Two prominent names in golf tourism have formed a new alliance aimed at providing national and destination tourist boards with a bespoke solution to penetrate the UK golf market.
Golf communications specialist The Azalea Group has teamed up with travel industry ‘face’ Fred Bickmore’s The Golf Marketing Company to offer a one-stop-shop for tourism authorities wishing to attract what is Europe’s largest golfing market.
There are approximately four million golfers in the UK – more than 50 per cent of the total number in Europe – and Azalea and Bickmore boast a strong pedigree, having driven strategic golf campaigns in the UK for the likes of Tourism Ireland, Murcia, South Carolina,Texas and Las Vegas.
The new alliance will embrace communications, representation, marketing and project-based activities and events. And, with a huge number of destinations worldwide banking heavily on attracting golf tourists, it is hoped that tourism chiefs will sit up and start to consider specialist assistance for this complicated and diverse market sector.
Commenting on the alliance, Azalea’s managing director, Sean Noble, said: “Fred and I have known each other for more than 20 years and his standing and relationships within the industry are first-rate. Utilising the skill-sets of both businesses, I am confident that we will be able to deliver a fast-track service and impressive results for destinations around the world.”
Bickmore added: “Decades of experience working with tourist boards has enabled me to see very clearly what is required to plug authorities into the UK golf market effectively. Azalea’s outstanding reputation as a golf tourism communications and marketing company – and our combined knowledge of the market – will provide a huge incentive for tourism organisations seeking UK golf tourists.”
Both Sean Noble and Fred Bickmore will be attending World Travel Market in London (5-8 November) and International Golf Travel Market in Vilamoura (12-15 November).
Tourism authorities wishing to make an appointment can contact sean@theazaleagroup.com or fred@golfmarketingco.com