Golf Resort of the Year – Rest of the
World: Banyan The Resort Hua Hin,
Thailand
Undiscovered Golf Destination of
the Year: Tasmania
IAGTO Honorary Award: Michael
Campbell
2016 IAGTO Sustainability Awards
Winners
Sustainable Golf Course of the
Year – Europe, Middle East &
Africa: La Galiana Campo de Golf,
Spain
Sustainable Golf Course of the
Year – Americas: PGA National
Resort & Spa, Florida
Sustainable Golf Course of the
Year – Asia: Mission Hills Haikou,
China
QUOTES FROM WINNERS:
Golf Destination of the Year –
North America: Hilton Head Island,
South Carolina
Bill Miles, President & CEO Hilton
Head Island-Bluffton Chamber and
Visitor & Convention Bureau: “Golf is
part of the DNA of our destination.
We’re known as one of the nation’s
preeminent golf destinations and
we’re honoured to be recognised by
IAGTO as the Golf Destination of the
Year for North America. PGA TOUR
professionals chose Hilton Head
Island and the RBC Heritage as one
of their favourite stops on the tour
and we’re proud of our reputation as
a leading golf destination. What sets
Hilton Head Island apart is not only
our long-standing tradition of golf,
but the unique environment in which
we play the game – an Atlantic island
that’s home to 24 courses, miles of
white sandy beaches, a commitment
to the environment and preserving
the natural beauty of our destination.
It’s what makes it a place that visitors
and those who love the game of golf
return to again and again.”
Golf Destination of the Year
– Latin America & Caribbean:
Dominican Republic
56
Isabel Vasquez, Director of the
Dominican Republic Ministry of
Tourism (MITUR) for the Iberian
Peninsula: ”Dominican Republic
is delighted to receive this award
once again from such a prestigious
organisation. This award speaks to
our unrelenting commitment to
provide both the infrastructure and
first class services in our hotels and
golf courses in order to maintain
the loyalty and happiness of those
who choose to visit us, allowing us
to reinforce our position as the Golf
Capital of the Caribbean with 28
courses; the largest offerings in all
Latin America and the Caribbean.”
Golf Destination of the Year –
Africa & Gulf States: Mauritius
Mauritius Golf Tourism Association
President Michael Geerdharry:
“Through the AfrAsia Mauritius Open,
the first-ever tri-sanctioned golf
event by the European, Asian and
Africa Sunshine Tours, the island of
Mauritius has reaffirmed its past role
as the key of the Indian Ocean, this
time for the promotion of the game
of golf on the three continents. Our
golf business model is centred on
our guests’ satisfaction in terms of
service quality, innovation and value
for money. Everybody involved in the
golf tourism industry in Mauritius is
very honoured that the island has
been named Golf Destination of
the Year for Africa, the Gulf States
and the Indian Ocean. To have won
this prestigious accolade, which is
voted for by tour operators, is very
gratifying and shows that our hard
work is paying off.”
Golf Destination of the Year –
Europe: Lisboa Golf Coast, Portugal
Paula Oliveira, Executive Director,
Lisbon Board of Tourism: “Receiving
this award for the second time in
eight years is a great honour for
Lisbon but it also means more
responsibility. We all are aware about
this and I am sure that we´ll do our
best to keep our standards and
improve our product at the same
time. We have around 20 worldclass golf courses and resorts to be
Destination Golf .TRAVEL
promoted and all of them are run by
professional people who, together
with our hotels and DMCs, made
this achievement possible. As for
other tourism products, Lisbon is
also increasing its awareness as a
fine golf destination and we believe
that having a closer relationship with
golf professionals like tour operators
and golf press is an important step
towards this goal. Therefore, we had
more than 150 tour operators visiting
our region in the last three years and