Verdura Resort’s decision to embark on a concerted long-term golf investment programme has paid instant dividends with the Sicilian venue’s popularity among golfers in Europe at a new high after announcing record golf numbers for the last 12 months.
Latest figures unveiled by the award-winning resort – a Rocco Forte hotel – revealed that the total amount taken rose by almost 20 per cent compared to the previous year, with golf package bookings leading the way and up by more than eight times the previous amount.
Bookings at Verdura have increased across its golfing sectors, with revenues from the number of group and clinics booked all rising following an impressive last 12 months, which included receiving a Golf Digest Editors’ Choice Award for Best International Resorts and being named ‘Best Golf Hotel in Italy’ at the 2015 World Golf Awards.
Boosted by increased sales, the UK is now the resort’s third biggest golf market behind Germany and Italy, while the top European destination continues to attract growing numbers of golfers from across the continent, headed by France, Switzerland and the UK.
And with total golf revenues having risen for each of the first four months this year compared to 2015 and the launch last month of a new British Airways flight service from London Heathrow to Palermo, Verdura looks set to enjoy further notable success over the coming 12 months.
Marcello Della Vecchia, Director of Golf Sales at Verdura Resort, said: “The new figures and recent awards are proof that all the hard work that we have done over the last three years is now paying off. We have experienced significant growth across our golf sector and are tremendously encouraged.
“The resort has made a concerted effort to be more visible and proactive to the European golf market and we’re delighted with the response we’ve had. It’s been a fantastic last 12 months for Verdura and we’re forward to the trend continuing in 2016 and beyond.”
Host of the Sicilian Open in 2012 and nestling adjacent to the Mediterranean in 230 hectares of stunning landscape, Verdura has everything needed for a relaxing golfing break and features two outstanding 18-hole championship courses – the East Course and West Course – as well as a par-three nine hole course.
Designed by top architect Kyle Phillips and built to the highest specifications, Verdura’s three links-style layouts offer a golf experience to remember, with tee times arranged at 12-minute intervals to ensure free-flowing play, five sets of tees making the courses playable for golfers of all abilities and one of its courses dedicated daily to two-ball play only.
As well as its success at the World Golf Awards, Verdura Resort has won a number of other recont accolades including receiving an ‘Editors’ Choice Award for Best International Resorts 2016’ from Golf Digest and retaining its place in Golf World’s benchmark ‘Top 100 Courses in Continental Europe 2015/16’ rankings.
Situated on Sicily’s southern coast between Agrigento and the fishing city of Sciacca, an 80-minute drive from Trapani and Palermo airports, Verdura Resort features 203 rooms and suites – all with a sea view.
Away from the fairways, the resort features an array of other luxury sports and lifestyle facilities while guests also have the opportunity to sample a taste of the gastronomy, wine, history and culture that has made Sicily famous across the world.
Verdura Resort www.roccofortehotels.com