Glittering IAGTO Awards ceremony closes another hugely successful IGTM

With over 400 buyers, more than 500 golf tourism suppliers and in excess of 14,000 meetings taking place, this year’s International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) held at Son Termes in Mallorca, has been hailed as a huge success.

Recognised as the world’s premier global event for golf tourism suppliers, buyers and media, the event was concluded by the 17th annual IAGTO Awards ceremony, which recognised the world’s finest golf destinations and also spotlighted venues and resorts that embrace sustainability. The awards are organised by global golf tourism organisation, and IGTM partner, IAGTO (International Association of Golf Tour Operators).

The glittering awards evening, staged at the world-famous Son Amar Auditorium just north of the island’s capital of Palma, saw some of the golf industry’s best-performing destinations celebrated, including South Africa, Thailand, Spain, Mexico and Florida, USA.

Also celebrated during the evening were the Golf Resort of the Year from three geographic regions, with Costa Navarino, Greece claiming the European award, Barefoot Resort & Golf, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA, winning the North America category, while Laguna Golf Lăng Cô in Vietnam won the Rest of the World prize.

In the Sustainability Awards, staged in association with GEO (Golf Environment Organization), golf resorts from Africa, Asia, Europe and The Americas were recognised.

Winners for 2017 were split into five award categories: Nature Protection (The Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort, Kenya); Resource Efficiency (Pebble Beach Resorts, California, USA); Community Value (Laguna Golf, Phuket, Thailand); Outstanding Commitment to Sustainable Golf (Machrihanish Dunes, Scotland); and Sustainable Golf Destination of the Year (Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA).

This year’s IAGTO Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year Award was presented to Europe’s Kärnten – Alpe Adria Golf, a golf region extending from the south side of The Alps down to the Adriatic Sea.

Peter Grimster, IGTM Exhibition Manager, said: “The three days of IGTM continue to act as an important hub for the global golf travel industry and this year’s event in Mallorca has been a particular success for buyers and golf tourism suppliers.

“As in previous years, the IAGTO Awards act as a fitting conclusion to the week, which underlined a growing optimism in the industry and showcased many successful, established golf destinations and resorts and many new, emerging and interesting golf travel regions across Asia, Europe, Africa and The Americas.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the beautiful holiday island of Mallorca for hosting this year’s edition and we look forward to Cannes in France next year, which promises to be very special.”

The full list of 2017 IAGTO Awards winners is:

Golf Destination of the Year:

• Africa, Gulf States & Indian Ocean: Western Cape, South Africa
• Asia & Australasia: Chiang Mai Province, Thailand
• Europe: Andalucía, Spain
• Latin America & Caribbean: Los Cabos, Mexico
• North America: North Florida, USA

Golf Resort of the Year:

• Europe: Costa Navarino, Greece
• North America: Barefoot Resort & Golf, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA
• Rest of the World: Laguna Golf Lăng Cô, Vietnam

IAGTO Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year:

• Kärnten – Alpe Adria Golf

Sustainability Awards:

• Nature Protection: The Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort, Kenya
• Resource Efficiency: Pebble Beach Resorts, California, USA
• Community Value: Laguna Golf, Phuket, Thailand
• Outstanding Commitment to Sustainable Golf: Machrihanish Dunes, Scotland
• Sustainable Golf Destination of the Year: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA

The 2017 edition of IGTM, will be hosted in Cannes, France, December 11-14.