The 15th annual IAGTO Awards have honoured destinations, golf courses and golf resorts from all over the world, with winners coming from the US states of North and South Carolina, the Dominican Republic, Spain, Slovenia, China, Mexico, Morocco and Ireland.
The prestigious IAGTO Awards are the official annual awards for the golf tourism industry and are run by global industry organisation IAGTO (International Association of Golf Tour Operators). This year’s honours were presented during a spectacular Gala Dinner on Thursday, 30 October in front of 1,500 golf industry professionals in the grandiose setting of Villa Erba, on the shores of Italy’s Lake Como, at the end of the 2014 International Golf Travel Market.
The evening also included recipients from Scotland, Portugal, the United Arab Emirates and Puerto Rico receiving IAGTO Sustainability Awards. These awards, coordinated in partnership with the Golf Environment Organization for the second year running, recognise excellence in environmental sustainability and social responsibility at IAGTO member golf courses around the world.
Costantino Rocca, Italy’s most successful professional golfer, with five wins on the European Tour and two wins on the European Seniors Tour, became IAGTO’s 15th Honorary Award recipient.
Headline sponsor for the second year was Etihad Airways. It was the first carrier to sign up to IAGTO’s Preferred Airline scheme, launched in 2005 to recognise golfer-friendly airlines that carry golf bags free of charge in addition to standard baggage allowance.
2015 IAGTO Awards Winners
Golf Destination of the Year - North America: Charleston, South Carolina
Golf Destination of the Year - Latin America & Caribbean: Cancun-Riviera Maya, Mexico
Golf Destination of the Year - Africa & Gulf States: Marrakech, Morocco
Golf Destination of the Year - Europe: Dublin East Coast, Ireland
Golf Destination of the Year - Asia & Australasia: Sanya, China
Golf Resort of the Year - Rest of the World: Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic
Golf Resort of the Year - North America: Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina
Golf Resort of the Year - Europe: PGA Catalunya Resort, Spain
Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year: Slovenia
IAGTO Honorary Award: Costantino Rocca
IAGTO Sustainability Award Winners
Overall category - Sustainable Golf Course of the Year: Dundonald Links, Scotland
Community Integration category: Vidago Palace Golf Course, Portugal
Efficient Use of Resources category: Emirates Golf Club, UAE
Nature category: Bahia Beach Resort & GC, Puerto Rico
IAGTO Chief Executive Peter Walton said: “The annual IAGTO Awards were established 15 years ago in order to recognise and reward exceptional contributions to the world of golf travel. Only a handful of awards are presented each year, which gives great credibility to the event and prestige to the recipients.
“Most importantly, the eight golf destination and golf resort categories are voted for by hundreds of specialist golf tour operators across the globe, who cast their votes only for destinations and resorts with which they are familiar. The operators are guided to select golf resorts that have excelled in their care and maintenance of hotel and golf course, customer service and value for money; and for golf destinations that have delivered the best possible experience to their golf travelling clients, all in the past 12 months.
“Similarly, our Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year Award is voted for by specialist golf travel writers who are uniquely positioned to consider the merits of the hundreds of lesser known yet aspiring golf destinations across the globe. The members of the International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA) take this to heart and there is never a shortage of worthy candidates in this category.”
Walton added: “I am particularly proud that not only have the IAGTO Awards become the pinnacle of professional achievement within the global golf tourism industry, but that they also now serve to encourage private and public sector organisations to work closely together in the development and promotion of new and existing golf destinations, making them accessible to and enjoyable by the widest range of golfers.
“The IAGTO Awards are now part of the fabric of the golf tourism industry, respected throughout the industry and recognised by golf travellers the world over.”
IAGTO Awards Winners’ Comments
Golf Destination of the Year – North America: Charleston
Helen Hill, Executive Director, Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
“While Charleston has earned many accolades over the years, golf was something of an unknown quantity until recently. Thanks in large part to the many outstanding tournaments played at Kiawah Island – beginning with the legendary 1991 Ryder Cup and most recently the 2012 PGA Championship – Charleston has begun attracting increasing numbers of discerning golfers. Charleston's incomparable charm, sun-drenched beaches, excellent restaurants and outstanding collection of golf courses makes it a golf destination like no other. We believe it's this unique combination that has earned Charleston this year's award as Golf Destination of the Year for North America.”
