GolfSwitch’s expansion into Europe moves up a gear, as even more Portuguese courses sign up to the network… and GolfSwitch is now pleased to be partnered with JJW Hotels & Resorts, a leading global brand operating across Europe and the Middle East.
In the Algarve, the San Lorenzo Golf Club, has teamed up with GolfSwitch to provide their customers with the option of booking their tee times online. The golf club, owned by Dona Filipa Hotel, and an integral part of the JJW group, is thrilled at the new opportunities and revenue this system will provide. JJW Hotels & Resorts’ customers are now able to see the real time availability on the course and the applicable rate for that tee time. Once made, their booking is then instantly processed so that the club is notified immediately.
San Lorenzo is open to the public, on a limited basis, at certain times of the year and is mainly used as the exclusive course for the guests of Dona Filipa Hotel and Formosa Park Apartment Hotel… however, GolfSwitch has worked wonders in maximizing the revenue for public tee times across similar business models and JJW Hotels & Resorts is very excited to see what can be done for San Lorenzo. The iconic seaside course, one of the most famous in the Algarve, was designed by American golf architects Joseph Lee and Rocky Roquemore… and has been consistently voted one of the best in Europe for over 25 years. Laid out in a figure of eight across a quiet corner of the Quinta Do Lago resort, San Lorenzo boasts fairways that run alongside saltwater marshes, freshwater lagoons, the Ria Formosa Nature Reserve and the stunning Atlantic Ocean. The 6,822 yards lay-out features Bermuda Grass fairways and PennCross greens that are kept in championship condition the whole year round.
Antonio Santos, Golf Director at San Lorenzo Golf: “We’ve seen what GolfSwitch has done for other courses in the Algarve we want to be a part of their success. By providing this online booking platform to our customers, we have both given them a much smoother user experience… and freed up staff so we can devote even more time to our world leading customer service on the ground. In just a few days we have seen dozens of customers booking through this new online tool, and we’re amazed at how successful it’s already proving. We know that this is all down to the way GolfSwitch’s expert team has worked in implementing everything quickly and efficiently… and judging by the sales we’ve already seen, there will be plenty more to come. We’re very excited about the future of this great club, and we can’t wait to show all our new customers why we’re regarded as one of the best courses in the whole of Europe.”
Golfers increasingly demand that clubs provide them with an online tee time booking tool that is real time so that they can immediately book a round of golf without having to wait for a reply from the club. Clubs that offer this are getting a larger share of the tee time market in the ever more time conscious environment we live in.
Another course getting connected to the GolfSwitch network is in the North of Portugal. Amarante Golf Club, part of the Casa da Calcada hotel, is part of the newly formed Northern Portugal Golf Group that wants to promote the region to the discerning golfer that wants both a cultural and culinary experience as well as the golfing trip of a lifetime. The Amarante Golf Club is built on the hillsides bordering the Amarante town with expansive views. Amarante Golf currently has limited green fee play and wants to increase its profile and attract golfers from Europe to sample the golf in Amarante. The Hotel Casa da Calcada, a 5* Relais et Chateaux property, offers Gourmet & Golf packages whereby guests can enjoy a casual round of golf combined with a Michelin Star culinary experience.
Oriol Juvé, General Manager at Casa da Calçada Relais & Chateaux and Amarante Golf adds: “GolfSwitch didn’t need to convince me of the importance of a good online booking tool. In the hotel business you might as well not exist if you can not be booked online. What has happened in the hotel industry, whereby consumers can book hotels through a variety of distribution channels, will happen in the golf industry as well and it’s just a matter of time. We are delighted that GolfSwitch is the company that will assist us in building out our online golf presence as they have proven themselves in the market already.”
GolfSwitch has cemented itself as the world leader in online tee time technology and works very much with the courses allowing them to avail of engines that suit their needs. Our business integrity very much separates us from our competitors where we allow courses to dictate the green fee rate and availability shown.
GolfSwitch www.golfswitch.com