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The best in the golf industry were awarded on the last day of the International Golf Travel Market at the 2007 gala Awards evening that took place on Thursday 6th December in the Gran Melia Hotel in Cancun, Mexico. The IAGTO Awards in association with Hertz are the official annual awards for the golf tourism industry.
IAGTO is the global trade organisation for the golf tourism industry, comprising more than 1040 companies in 73 countries, including over 320 specialist golf tour operators in 45 countries.
IAGTO’s Chief Executive, Peter Walton, said “The annual golf holiday is the highlight of the golfing year for many of the world’s 50 million players, and the IAGTO Awards serve to reward a few exceptional contributions to this world of golf travel. There is certainly no shortage of candidates worthy of recognition. Many individuals, companies, organisations and destinations have excelled in delivering a great golfing experience to the golf traveller – the ultimate goal for all involved in golf tourism.”
“The Awards serve also 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. Each year we recognise the performance of three of the world’s leading Golf Resorts, the flagships of our industry, together with one outstanding golf destination in each of the following five regions:
- Asia & Australasia
- Africa & the Gulf States
- Latin America & the Caribbean
- North America
- Europe
There is also an award for the Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year, voted for by members of the International Association of Golf Travel Writers, with 85 member journalists from 22 countries. The ceremony culminates in the presentation of our Honorary Award in tribute to the achievements of one extraordinary individual.”
The winners of the 2008 IAGTO Awards in association with Hertz were:
- Golf Resort of the Year – Europe: Carton House, Ireland
- Golf Resort of the Year – North America: Ginn Reunion Resort, Orlando, Florida
- Golf Resort of the Year – Rest of the World: ArabellaSheraton Western Cape, South Africa
- Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year: Vietnam
- Golf Destination of the Year – Africa & Gulf States: Mauritius
- Golf Destination of the Year – Asia & Australasia: Malaysia
- Golf Destination of the Year – Europe: Turkey
- Golf Destination of the Year – Latin America & the Caribbean: Argentina
- Golf Destination of the Year – North America: Arizona
- IAGTO Honorary Award: Annika Sorenstam
Quotes from the Winners:
Vietnam: Receiving the Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year Award, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico, Pham Van Que, said: "I am very pleased that Vietnam has been recognised by IAGTO as the Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year. It is a clear sign that we have made a great programme in developing golf in Vietnam. Golf in Vietnam is very young; the first course was only built in the 1990s. Now we have 15 courses, and more resorts are being built to receive international golfers. The important thing is the number of Vietnamese who play golf is increasing a lot and we want golf to become a popular sport."
Dr Nguyen Ngoc Chu, general secretary of the Vietnam Golf Association, speaking from Vietnam said: “We used to think of ourselves as the world’s best-kept secret, but with the announcement of this award, the secret is out. Vietnam is ready for the big time.”
Arizona: On receiving the Golf Destination of the Year Award for North America, Barbara Jackson, Mexico representative for the Arizona Office of Tourism, said: “Being recognised as the number one golf destination in North America is fantastic. We are very pleased and honoured to win this award. It’s great to have the recognition from the tour operators who voted for us. It is a great opportunity for us to show the rest of the world what we have to offer, and it will encourage us to bring more visitors to Arizona. With more than 330 days of sun and 300 golf courses in the state, Arizona is truly a golfers’ paradise. And it has so much to offer as a destination for golfers who visit with their friends and family.”
Mauritius: On receiving the Golf Destination of the Year Award for Africa, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf States, Toto Ghoorah, Director UK Office, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority said: "Mauritius is the new kid on the block as far as golf is concerned. After just five or six years we have been able to establish ourselves as a golf destination par excellence. The government has actively encouraged the promotion of Mauritius as a golf destination and we have to pay homage to the private sector, which conceived and created the very best golf courses for which we have now received international recognition. We thank the people who have put their trust in us and I am certain this recognition will further boost the image of Mauritius in the golf world."
Malaysia: On receiving the Golf Destination of the Year Award for Asia & Australasia. Norazmi Omar, Deputy Director Los Angeles office, Tourism Malaysia said: "We are very honoured to receive this award. It will help us promote Malaysia more as a preferred golf destination in Asia. We hope the tour operators, especially IAGTO members, will continue to package Malaysia for golf in their home countries."
Turkey: On receiving the Golf Destination of the Year Award for Europe. Ali Sahin, Director of Golf, Cornelia Golf Club & IAGTO Turkey Chapter Chairman said: "We are very proud and happy to win this award. The award means we have achieved something because we have worked very hard over the last 10 years. We started off with just one course in Turkey, and now we have 14. Over the next two or three years there will be about 30 courses throughout Turkey."
Argentina: On receiving the Golf Destination of the Year Award for Latin America & the Caribbean, Susan Marples, Golf Advisor to the Argentine Secretariat of Tourism said: "We are very proud to have won this award, and we are very happy. For us it is great because it has been a lot of work. This recognition is very important and it is thanks to IAGTO and their tour operators. It will give us encouragement to do more things and to improve our service even more. Argentina is a far-away country, but it is exciting and we have a lot to offer, not only golf."
Carton House, Ireland: On receiving the European Golf Resort of the Year Award, David Webster, General Manager of Carton House said "Carton House is a retreat for those who wish to indulge their passion for the game of golf, a sporting sanctuary where our world-class golf courses are complemented beautifully by our exquisite hotel, spa and conference facilities. This award reaffirms Carton as one of the world’s great golf destinations."
Ginn Reunion Resort, Orlando, Florida: On receiving the North American Golf Resort of the Year Award, Peter Bonell, Vice-President, Sales & Marketing said: "We are thrilled and extremely humbled to win this award because of the competition which we were up against. To be selected against your peers is the greatest tribute you can get. We are not a resort; we are a golf resort. That’s our bread and butter. This award is going to brand us. It puts us into an elite status now that we have to protect and maintain. It is going to force us to build another 18 holes on top of the three golf courses we already have because we will need to. We expect the phones to ring off the hook."
ArabellaSheraton Western Cape, South Africa: On receiving the Golf Resort of the Year Award for the Rest of the World, Alejandro Taronji representing the ArabellaSheraton hotels said: "The ArabellaSheraton Western Cape has received high accolades, both within South Africa and internationally since it opened in 2000. However, this Award is one of which we are extremely proud. In a country that has a strong and proud tradition of golf courses designed by such famous names as Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Robert Trent Jones, being ranked so highly is a great honour."
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
