the group’s needs and requirements. Hockey may be the reason behind the trip, all elements of the program have an importance and all activities surrounding the hockey games are carefully selected and arranged to maximize the experience. That includes the local gastronomy, the culture and the specificities of the regions visited. Castles, breweries, vineyards, tourist attractions and unusual visits are part of the experience put together for the client by our team at House of Travel and its subsidiary HOT Sports.

With Carl’s vast experience and extended network, teams can concentrate on only one thing: enjoying themselves while wo look after every detail. For the past 20 years it’s been part of the success we achieve with all sports groups who came to us for a once in a lifetime experience.

You can count on Carl Lavigne and HOT Sports for a comprehensive and unforgettable hockey experience.

Our team of specialists in sports travel organization

Ken Mann

Ken was born in Vancouver but since the age of five has called Montreal home. A graduate of Concordia University (Business Administration), Ken has also studied in Sweden and France.

He has owned and managed House of Travel/Maison de Voyages since 1988. His business started out as a corporate/leisure agency and over the years has expanded to include group and incentive travel. He has four children involved in sports and participates as a coach in hockey, soccer and ringette. Ken and House of Travel have collaborated with Jean François Lebeuf and Transit Sport International on sports tourism for more than ten years before jointly founding HOT Sports .