More than 260 delegates representing over 30 countries from both within and outside the golf industry will meet at The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa, Abu Dhabi, April 28-30 to share industry best practice and enjoy invaluable networking opportunities with key industry stakeholders.
Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A, who announced last week that he will retire in September 2015, will be presented with a special Lifetime Achievement Award at the end of day one. Recognising outstanding contribution, achievement and leadership in both the game and business of golf, past winners include Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Greg Norman, with George O’Grady CBE, Chief Executive of The European Tour, and Tim Finchem, PGA TOUR Commissioner, joint recipients of the 2013 Award.
A fast paced first day agenda will see HSBC and the TCA open the Forum before Dawson is joined by Antony Scanlon, International Golf Federation, Donna Orender, Founder of Orender Unlimited, Guy Kinnings, Global Head of Golf, IMG in a ‘Leaders Question Time’ hosted by the BBC’s Andrew Cotter in the opening panel session. Stephen Nuttall, Senior Director Sports YouTube EMEA will then lead the eagerly anticipated panel ‘From the Big Screen to the Second Screen,’ joined by Barney Francis, Managing Director Sky Sports, Rupert Hampel, SVP, Global Head of IMG Media Golf and Imtiaz Patel, CEO, Multichoice Group South Africa.
In the afternoon, Italian golf star Matteo Manassero, will join Ed Smith, The Times and Geoff McGrath, McLaren Applied Technologies in ‘The Performance Lab’ with the last session of the day ‘Global Golf Development- Where and at what cost?’
Giles Morgan, HSBC Global Head of Sponsorship and Events, said “We are delighted to play a part in connecting businesses to the world of golf at the HSBC Golf Business Forum and providing a platform for businesses to connect with one another. The forum is an extension of our golf sponsorship portfolio which include grassroot programmes, corporate golf series and professional tournaments including, of course, the jewel of the Middle East swing, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship held here at the magnificent National Course.”
Guy Kinnings, Global Head of Golf IMG added, “IMG Golf is involved in every aspect of the sport and with 50 years of experience and nearly 500 staff working globally in Golf. We admired this event as KPMG grew it so successfully over the past decade and we are now delighted to be hosting it this year with our close and long-standing partners in golf, HSBC, and our outstanding hosts, TCA, with whom we run the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and collaborate on many other sporting events. The HSBC Golf Business Forum has developed into one of the leading golf industry events globally and as golf continues to grow geographically and demographically, we hope that the forum will grow into being the definitive place for all of the industry to meet and share ideas and to do business together annually.”
Specialists with expert knowledge and insight will debate how the game will evolve in the 21st Century at the Forum. A mix of panels, keynote presentations and thought leadership sessions will explore topics including the role of next generation digital technology within the golf industry, the influence of data analytics on performance and changing customer behavior. Delegates will also be presented with the very latest trends and research findings relating to global golf development, along with interactive debates including industry powerbrokers and innovators. The Forum’s attendees will also enjoy invaluable networking opportunities and golf on Abu Dhabi’s world class golf courses.
HSBC Golf Business Forum www.golfbusinessforum.com
For more details on HSBC’s golf activities, visit www.hsbcgolf.com