Golf Destination of the Year – Latin America & Caribbean: Cancun-Riviera Maya
Liz Melo, Executive President, Mexican Caribbean Golf Course Association
“Cancun, Rivera Maya and Cozumel have together become the most important golf destination in Mexico, offering 14 golf courses designed by top course architects, four golf academies and the only PGA Tour event in Mexico. This award underlines the Mexican Caribbean as the main tourist attraction today in Mexico with something for everyone: beautiful white sandy beaches, world class luxury resorts and spas, Mayan archaeological sites, eco tourism, culinary festivals and so much more. The warmth of Mexican hospitality and highly-trained tourist professionals make visitors from every corner of the world feel at home. Getting to the Mexican Caribbean is also very easy as Cancun has the largest airport in Latin America. This award from IAGTO demonstrates their trust in our destination and we can guarantee that our visitors will enjoy a golfing holiday to remember.”
Golf Destination of the Year – Africa & Gulf States: Marrakech
Abderrafia Zouitene, CEO, Moroccan National Tourist Office
“We are delighted to learn that members of the International Association of Golf Tour Operators have nominated Marrakech as the best golfing destination in Africa and the Gulf states for 2015. This prize comes to crown 100 years of golf celebrations in Morocco. And in turn, to prove how popular Marrakech has become as an excellent golfing destination with more than 10 golf courses combined with superb hotels, a rich culture and a perfect weather all year around. This third acknowledgment by the IAGTO members can only be explained by the fact that golf in Morocco is on the right track and we are confident in saying that our Moroccan golf operators are committed more than ever before to working hard to welcome visitors from around the world.”
Golf Destination of the Year – Europe: Dublin East Coast
Aine Mangan, Director, Dublin East Coast Golf Alliance
“It is a great honour to accept this award and a wonderful recognition for the region from the world’s leading golf tour operators. Dublin East Coast is home to some of the finest parkland and links courses and resorts all within easy access of Dublin Airport and the many attractions our capital city has to offer. Our aim is to consistently provide a great golf experience and warm welcome to our visitors to Ireland.”
Simon Gregory, Director of Markets, Tourism Ireland
“Congratulations to Dublin East Coast Golf Alliance on being named European Golf Destination of the Year for 2015. This is a tremendous honour for the clubs working to promote this part of Ireland – and the superb golf on offer here. The fact that 540 golf tour operators in 62 countries voted for Dublin East Coast Golf Alliance is testament to the superb experience these clubs offer international golfers. Ireland has some of the greatest golf courses in the world – so it is wonderful to see them recognised by IAGTO in this way. No doubt this latest accolade for Dublin East Coast Golf Alliance will help to remind golf enthusiasts about our world-class golf, helping to boost golf tourism in 2015 and beyond – to the Dublin East Coast region and indeed, elsewhere around the island.”
Golf Destination of the Year – Asia & Australasia: Sanya
Tang Sixian, Deputy Director, Sanya Tourism Development Commission
“It is a very special moment for Sanya to receive the recognition of IAGTO Golf Tour Operators as the Asia Golf Destination of the Year. Sanya has long been recognised in Asia as China’s tropical paradise, but the incredible quality of our many golf courses, which are all within easy reach of our spectacular beaches and 5 star hotels, is now attracting golf travellers from all continents. As the recipient of this year’s Golf Destination of the Year Award, we would like to invite all golf travellers to consider joining us here for your next golf vacation, in the Sanya Golf Paradise!”
Michel Goget, Vice Chairman, International Hotel Association and General Manger, The Ritz-Carlton, Sanya
“As the only tropical island in China, Sanya features amazing golf clubs and world famous internationally branded resorts. Receiving this award from IAGTO golf tour operators across the world demonstrates that Sanya is now recognised as a truly international golf paradise. This past April, we hosted 100 international golf tour operators in Sanya, and they were blown away by the combined experience of top quality golfing, luxurious hotels and superb cuisine, which was topped off by Sanya's amazing beaches and truly tropical flavour that visitors are often surprised to find in China. With the rising popularity of golf tourism, we know what a great golf destination we have, but now it is time for the rest of the world to discover it for themselves!"
