Following a recent Talks from the Tour* session discussing the Golf Hotel Resort Market, presented to European Tour Destinations network venues by Andrew Renouf, we caught up with the highly-regarded hospitality consultant to get a ‘boots on the ground’ perspective to the key golf travel trends for 2026 from the UK’s leading tour operators.
Here’s Andrew’s take…
On Spain continuing to reign supreme in Europe
“This is easy to understand. Spain – particularly the Andalucia region and the Balearics – have very strong golf profiles. Many courses are very well known and easy to get to, thanks to direct flights from most major airports.
“With many of the budget carriers flying to Spain too, these destinations remain the benchmark for affordability and ease of travel.
“Beyond the fairways, the infrastructure in Spain is excellent with a vast range of accommodation on offer, ranging from low-cost stays to high-end villas, as well as year-round good weather which makes it very attractive to northern Europeans.
“Arguably the most significant draw is that they cater extremely well to the ‘non-golfer’. If you are traveling as a couple, a family or a mixed group, Spain offers a complete lifestyle package that newer markets are still struggling to replicate.”
On long-haul travel booming at the luxury end of the market
“The trend in global travel is definitely pivoting towards long-haul, experiential holidays, those bucket-list trips where golf is one element of an itinerary that includes a greater number of experiences.
“These types of trips are increasingly being bundled with city breaks, cultural immersion, even outdoor adventure activities.
“People are prepared to pay a lot of money and travel a long way for the right experiences.
“Golf resorts that offer a wide range of activities and are themselves a gateway to wider experiences are the ones capturing this high-spend demographic.”
Women’s groups is the fastest growing demographic
“While the tour operators see the booking data first-hand, the growth in women’s groups is a logical progression of the broader investment we’ve seen in the women’s game recently.
“It is a significant growth lever for those resorts that can provide the right social and hosted environments.”
On booking windows
“From a hospitality perspective, I’d say it’s a bifurcated market.
“For the ‘trip of a lifetime’ at high-end resorts, I’d agree that the lead times have stretched, because guests want to secure specific destinations, room types, tee times and experiences.
“However, there is still very much an element of people booking last-minute travel, especially for shorter breaks, driven by busy professional schedules and a desire for tactical discounts.
“In my view, the top-tier resorts will likely use long-term bookings to build their ‘floor’ occupancy, while relying on last-minute and short-term bookings to fill the remaining gaps.”
Ready to adapt your 2026 strategy?
If you’re looking to capitalise on the rise of aspirational travel or the female golf traveller, we can help.
Get in touch: Ian Knox
*Talks from the Tour are regular webinars with industry leaders and experts from the European Tour Group, available exclusively for European Tour Destinations network venues.
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