TravelDesk at the helm of the 59th EMPA Football Tournament

Genoa hosted the 2025 edition of the international event that brings together European port pilots every year through sport, networking, and marine business.

On May 22–23, Genoa hosted the 59th edition of the EMPA Football Tournament, an international event that brought together 10 national teams of port pilots, 150 players, more than 100 accompanying guests, and a broad network of sponsors and partners for two unforgettable days dedicated to sport, sharing, and networking.

Leading the organization of the entire project across all its phases was TravelDesk, an agency specialized in business travel and events, headquartered in Genoa. For over a year, the team worked on the design, communication, production, and full management of the event, overseeing every detail—from the visual identity and the informational website to the registration platform, which also functioned as an e-commerce system for the purchase of additional services such as the Welcome Party & Drawing Ceremony, pitch-side lunches, and the Gala Dinner & Award Ceremony.

TravelDesk also negotiated preferential rates at four hotels across the city, organized transfers to the Sampdoria training grounds, and managed the setups and overall production of the welcome party held at Galata – Museo del Mare, as well as the gala evening staged in the evocative setting of Villa del Principe. Both evenings were hosted by actress and former football player Roxana Lupu from network partner Masters in Moderation, who was also responsible for pitch-side commentary during the matches and for player interviews.

Held each year in a different European city, the tournament is one of the most anticipated events of the European Maritime Pilots’ Association (EMPA), offering a unique opportunity for connection and exchange in an informal setting.

“In fact, the event was much more than just a tournament: it represented a meeting point between professional associations, sports management, MICE, and the maritime business, blending different worlds into a shared experience. Being an active part of it was extremely challenging and rewarding,” commented Carlo Laudicina, Event Director at TravelDesk.

Beyond the organizational challenge, it was the emotional impact that truly defined the value of the project. As stated by Michele Buongiardino and Fabio Dessì, clients and founders of ASD Piloti dei Porti d’Italia—the association created specifically to promote this edition of the tournament: “You turned our wildest ideas into moments that left Europe speechless. You conveyed passion, precision, and heart. Sharing the stage with you to celebrate our success was the best way to thank you: what we created together was pure art.”