Golf Resort of the Year - Rest of the World: Casa de Campo
Peter Bonell, Chief Marketing Officer, Casa de Campo
“On behalf of the entire resort, Casa de Campo is honored to receive the Golf Resort of the Year award from IAGTO. We are proud to have such a renowned organization recognize our 90 holes of Pete Dye-designed golf because playing golf at Casa de Campo is an integral component to the Sporting Life. Each of the three courses – Teeth of the Dog, Dye Fore and The Links – presents unique challenges for golfers, whether it is playing the seven oceanfront holes on Teeth against strong seaside winds, or Dye Fore’s signature shots edging 300-foot cliffs dropping to the Chavon River below. Additionally, Casa de Campo’s attentive staff and upscale amenities make for great vacation experiences on and off the greens.”
Golf Resort of the Year - North America: Pinehurst Resort
Jack Bickart, Senior Vice President of Sales, Pinehurst Resort
“We are honored that IAGTO has recognized Pinehurst Resort as North America’s 2014 Golf Resort of the Year. Known as the ‘Cradle of American Golf’, Pinehurst has hosted more single golf championships than any site in America, and made history once again with the US Open and US Women’s Open in consecutive weeks in June. From Hagan to Hogan to Snead to Nicklaus to Woods and now, to Martin Kaymer and Michelle Wie, Pinehurst offers a legacy and history in golf no other resort in America can match.”
Golf Resort of the Year - Europe: PGA Catalunya Resort
Julio Delgado, CEO, PGA Catalunya Resort
“The latest award from IAGTO crowns an incredible 15 years for PGA Catalunya Resort, which has established itself as one of Europe’s finest golf experiences. Our mission has, and will always be, focused on delivering an outstanding and memorable golf experience, while adapting to changing market demands. Whilst we are proud of what we have achieved, we know we are just at the beginning of a very exciting journey, and look forward to many more milestones to come.”
Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year: Slovenia
Gorazd Kogoj, Secretary General, Golf Association of Slovenia and EGA Executive Committee Member
“The award Slovenia has received from IAGTO is a result of a good cooperation of golf courses, industry partners, hotels and tour operators with the support of the public agency Spirit Slovenia and the Slovenian Tourist Board. The number of foreign golfers has only just started to rise and we have a lot to do in order to attract golfers from big markets like Sweden, the UK and Germany. We are sure when people come to Slovenia they will all be surprised by how clean and safe the country is and how easy and close it is to reach all parts of the country including the golf courses. You will not forget the food and wine you can taste in Slovenia or the natural beauty you can grasp at every stop you make all over the country. We are very grateful for this award since it will give us the motivation to increase the number of foreign golfers visiting our country and it will also influence the activities attracting new players locally and making golf even more popular in Slovenia.”
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NOTES FOR EDITORS
The Golf Destination and Golf Resort awards are voted for by IAGTO’s specialist golf tour operator members that now number 556 from 62 different countries. Each was asked to vote for what they considered to be the best-performing golf resorts of the year. They considered these criteria: customer satisfaction; quality of golf courses and accommodation; value for money; support from suppliers, tourist boards & airlines; professional conduct of suppliers; and accessibility to tee times.
The Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year Award is voted for by the 183 golf travel journalists from 36 countries of the International Golf Travel Writers Association, who consider the following: to what extent is the golf destination undiscovered; qualities that make for an interesting golf destination; attractiveness of the region and of the courses; golf course quality & accessibility; standard of accommodation; friendliness of the staff; value for money; speed of play; and climate.
IAGTO is the global trade organisation for the golf tourism industry, comprising over 2220 accredited golf tour operators, golf resorts, hotels, golf courses, receptive operators, airlines, tourist boards, approved media and business partners in 98 countries. IAGTO operators control over 85% of golf holiday packages sold worldwide and their combined annual turnover exceeded €1.5 billion last year.
PHOTOS & LOGOS: Photos and logos can be downloaded from: www.iagto.com/awards
