The European and African section of the 24th edition of the annual IAGTO Awards have been announced at the IAGTO European Convention (IEC) in Malaga, Spain.
The awards are voted for by tour operator members of global golf tourism industry organisation IAGTO and recognise the outstanding service provided by golf courses, golf resorts, inbound operators and golf destinations during the past year. Recipients in 2024 are from Spain, Morocco, Northern Ireland, Bulgaria, Portugal, Greece and Scotland.
Announcing the 10 winners of the most prestigious awards in golf tourism at the Opening Address of IEC, Peter Walton, Chief Executive of IAGTO, said: “Golf tour operators responsible for 90% of all international golf tourism organized travel have once again focused worldwide attention on a handful of suppliers and destinations that delivered the best possible experience to their golf travelling clients over the past 12 months.”
The Asia Pacific Awards were announced in March, and the Awards for North America, Latin America and the Caribbean will be announced in June.
The winners for the European and African region are:
European City Golf Destination of the Year
MADRID
Western European Golf Destination of the Year
NORTHERN IRELAND
Southern European Golf Destination of the Year
CADIZ
Central & Eastern European Golf Destination of the Year
BULGARIA
African Golf Destination of the Year
MOROCCO
Golf Resort of the Year - Spain
LA CALA
Golf Resort of the Year – Portugal
DOM PEDRO VILAMOURA GOLF
Golf Resort of the Year – Mediterranean
COSTA NAVARINO, GREECE
Western European Golf Course of the Year
DUMBARNIE LINKS, SCOTLAND
Inbound Operator of the Year for North Africa
PREMIUM GOLF TRAVEL, MOROCCO
WINNERS COMMENTS
European City Golf Destination of the Year – Madrid
“We are immensely proud and thankful to have been recognised with this award. Madrid not only boasts fantastic golf courses but has also made significant efforts to enhance our offerings with a variety of tourist and gastronomic locations throughout the Community of Madrid. These attractions complement our golf courses, making Madrid a premier destination. It has been a marvellous team effort involving all the courses of the Association and the Community of Madrid, and we are delighted to share this accolade with them.”
Enrique Gil, President, Madrid Golf Courses Association
Western European Golf Destination of the Year – Northern Ireland
"We are delighted to be named as the Best Golf Destination for the Year 2024 for Western Europe and this award is testament to the hard work across the whole golf industry in Northern Ireland. This is an exciting period for golf in Northern Ireland which will see the Amgen Irish Open hosted this summer at Royal County Down, widely regarded as the best golf course in the world. In July next year, we welcome the 153rd Open Championship back to Royal Portrush, which is already building up to be one of the biggest Championships in history. This award recognises that there is such an incredible golfing experience right across the country and we look forward to working with IAGTO members in supporting even more visitors to our shores in the near future."
George Diamondis, Golf Marketing Manager, Tourism Northern Ireland
Central & Eastern European Golf Destination of the Year – Bulgaria
“It brings us immense joy to share that Bulgaria has been bestowed with the esteemed title of Golf Destination of the Year 2024 for Central & Eastern Europe by IAGTO. This accolade serves as a testament to our collective efforts in promoting golf tourism and elevating the golfing experience in Bulgaria. On behalf of the Bulgarian Golf Association and myself, I extend our sincerest gratitude to all the tour operators who have cast their votes in favour of Bulgaria as their preferred destination for Central and Eastern Europe. Your support and recognition mean the world to us.”
Krassimir Guergov, President, Bulgarian Golf Association
Golf Resort of the Year for Spain – La Cala
“Receiving the prestigious Golf Resort of the Year 2024 award from IAGTO is an immense honour for La Cala Resort, especially as we celebrate our 35th anniversary this year. We're grateful for the support of FBD Hotels & Resorts, our dedicated owner, whose vision has been instrumental in our success. This recognition reaffirms our commitment to providing exceptional golf experiences on the Costa del Sol, and a testament to the dedication of our amazing team at La Cala Resort. We are truly grateful to IAGTO and the golf tour operators for this prestigious accolade, and we look forward to continuing to exceed expectations for our guests.”
Sean Corte-Real, General Manager, La Cala Resort
Golf Resort of the Year for Portugal – Dom Pedro Vilamoura Golf
I am immensely proud of our team's dedication and commitment, which has culminated in our recent win of the prestigious IAGTO Golf Resort of the Year 2024 – Portugal award. This accolade underscores our pursuit of excellence in delivering unparalleled experiences to our guests. We want to elevate this resort to new heights and solidify our position as a leading destination in the world of golf and hospitality.”
Nuno Sepulveda, Co-Chief Executive Officer, DETAILS – Hospitality, Sports, Leisure
Golf Resort of the Year for the Mediterranean – Costa Navarino, Greece
“We’re thrilled and deeply honoured to be given this accolade and I would like to thank all the IAGTO golf tour operators for this international recognition. At Costa Navarino, it is our aim to deliver world-class golf experiences with seamless customer service, and it’s very gratifying to receive this endorsement from trade partners who have in-depth knowledge of the golf industry and golf destinations worldwide. Awards of this nature are only possible with a lot of hard work, and I would like to thank all my team for their continued dedication and commitment for providing such memorable holiday experiences for our guests and partners, which has helped to make Costa Navarino one of the world’s elite golf destinations.”
David Ashington, Golf General Manager, Costa Navarino
Western European Golf Course of the Year – Dumbarnie Links, Scotland
Our Board and team at Dumbarnie Links are absolutely thrilled and honoured with being awarded the Golf Course of the Year 2024 for Western Europe! Positioned 12 miles south of St Andrews and only opening our fairways in 2020, this prestigious title speaks volumes about the dedication and passion from our team, to deliver a top quality golf experience, both on and off our links. Thank you to IAGTO and to all the tour operators who voted for us and made this amazing recognition possible.
David Scott, General Manager, Dumbarnie Links
Inbound Operator of the Year for North Africa – Premium Golf Travel, Morocco
“We are honoured to receive this prestigious award, especially as it has been voted for by the people we try to serve best. This certainly will inspire us to walk the extra mile and to improve where possible. From the entire Premium Golf Travel team, a big thank you to all the tour operators voting for us. A big thank you to all our Moroccan partners and, last but not least, a big thank you to IAGTO.
We will do our utmost best to keep improving our services to all the tour operators and partners working with us. We look forward to welcoming you in Morocco.”
Mohamed Fakir, Managing Director, Premium Golf Travel, Morocco
PHOTOS
A selection of photos can be downloaded from this link.
END
About IAGTO & IAGTO Awards
Established in 1997, IAGTO is the global trade organisation of the golf tourism industry, and has 2345 members in 95 countries including 667 golf tour operator members in 69 countries, which are responsible for more than 90% of golf vacation packages sold worldwide and which collectively have annual sales of over USD 2.5 billion. IAGTO runs three annual conventions spanning the globe, with events in Europe, North America and Asia, along with regular Destination Conventions. IAGTO established the International Golf Travel Writers Association in 2000, the year in which the first prestigious annual IAGTO Awards also took place.
