- Record year for attendance and meetings
- IGTM 2023 & 2024 will take place in Lisbon, Portugal
- Dates for the 2023 show are 17-19 October
IGTM Rome 2022, the Golf Travel Community's Biggest Gathering
IGTM in Rome Marks Biggest Annual Gathering of International Golf Travel Community
"IGTM Rome has offered the golf travel industry the very best opportunity to network."
21 October 2022
RX (Reed Exhibitions), the organiser behind IGTM (International Golf Travel Market) has hosted its biggest gathering of the golf travel industry in the show’s 25-year history. The event took place at La Nuvola Convention Centre in Rome this week.
Over 1,000 participants including 450 of the world’s top golf courses, resorts, hotels, tourist boards and DMCs from 50 countries met with over 350 tour operators and travel agents creating some 14,000 meetings over the 3 days. This year’s event also marked the biggest attendance by international golf travel media who for the first time took part in the pre-scheduled appointment system, meeting with exhibitors during the show. Participants came from countries as diverse as Italy, Mauritius, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Slovakia, Spain, and Qatar representing thousands of courses with buyers from more than 40 countries.
“What an event. We knew that the resilience, innovation, and community spirit that this industry has shown during the turmoil of the past few years would make for an event that has exceeded our expectations. Thank you to everyone that has taken part this week.” Said David Todd, Event Manager, IGTM, RX Global.
The international golf travel media took the opportunity to meet with exhibitors to find their golf leisure news and stories for their readers – a priceless opportunity for those exhibiting at this year’s event. Martin Hardenberger, Editor in Chief, Swedish Golfmagasinet commented: “I truly have been around the world of golf in three days and have sourced enough content to inspire me and my travel pages over the next 12 months. The meetings have been professional, interesting, and friendly. I am looking forward to joining once again next year.”
At the same time, Troon International, Mauritius Tourist Office and Egypt Tourism Board presented their golf destinations to the journalists at daily press conferences.
Attendees took part in networking events including the annual official IGTM golf day where players experienced the top courses in Rome including the Marco Simone—home of the Ryder Cup 2023—as well as Olgiata Golf Club, Golf Nazionale, and Golf Club Parco de’ Medici.
Exhibitors and buyers were delighted with this year’s event for their future business. Craig Blue, Assistant Market Development Manager for UK & Golf, Visit Scotland, commented: “This has been a great show to reconnect with the golf industry from across the globe and we’ve met with 60-70% new tour operators. COVID has given people a chance to take stock on what’s important to their business and clients, which has been the basis of our conversations this week.”
Melissa Porzak, Travel Advisor, Protravel & Protravel Golf Travel commented: “IGTM Rome has offered the golf travel industry the very best opportunity to network. The relationships established have been instrumental in providing my clients with exceptional travel experiences. It has made my job easier when navigating golf travel.”
Giles Greenwood, Sales Representative of Qatar Tourism commented: “This has been my 18th IGTM and one of the best yet. The meetings have been more business focussed than ever before.”
Justine Beach, Chief Marketing Officer at Golfbreaks commented: “Great to meet tourist boards and get deeper into conversations for 2023 – also good for our team too – IGTM gives them an invaluable networking opportunity and we’re all looking forward to returning next year.”
Cynthia Ontiveros, Special Segments Manager, Los Cabos Tourism Board commented: “This has been a great show for us, as we continue to grow our international golf offering, with a focus on clients from Switzerland, Sweden and the UK. We have built many new contacts this week as well as reconnecting with established ones.”
Kheyraddin Jabbarov, Director of Golf, Quba Palace Hotel, Quba/Azerbaijan commented: “Being an emerging golf destination with two new golf offerings, this event has been crucial to meet new faces, create relationships and do business to bring the international markets to Azerbaijan.”
Patrick Mccaghy, Group Managing Director, Golf Travel Group commented: “This IGTM has been noticeably the biggest event so far, with so much diversity in the product showcased. This event is vital for us to build relationships and share recommendations with our clients.”
Hosting this year, Alessandro Onorato, councillor for Major Events, Sport, Tourism and Fashion of Roma Capitale commented: “We are glad that the most important gathering of the golf travel industry took place in Rome just a few months before the Ryder Cup.”
In a statement released today, David Todd, Event Manager of IGTM, announced the 2023 destination for IGTM at a handover to the host: “After the biggest IGTM to date this week, we’re looking forward to spending not one, but two years of IGTM in Lisbon in 2023 and 2024. This will be the first time our attendees will be able to get to know the venue and its surroundings next year and then think ahead to also plan their own extended networking events for 2024 and maximise the number of business opportunities IGTM offers.”
Hosts of the 2023 and 2024 editions, Paula Oliveira, Executive Director, Turismo de Lisboa Visitors & Convention Bureau concluded: “It is with great pleasure that we welcome participants to the next IGTM in Lisboa. We are honoured with the trust placed in Lisboa for the organisation of this important event, an excellent promotion opportunity for the City and Region. Welcome to Lisbon!”
More details about IGTM Lisbon 17-19 October 2023 will be made available via the event’s website and all social media channels over the coming months.