Le Golf National, host venue of The 2018 Ryder Cup and home to the Alstom Open de France, welcomed delegates from the Tour’s network of world class golf venues in hosting the seventh annual
European Tour Properties
Spring Conference.
Representatives from the network of 14 member venues – including the newest European Tour Destination, Black Mountain Golf Club and Resort in Thailand, along with Diamond Country Club, Estonian Golf and Country Club, Golf Club St. Leon-Rot, which will host The Solheim Cup later this year, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Kungsängen Golf Club, Le Golf National, PGA Catalunya Resort and Terre Blanche Hotel Spa Golf Resort - attended the conference this week for a series of insightful presentations and networking opportunities.
Paul Armitage, General Manager of Le Golf National, who opened the Conference with his presentation “2018 – Le Golf National Prepares Today!” – providing an insight both into the transformation of a business and also the venue’s preparation for hosting golf’s greatest team event, said: “We were really proud to welcome the Spring Conference to Le Golf National for the very first time. It is becoming more and more important for us to participate fully in the activities of the European Tour Properties network as we move towards 2018 and we certainly see the benefits of that participation. We are definitely feeling part of a sense of “family” too, as we share and compare with our peers within the network.”
Brian Smith, CEO, and Conor Murphy, Business Development Manager, of BRS Golf and representing GolfNow, led a discussion on Online Tee-time Sales and Booking Systems, together with the application of Yield and Revenue Management techniques to the Golf Industry. This was followed by the centrepiece presentation on “Growing Your Customer Base – Ladies and Juniors” from Mark Birchmore, Head of Marketing at Syngenta, and Gary Firkins, Director of Landmark Media.
Andy Bough, Director of Cactus Brand Partners, provided insights on European Tour Merchandise and a new Retail Programme for European Tour Properties member venues before the conference concluded with an overview of the Real Estate Market from Sandra Ruttle, Consultant with European Tour Properties, and a presentation by Robert O’Brien and Emilie Despois on the real estate marketing opportunities delivered to member venues through the partnership with Fine & Country Golf.
Harald Elisson, Managing Director of Black Mountain Golf Club and Resort, said: “As the newest European Tour Destination, I was very happy to attend the conference to gain more insight into European Tour Properties and to get to know colleagues from other member venues. The topics were very relevant and presented by excellent speakers and certainly provoked lively and interesting discussion.”
David MacLaren, Director of Property and Venue Development, European Tour Properties, remarked: “It has been gratifying that so many of our 14 world class venues have been able to participate, at a busy time of year, in our annual Spring Conference. Our relationship with our member venues goes far beyond being able to carry the Destination or Course brand and includes the sharing of business practice, a range of co-ordinated sales and marketing activities and the benefits of being part of a global network. The continued growth of European Tour Properties is, I believe, testament to the relevance of our business model and the need for golf venues to gain a key advantage within today’s competitive market.”
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