The International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) will hold its 2nd Mexico Golf Tourism Convention in Los Cabos this fall from October 29 to November 4. This premier trade event will bring together golf buyers and suppliers in a world-class destination celebrated for its great courses, ideal climate and superb amenities.
IAGTO, which has successfully staged destination conventions in Spain, Ireland, Portugal, Turkey and Tunisia, currently has 636 specialist outbound golf tour operators in 61 countries. Of these, 134 wholesalers in 31 countries feature, promote and sell golf vacations to Mexico. Many of these tour operators are located in the U.S. and Canada, each an important market for Los Cabos.
Last year’s Mexico Golf Tourism Convention, held in Cancun and Riviera Maya, attracted 40 buyer delegates from 18 different countries. Tour operators met with supplier delegates from across Mexico, from Riviera Maya to Baja California. In addition to tourism board executives and golf resort representatives, suppliers included major hotel chains, rental car agencies and destination marketing companies.
Because of Los Cabos’s prestige as a golf destination, the number of buyer and supplier delegates is expected to increase at this year’s event.
“Los Cabos is honored to have been chosen to host IAGTO’s Mexico Golf Tourism Convention,” said Eduardo Regules Bukantz, Commercial Director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board. “This event will help to highlight why our destination is the ‘Golf Capital of Latin America.’”
Diamante Dunes Course
“Golf is one of the key drivers of tourism to Los Cabos,” Bukantz added. “We are excited to welcome top tour operators so they can see for themselves why their clientele will have a great experience on and off our fantastic golf courses.”
Peter Walton, President and Chief Executive of IAGTO, said, “I had the opportunity to visit Los Cabos for the first time in 2003, and in my opinion it stands out as one of the most spectacular golf destinations on the planet. What is particularly exciting about Los Cabos is that it has continued to evolve, adding new golf courses alongside an ever-improving infrastructure. This is why it is so important for us to showcase Los Cabos to international golf tour operators so that they can see and experience this great golf destination in order to feature, promote and sell it to their golf traveling customers.
“We will be taking around 50 hand-picked golf tour operators to Los Cabos for the 2nd annual Mexico Golf Tourism Convention at the end of October, where they will meet with members of the local golf tourism industry and plan their 2018 golf packages, group promotions and amateur tournaments,” Walton explained. “The MGTC is special in that it focuses not only on the host destination but attracts golf resorts and golf courses from across Mexico, which makes the MGTC an invaluable opportunity for suppliers and operators alike.”
Walton reported that IAGTO operators last year took 1.9 million golfers to golf destinations around the world, spending over $2.5 billion. “I have no doubt that this year’s MGTC is going to have a major impact on the growth of golf travel to Mexico, and we are indebted to the Los Cabos Tourism Board for hosting the event,” he said.
The format of the Mexico Golf Tourism Convention will feature a golf day for buyers (optional for suppliers) at Puerto Los Cabos; a supplier-meets-buyer “speed-dating session;” and opportunities for buyers to meet suppliers during pre-scheduled appointment sessions.
Tour operators who wish to experience Los Cabos golf first-hand can join a three-night hosted familiarization trip following the convention. Customized itineraries will enable small groups of buyers to play selected courses among the 15 venues currently open in Los Cabos. The post-convention trip will also feature hotel site inspections and off-course attractions.
For more information, visit: visitloscabos.travel
Feature Photo: Puerto Los Cabos