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From September 7, the critically-acclaimed Stadium Course, three-time Spanish Open venue and multiple DP World Tour event host, will reopen having completed its sustainability-focused upgrades, which includes changing the grass types on its fairways to Bermuda Celebration and Paspalum, matching the premier playing surface at the prestigious Augusta National, USA. This upgrade will ensure consistent, high-quality playing conditions that meet the expectations of elite and discerning golfers from around the globe and further augment visitors’ experience at the world-class resort located 20 minutes from Girona. “Since our opening 25 years ago, our mission has been to continuously refine and elevate our offerings to uphold our reputation as a World Top 20 Golf Resort,” said David Plana, CEO of Camiral Golf & Wellness. “The latest investments in our facilities and technology – including a new Trackman Range and architect-designed professional shop – are a testament to our long-term commitment to being a leading international golf and wellness destination.” In addition to the Stadium Course upgrades, the 36-hole European Tour Destination has invested in a new fleet of 110 Club Car Tempo vehicles and premium Ticad Trollies to provide top-tier mobility and comfort on the course. Flavio Papa, Director of Golf at Camiral Golf & Wellness, commented, “We are committed to providing an exceptional golfing environment that combines luxury, comfort, and world-class conditions. Our significant investments in the Stadium Course upgrades, new Club Car fleet, Ticad Trollies, Trackman Range and renovated pro shop are all part of our holistic approach to augmenting the golf customer experience. “The Tour course will also benefit from the same turf upgrades, ensuring these long-term enhancements will not only elevate the quality of play on both our championship golf courses, but also guarantee our guests continue to have access to the best equipment, technology and facilities available.” *Golf World, Top 100 Continental Europe Resorts rankings (2023)

Hardy Cubasch, Group Consumer Director for DP World Tour & Ryder Cup, explains how businesses should strike alliances that are built on a shared purpose, which hold common values and a commitment to achieving collective goals to truly make those partnerships successful. “Traditional transactional relationships are a thing of the past,” said Hardy. “These days, partners are seeking properties whose visions and values align with their own, where the alliance would go beyond a basic ‘sponsorship’.” He believes organisations, in this case golf destinations, need to view their brand partners as strategic allies whose mutual commitment is to enhance customer, member and guest experiences, foster brand loyalty, and promote social impact. “The clearer the USP and value proposition, the better the understanding of what makes a venue appealing to a brand,” he said. “Is it the fact that it’s an exclusive private members’ club, that attracts very affluent customers, and is ranked among the world’s best golf resorts, for example. Being clear on what you have to offer is key. “On the flip side, venues must understand what a prospective partner brand is trying to get from the alliance to ensure both parties can extract value. “Venues need to understand what sort of businesses they are approaching, what their products or services are, who their target audiences are, and what they can offer that is unique, more personalised or bespoke, and be able to communicate how they are best placed to fulfil this proposition.” Hardy points out how certain clubs might have a sought-after, affluent customer base or a ‘hard to reach’ member pool that a lot of brands, and in particular premium ones, will want to get in front of. However, as a venue, there is a responsibility to protect this coveted audience. “Brands you work with should be well aware that the more personalised their approach, the more responsive the membership will be because they are being made to feel special, what they are being communicated is more bespoke than they see the brand doing elsewhere, that they feel they are part of a select few.” he continued. “Brands that do it right, are ones that really shape the messaging or go the extra mile to do something unique for that specific audience that isn’t being done elsewhere. These types of approaches can generate high levels of engagement, which in turn lead to brand affinity, loyalty and depending on the activity, social impact. “Therefore, the better understanding you have of your membership, their preferences, what their habits or lifestyles are, the more personalised and impactful experiences brand partnerships can provide, deepening the relationship between all parties, and ultimately creating profitable and meaningful partnerships for the destination.” Once venues have struck an alliance with one or two recognisable ‘anchor’ partners, Hardy describes how he’s seen this draw in other similar brands or industry sectors whose values, principles or philosophies align. “Brands tend to be more open when they see organisations with successful existing partnerships. It’s also much easier to

This eagerly awaited initiative represents a significant advancement in the way Constance Hotels & Resorts enhances guest experiences across all its hotels in Seychelles, Maldives, Mauritius, Rodrigues, and Madagascar. Jean-Jacques Vallet, CEO of Constance Hospitality Management, shared his enthusiasm for this new venture: “The introduction of Echo Privilege Club is a proud moment for us, marking the fruition of two years of meticulous planning and dedication. This program is a testament to our commitment to providing exceptional and sustainable luxury experiences.” Echo Privilege Club is more than a loyalty program; it’s a journey of rediscovery and enchantment. Named ‘Echo’ to reflect the lasting impressions of our guests’ experiences and our commitment to ecological sustainability, the program ensures that the memories made at Constance Hotels & Resorts resonate long after their stay. Echo Privilege Club is structured around four tiers, each offering a progressively enhanced level of service and recognition. This tiered system is designed to acknowledge and reward the loyalty of our guests, providing them with an array of exclusive benefits and personalized experiences that cater to their individual preferences and needs. The program is tailored to create memorable experiences for our guests. By understanding their preferences and habits, we can offer a stay that is not just personalized but also deeply rewarding. At Constance Hotels & Resorts, we are dedicated to creating memorable experiences for our guests. Echo Privilege Club is designed to enhance these experiences, ensuring that returning guests are greeted with the same warmth and exceptional service they have come to expect, while continually offering new and exciting opportunities. In line with our ethos of luxury in harmony with nature, Echo Privilege Club is deeply rooted in sustainability. Our extensive initiatives, such as mangrove conservation, turtle breeding, coral reef preservation, tree planting, and desalination, are a core part of the program, inviting guests to participate in our efforts to protect and nurture the environment. These initiatives highlight our commitment to sustainability and our unique approach to luxury hospitality. Echo Privilege Club is a significant addition to the luxury hospitality landscape in the Indian Ocean, reinforcing Constance Hotels & Resorts’ position as a pioneer in offering unique, sustainable luxury experiences.

