Destination Golf - January 2018 * | Page 12

Travel News Slovenia to host International Golf Travel Market 2018 International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) announced that its 2018 edition will be hosted in Slovenia’s capital city, the 2016 European Green Capital, Ljubljana. The IAGTO Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year 2015 will welcome IGTM 2018 to The GR Exhibition and Convention Centre, located in the heart of Ljubljana, from October 15 – 18, 2018. Trio of golf courses honoured by IAGTO Three venues in Europe and Central America have gained the golf tourism industry’s top recognition for their commitment to sustainability in the 18th annual IAGTO awards, with accolades going to: IAGTO Sustainability Award for Resource Efficiency: Finca Cortesin, Spain. IAGTO Sustainability Award for Community Value: Golf della Montecchia, Italy. IAGTO Sustainability Award for Nature Protection: Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort, Costa Rica. The 2018 IAGTO Awards took place during the 20th International Golf Travel Market (IGTM), in front of an audience of 1,300 international golf tourism delegates at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes, France. Work underway at England’s Top Golf Resort Work is underway on the third loop of nine holes at the prestigious and multi- award-winning Stoke Park Country Club & Hotel, in Buckinghamshire, to complete a three-year renovation of the 27-hole course. Work commenced recently on holes 19 to 27, the Lane Jackson course, with an anticipated official opening date of April 20. 12 Destination Golf .TRAVEL Villaverde Hotel & Resort becomes European Tour Destination Villaverde Hotel & Resort, host venue of the Senior Italian Open, has joined the exclusive European Tour Properties network, become the 26th European Tour Destination. The 4-Star resort in Udine in northern Italy, easily accessible from Venice Marco Polo airport, is home to Golf Club Udine, which has established itself as the premier championship golf course in the region. The 4th Annual World Golf Awards hosted in La Manga, Spain in November World Golf Awards™ serves to celebrate and reward excellence in golf tourism, world-class courses and golf destinations. This years celebrations were hosted at La Manga Golf Resort in Murcia, Spain. Guests got to play on the North course, followed by a gala ceremony in the 5-star hotel. World Luxury Hotel Awards 2018 Golf tourism constitutes a vital segment in the global travel and tourism marketplace. Established in 2006, World Luxury Hotel Awards is the pinnacle of achievement in the luxury hotel industry offering international recognition as voted by guests, travelers and industry players alike. Over 300 000 international travelers vote each year, during a four-week period to select the winners.