Gran Canaria’s towering Faro de Maspalomas lighthouse formed the stunning backdrop to the 25th Awards ceremony staged by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators in front of more than 800 IAGTO members.
The honours were led by Gran Canaria and the Costa del Sol, with golf resorts, golf courses, hotels and destination management companies in England, France, Turkey, Italy, Portugal, Ireland and Spain’s Mallorca and Sotogrande also recognised.
Gran Canaria was honoured for its Outstanding Contribution to Golf Tourism for hosting the third IAGTO European Convention (IEC) and for facilitating the largest and most productive gathering of IAGTO members to date.
Costa del Sol in Spain’s autonomous Andalucia region was voted Golf Destination of the Year by IAGTO’s golf tour operators, who are responsible for more than 90% of international golf vacation packages sold worldwide.
The IAGTO Awards ceremony was the climax of an open-air gala dinner for IEC delegates in the impressive setting of the Plaza del Faro Maspalomas and followed a dazzling audio-visual light show beamed onto the 56-metre-tall lighthouse.
Presenting the Awards, IAGTO’s Chief Executive, Peter Walton, said: “For 25 years we have been platforming those destinations, golf resorts, golf courses, hotels and golf tourism suppliers that have delivered the best experience for visiting golf travellers over the past 12 months, as voted for by the world’s leading golf tour operators.
“We only issue a handful of Awards each year, which lends added weight to the value of this accolade for all recipients.”
The winners for the European section of the IAGTO Awards are:
Golf Destination of the Year
COSTA DEL SOL
Golf Resorts of the Year
ARABELLA GOLF RESORT MALLORCA, SPAIN
CARDEN PARK, ENGLAND
EVIAN RESORT, FRANCE
SO/SOTOGRANDE SPA & GOLF RESORT HOTEL, SPAIN
Golf Course of the Year
CULLINAN LINKS GOLF CLUB, TURKEY
DMCs (Destination Management Companies) of the Year
GOLF AROUND ITALY, ITALY
INGOLF TOUR OPERATOR, PORTUGAL
Hotel of the Year
THE KILLARNEY PARK, IRELAND
Outstanding Contribution to Golf Tourism
GRAN CANARIA
SALOBRE HOTEL RESORT & SERENITY
SALOBRE GOLF
LOPESAN HOTELS GRAN CANARIA
MELONERAS GOLF BY LOPESAN
ANFI GOLF BY LOPESAN
MASPALOMAS GOLF
REAL CLUB DE GOLF DE LAS PALMAS
PHOTOS
Photos of the Awards can be downloaded from this link.
Quotes from IAGTO Awards recipients:
Gran Canaria
“We set bold goals. We work together – public and private sectors – to become a benchmark in the tourism industry and we’ve always aimed to be one of the top golf destinations in Europe. We do it to make visitors happy. To surprise them. To make sure they never forget us. And we do it all with love and deep commitment to our island, our landscapes, our people and our future.”
Agustin Manrique, President of the Gran Canaria Golf Association
Costa del Sol
“This recognition is a great honour for the Costa del Sol and reflects the commitment and dedication of everyone who works to deliver an exceptional experience to golfers from around the world. We are proud to be a leading golf destination and remain committed to continuous improvement and innovation in order to maintain our position as one of the top golf destinations in Europe. We would also like to thank all the golfers, professionals, and organisations who have contributed to our success.
This award is a testament to the passion and hard work of our community to provide an unforgettable golf experience.”
Francisco Salado Escaño, President of Málaga Provincial Council
Arabella Golf Resort Mallorca
“We are deeply honoured to be recognised by IAGTO and its global network of golf tour operators. This award is a testament to the hard work of our entire team and our unwavering commitment to excellence across all aspects of the guest journey. At Arabella Golf Resort Mallorca, we take great pride in being Your Mediterranean Home for Golf — a destination where championship golf, luxury hospitality and unforgettable experiences come together in one exceptional location.”
Bernat Llobera, Director of Golf
Carden Park
"We are incredibly proud to receive this prestigious recognition from IAGTO. It’s a true testament to the passion, dedication and hard work of our entire team at Carden Park. From our two championship courses to the outstanding guest experience, we strive to deliver every day. This award reinforces our commitment to being one of the UK’s leading golf destinations.”
Josh Dhallu, Golf Business Manager
Evian Resort
"We are incredibly proud to receive this recognition from IAGTO. More than anything, it is a meaningful tribute to the outstanding work of all our teams – in our hotels, our restaurants, and especially on the course, where our field teams consistently go above and beyond. At the Evian Resort, the guest experience is truly at the heart of everything we do. This award reinforces our commitment to excellence and helps position Evian Resort as a leading destination for golf and hospitality.”
Matthieu Camison, General Manager, Evian Resort Golf Club
SO/ Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort Hotel
“We’re honoured that SO/ Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort Hotel has been recognised by IAGTO’s global network of golf tour operators as one of Europe’s Top Golf Resorts for 2025. This award reflects the outstanding service delivered by our team and the distinct lifestyle Sotogrande offers, where world-class golf, wellness and understated luxury unite. Our resort not only boasts superb golf facilities, but also offers bespoke golf packages with access to iconic courses including Real Club Valderrama, Real Club Sotogrande, and La Reserva Club – a dream for any golfer,”
Stéphane Menou, General Manager
Cullinan Links Golf Club
“We are truly honoured and proud that Cullinan Links Golf Club has been voted as the Golf Course of the Year 2025 by IAGTO’s golf tour operators. This recognition is a true testament to the passion, dedication and hard work of our entire team, who strive every day to deliver an exceptional golfing experience. Turkey has become a premier golf destination and we are proud to contribute to that reputation.”
Şehmus Işık, General Manager
InGolf Tour Operator
“On behalf InGolf Tour Operator's team, I would like to thank IAGTO for this honoured distinction, and for IAGTO's community support, for more than two decades. InGolf Tour Operator was one of the first members to join IAGTO’s family from the very beginning, and it is a joy, as well as a privilege, to have witnessed throughout these years, its amazing growth. I would like to take the opportunity to humbly thank all those who honour and salute the effort, work and dedication which is daily put into our work, promoting Portugal as a golf destination of excellence. Without IAGTO, that would be a much more difficult task.”
José Valente, General Manager
The Killarney Park
"Receiving the Hotel of the Year award is a significant milestone for The Killarney Park and one that underscores our team’s dedication to operational excellence and personalised guest service. The recognition is particularly timely, as we have recently unveiled a new era of luxury with a comprehensive renovation of all guest rooms and are preparing for continued capital investment early next year. Killarney’s location places our guests within easy reach of some of Ireland’s top golf destinations, including Ballybunion, Waterville, Tralee and the nearby Killarney Golf & Fishing Club. As we continue to strengthen our relationships with international golf tour operators and travel advisors, our goal remains clear: to deliver an exceptional experience that pairs five-star luxury accommodation with seamless access to Ireland’s finest golfing experiences."
Marcus Treacy, Managing Director
END
About IAGTO
Established in 1997, IAGTO is the global trade organisation of the golf tourism industry with over 2450 members in 93 countries including 723 golf tour operators in 69 countries, which are responsible for more than 90% of golf vacation packages sold worldwide. IAGTO runs annual conventions in Asia, Europe and North America in addition to the prestigious IAGTO Golf Tourism Awards.
