IAGTO ’ S EUROPEAN CONVENTION HITS THE SWEET SPOT IN MARBELLA AND RETURNS TO THE COSTA DEL SOL NEXT YEAR
The golf tourism industry celebrated its much-anticipated inaugural IAGTO European Convention ( IEC ) this week in Marbella , Costa del Sol in typical Andalucian style .
Organised by global golf tourism organization IAGTO ( International Association of Golf Tour Operators ) for the benefit of its member companies , the three-day event was attended by 634 delegates from 46 countries , making it IAGTO ’ s largest and most successful event to date . At the Opening Address it was announced that , due to overwhelming demand , IEC would return to Andalucía next year from 13-15 May 2024 and take place in the city of Málaga , the gateway to the Costa del Golf , where attendance is expected to exceed 800 .
Sitting alongside IAGTO ’ s Americas Convention ( NAC ) and Asia Convention ( AGTC ), IEC completes a trio of annual IAGTO events that span the globe .
IAGTO Chief Executive Peter Walton said : “ Our 2,500 member companies now have the opportunity to attend whichever conventions are most beneficial to them , at an affordable cost , in the knowledge that the business conducted and relationships established will deliver dividends every single time . “ For example , here at our first IEC , 50 % of the buyer delegates are from the top 22 % highest performing golf tour operators in their region .”
During the event , 8,300 meetings were pre-scheduled between buyers and suppliers over two full days , and further networking was facilitated through the IEC Golf Tournament played over three courses ( La Quinta , Rio Real and Santa Clara golf clubs ), five hotel receptions , a Feria Andaluza themed Welcome
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