The International Golf Travel Market has announced the largest number of buyers in its nine year history. Held at the Marbella Conference Centre in Andalucàa, Spain and organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions, buyers at IGTM increased by 36% to 333, hailing from 39 countries across the globe, including a new presence from Hong Kong and Colombia.
Exhibitors’ stand participation has also grown from 377 in 2005 to 392 from 47 countries in 2006. New destinations represented at this niche exhibition included, Cuba, St Vincent & the Grenadines, and Ras Al Khaimah.
Press participation at the exhibition also grew, with attendance increasing by 31% and a total of 15 journalists participating in the hosted media programme.
Highlights of this year’s IGTM Exhibition included: Florida’s First Coast of Golf, launching a real-time online tee-time booking system facilitating online bookings for clients. Hamburg’s Clubhaus launched Heidegolfcard, an electronic card enabling cardholders to play on five of the best courses in the Hamburg area for 99 Euros. New participants at the event included Kootenay Rockies Tourism (Canada), Golfing Africa (South Africa) and Raffles Resort (St Vincent & the Grenadines).
Exhibitor David Reese of Florida’s First Coast of Golf, said, “We exhibit each year at IGTM to meet with prominent tour operators worldwide. We have had tremendous success primarily due to the qualified buyers that are delivered by Reed Travel Exhibitions.”
Buyer, Natascha Topf of Global Golf Tours, Germany, confirmed the exhibition’s success, “IGTM is the most important fair for golf travel-related products and it is always very successful! It is a great pleasure to join and I am looking forward to next year.”
Concluding on the feedback from the exhibition, Mark Walsh, exhibition director of International Golf Travel Market, commented, “The exhibition this year proved to be our best business event in our nine year history. The event exceeded our expectations and we feel very optimistic for next year’s event in Cancun, 3 – 6 December 2007.”
International Golf Travel Market www.igtm.co.uk