ITMS is established as a sports marketing consultancy by New Yorker and former tennis pro George S. Pascal. The first office address in Frankfurt is Justinianstrasse 20, a location with real historical significance. General Lucius Clay and Konrad Adenauer met here to discuss the reconstruction of a post-war Germany. Well-known US companies, from AT&T to publishing conglomerate Crain Communications, based here in the 80s.
The Saddlebrook Resort, one of the most famous and successful golf and tennis resorts, opts for the newly founded ITMS as a marketing partner for the German-speaking market. Many talented juniors from Germany, Austria and Switzerland sign up for the program, which takes place at this prestigious resort in Tampa, Florida. ITMS secures its status as an expert in junior tennis and in marketing sports academies.
ITMS takes on the management of Claudio Pistolesi, Italian Davis Cup player and former ITF Junior World Champion. Over the next 25 years, ITMS will go on to manage more than 100 tennis players under contract, from Mervyn Rose to Alizé Cornet, including Fed Cup players, Grand Slam and Davis Cup winners.
By now, ITMS also advises several tennis clubs in Germany, putting together teams and developing winning marketing concepts. In 1992, the agency adds Bundesliga teams, such as BW Bocholt, BW Halle, TC Großhesselohe München and HTV Hannover, to its clientele. German Championship titles soon follow with the most successful project being TC BW Sundern, who under the agency’s tutelage, advances from the 5th division to the Bundesliga, and then claims victory in two German league titles in 2003 and 2004.
ITMS is retained to provide all editorial and advertising services for the monthly trade magazine “Tennis Product News” in Germany and the Netherlands.
ITMS proudly establishes The Academy of Tennis – Europe, Europe’s first tennis academy in the American model. Several students and coaches go on to successful careers on the ATP and WTA Tours. The entire concept, program, coaching staff and marketing, originates and is carried out by the young agency.
In 1993 sponsorship forms an integral part of the young agency’s range. Acquisition of successful sponsoring partnerships for athletes and events includes Adidas, Babolat, Chevrolet, Fila, Lacoste, Lanson Champagne, Licher, Linde, Lotto, Nike and Wilson.
ITMS signs on to create a winning summer program for the popular winter ski resort. The agency puts together an extensive sports offer and takes over management of the tennis program to make the destination more attractive to summer vacationers.
The agency begins promoting the sport of baseball in Germany, starting with four teams in the Bundesliga.