The application to become an Official International Tour Operator (ITO) of New York Road Runners (NYRR) for the 2026 Racing Calendar will open on 1 July 2025 at 8:00 a.m. ET. The application will remain open until 31 July 2025 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
To prepare for future applications, please read the current requirements and other pertinent information below:
ITO Program Application Criteria
- Tour Operator must apply annually, even if they are returning, to be considered for the following year’s program.
- Tour Operator must be licensed to do business in the country where they plan to sell entries for NYRR events.
- Tour Operator must be able to prove they are accredited by their country’s Board of Tourism or other legal entity as an active and official travel agency or tour operator. IATA certifications are acceptable.
- Tour Operator must be able to demonstrate experience in planning and managing travel packages with other world-class sporting events, particularly endurance or large race events.
- New Tour Operators must be able to commit to a minimum of 20 entries for the TCS New York City Marathon, and a minimum of 5 entries for all other events offered through the ITO program during their first year of the program.
- Tour Operators are required by NYRR to make a marketing commitment based on their entry investment.
- Tour Operators are required by NYRR to provide either hotel accommodation in New York City or a round-trip flight to New York City, or both, during race weekend to all runners who are provided with an entry. A Tour Operator may choose to provide other additional benefits.
- For the TCS New York City Marathon, NYRR requires ITOs to provide race-day transportation for their runners to the Start Village on Staten Island. This transportation can either be a charter bus arranged by the ITO or by instructing runners to select a transportation option provided by NYRR.
- Tour Operators are required to post via their website, email, social media or through print media the updated race date along with available package offerings for their tours to NYRR events within thirty (30) days of signing the agreement for each respective race.
- NYRR requires that Tour Operators report all race week contact names and relevant contact information and the location of race-week accommodation(s) for their staff.
ITO Fee
ITO fees cover the runner’s guaranteed entry. Each guaranteed entry has a cost that must be paid upfront by the Tour Operator. Invoices are sent to each ITO for each event with respective deadlines for wire transfers. All payments must be made via wire transfer; credit card payments will not be accepted. The Tour Operator is expected to pay for all their entries; no refunds will be issued.
The 2025 pricing is listed below. Pricing for the 2026 racing calendar will be updated when the application period opens in July:
- TCS New York City Marathon: $625 / entry
- Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K (limited number for ITOs contracted to the TCS New York City Marathon): $35 / entry
- United Airlines NYC Half: $225 / entry
- RBC Brooklyn Half: $150 / entry
- Mastercard Mini 10K: $50 / entry
Allocations
Approved Tour Operators will be allocated a certain number of entries, determined by the NYRR International Tour Operator (ITO) Team. This number is based on the demand by the Tour Operator’s home country for each race, current entries in their home country, their demonstrated marketing capabilities, and sales history with NYRR (if applicable).
Once a Tour Operator has signed the contract, the number of entries for that event will not be adjusted. Additionally, transferring entries from one event to another or from one year to the next is not permitted.
New York Road Runners holds the right to accept or not accept ITOs into the program based on the above criteria as well as the other quantifiable criteria determined by the International Tour Operator Team.
How to Apply
The application to become an Official International Tour Operator for the 2025 NYRR Racing Calendar is now closed.
NYRR selects Tour Operators who are committed to providing an excellent experience to runners on their journey to New York and the selected NYRR event. We seek tour operators who have experience planning and executing travel packages with other world-class sporting events, especially running races. The ability to commit adequate resources and energy to marketing and selling entries is critical to the success of NYRR’s relationship with any selected tour operator.
Please email tours@nyrr.org with any questions.