The sun drenched southern coast of Spain played host to a bigger and better International Congress for Club Managers, organised jointly by the Club Managers’ Association of Europe (CMAE) and Club Managers Spain.
The event, in its second year, expanded considerably from the inaugural meeting, also held at the Villaitana Wellness Golf & Business Sun Resort in Benidorm, with a 50% increase in the number of delegates and 12 European countries represented.
The highlight of the four-day event was a presentation conducted by Gregg Patterson, General Manager of The Beach Club, Santa Monica, California, who gave two inspirational seminars focussing on becoming more pro-active.
Jerry Kilby, CMAE Chief Executive, said: “Gregg’s presentations encouraged club managers to make changes at their clubs in order to encourage new members. It was quite simple, but groundbreaking. He encouraged club managers to be more confident in encouraging club owners and committees to welcome women and children to break down barriers preventing people joining clubs. It was a truly universal and global message, as true in Europe as it is in the USA.”
Over the course of the event delegates were given the opportunity to question some of the world’s leading industry experts and experienced club managers on subject matters close to their hearts, ranging from employment, marketing, leadership, club governance and the environment.
The CMAE held its AGM on the first day of the conference where CMAE board member Jorgen Kjellgren, General Manager of Rya Golf Club, Helsingborg in Sweden, was elected as Vice President.
Fellow Swede Robert Edholm, CEO of Bro Balsta Golf Club, Stockholm and Arnaldo Cocuzza, General Manager of Golf Club Milano, Italy, were also elected onto the board of directors, which now contains club managers from six European countries.
Jerry Kilby added: “I would like to welcome Robert and Arnaldo to the board which has a truly international feel to it with so many countries now represented.
“The whole four-days were fantastic with so many social and networking opportunities for members to meet like-minded club managers from across Europe, all within the first class facilities of the Villaitana Wellness Golf & Business Sun Resort. I would like to thank Daniel Asis, the CEO of Club Managers Spain and his colleagues for all their hard work in organising such a successful event, and making everyone from all over Europe feel so welcome.
“Although the volcano ash cloud disrupted many delegates’ journeys home, everyone who attended found the event to be extremely beneficial and most were able to take away ideas and solutions to help them solve problems at their own clubs.”
Club Managers Association of Europe www.cmaeurope.org