A federal lawsuit has been filed against a youth sports travel company, accusing it of deceiving families into incurring hotel booking fees and inflated lodging expenses. The complaint says Team Travel Source informed parents that booking accommodations through its platform was mandatory for their children to compete.
The class action lawsuit, initiated in the Western District of Kentucky, scrutinizes the so-called “stay-to-play” policies that connect tournament participation to specific hotel bookings, subsequently increasing costs beyond what families typically budget for registration, gear, and travel. Attorney Karen Dahlberg O’Connell shared that she has spoken with numerous parents nationwide who experienced similar issues after the case was opened.
The lawsuit includes nine parents from seven different states whose kids play cheerleading and volleyball. It claims deceptive booking practices, failure to adequately disclose essential fees, and misleading statements about reduced hotel rates, all against The Complete Plan Inc., operating as Team Travel Source.
Team Travel Source has denied any wrongdoing, stating through spokesperson Kelley Roberts that they have not violated any laws related to the allegations in the class action suit. They emphasized their commitment to ethical business practices and indicated they would respond to the claims in a suitable legal environment.
In their motion to dismiss, the company contended that tournament organizers, not them, set the stay-to-play requirements and exemptions. They also mentioned that fees were disclosed during the booking process before finalizing any reservations, and asserted that families benefited from services like room blocks and booking help.
Kate Russell, a mother from Kentucky, recounted booking three nights at a hotel in Atlanta for about $517, which included $15 for the booking service. She claimed she was warned her daughter’s volleyball team might face disqualification if she didn’t use the platform for reservations. However, a teammate who booked elsewhere was allowed to compete.
The complaint brings to light other mandatory charges described as booking, housing, and cancellation fees, some of which were levied per night despite a single reservation being made.
The company’s rate guarantee only applies to select events, does not factor in booking fees in rate comparisons, and requires matching amenities and room types. It also excludes certain types of rates, like government and membership rates.
O’Connell mentioned a situation where a parent found a cheaper hotel room directly but was denied an adjustment because the Team Travel Source booking supposedly included a guaranteed rollaway bed, which was not needed. That seems frustrating, doesn’t it?
The lawsuit also highlights marketing claims from the company, stating that over $17 million were given back to tournament organizers in 2025, a claim plaintiffs allege was supported by inflated hotel rates. This funding allegation, however, is under dispute.
The company’s operations are said to encompass more than 1,600 events annually across over 400 cities in 44 states, according to figures from their website mentioned in the complaint.
A survey conducted by the Aspen Institute indicated that families spent an average of $1,016 on their child’s primary sport in 2024, reflecting a significant 46% increase since 2019.
“I just want parents to have the freedom of choice in terms of how they stay and where they stay,” O’Connell expressed.
The parents are seeking class certification, damages, and judicial orders to change the contested practices, while Team Travel Source has requested a dismissal of the amended complaint and has submitted its supporting arguments to the court.