“Having our sport represented at the Olympics is a great platform for the game, not only from a visibility perspective but also one of legacy that can inspire the next generations,” he said. “Everyone involved in the golf industry should be looking to build on the positive image these Games will help shine on our beloved sport, where the players are competing for pride and for country, not for pots of cash, where golf is portrayed as an athletic sport that will now be a permanent Olympic discipline, and where its environmentally-friendly and sustainable assets can be showcased globally.” Paul explains how, from a fan base, Paris 2024 is benefitting from the inclusion of golf in the Games portfolio, but also how they are exposing golf to a larger number of people, many of whom might be finding out about the sport for the first time. He said: “Golf is among the top 10 most followed sports in the world, with an estimated 450 million fans. So, the Olympics are benefitting from a very unique and loyal following. “However, if I look at who has bought tickets to come to Le Golf National, it’s a much younger crowd than what we’d usually see at Tour events and there’s a much greater female representation. I would also say a large proportion are non-golfers who have taken advantage of the reasonably priced tickets of our events. “A lot of people will also be watching Paris 2024 on TV, so, seeing the lush green scenery, blue skies and undulating fairways of Le Golf National might make them think ‘Wow, what a beautiful and peaceful environment’ – hopefully feeling a draw to try out a sport that is played in such natural surroundings.” This, Paul believes is a huge advantage golf has over other disciplines. “Golf is not just a sport; it is a sport intrinsically linked to tourism – an aspect I don’t think we capitalise on enough as industry experts,” he said. “Golf is about being outdoors, discovering new destinations and playing different courses – something sports like tennis, football or basketball can’t offer, in so much as playing a clay court at Roland Garros, is a similar experience to playing a clay court in Marseille, Spain or even New York. “Whereas in golf, every course is different. They’re set in different environments, in different climates, providing very different experiences – and that is what I believe, a golf destination should capitalise on and promote.” An important outcome post-Olympics will be how golf courses, resorts and destinations will build on the legacy of golf’s reintroduction into the Games after a one-hundred-year absence. “Some of the most successful golfing facilities are the ones that actively seek out the next client. Being passive and waiting for customers to come to you is a thing of the past,” added Paul. “Golf’s in competition with many sports and activities that take much less time, and are sometimes far more accessible or easier to pick up as



The Hero Dubai Desert Classic (HDDC) has become GEO Certified® for the second consecutive year, highlighting the event’s dedication to environmental responsibility and position as a leader in sustainable golf events. The HDDC has announced GEO certification to mark World Environment Day, as countries, organisations and individuals come together in the effort to protect and restore the Earth. GEO Certified®, the widely regarded, credible distinction for responsible golf events is overseen by the international non-profit organisation GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf, dedicated to support and recognition for sustainability and climate action in golf.  Criteria cover aspects of event staging as well as awareness-raising efforts and lasting legacies, with continual improvement points for future events an integral part of the process. This year’s consecutive second accreditation has been awarded following continued and increased efforts to minimise the environmental impact of this prestigious European tour event and oldest golf tournament in the Middle East. Key initiatives include the wide use of solar power, extensive recycling to limit landfill waste, the 100% use of B20 biodiesel throughout the event, a park and plant initiative and reduced use paper through digital only tickets and daily magazines. Reflecting on the achievement, Simon Corkill, Executive Tournament Director of Hero Dubai Desert Classic said, “This second successive GEO certification is a milestone moment for the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Having become the first event in the Middle East and in the DP World Tour’s Rolex Series to have earned this prestigious status, this latest certification emphasises our long-term commitment to create a sustainable golf event. We are delighted that the Hero Dubai Desert Classic is playing a part in Dubai’s wider ambitions of building a greener city for generations to come.” Many of the sustainability practices from the 35th edition of the HDDC will continue into 2025 alongside new innovations, underscoring the tournament’s commitment to sustainability and climate action. Key achievements from recent events also include: 80% of the area between the 11th and 15th holes powered by solar panels and wide use of solar power in the Media Centre Park and Plant – charge for parking on site funded the planting of three trees per car Achieving a remarkable milestone, the event diverted 100% of waste from landfills (up from 53% the previous year). Dulsco’s effective waste streams resulted in 25% of materials being recycled or composted. 5 tonnes of glass recycled – enough energy to power a laptop for 312 days Emirates Flights Catering sourced salad greens from Dubai’s largest vertical farm, promoting sustainable food choices. Free water refill points have helped divert 120,000 single-use plastic bottles from landfill since 2022 High-quality filtered water dispensers provided by Liquid of Life and Al Laith minimised single-use plastic 100% B20 biodiesel used throughout the event, supporting Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050 target of using 75% clean energy World’s finest golfers transported by an expanded fleet of BMW electric vehicles Credibly offset unavoidable emissions via the Rolex Series portfolio with the Gold Standard, supporting the Central Mozambique safe

The inaugural Costa Navarino Legends Tour Trophy line-up included Major champions Paul Lawrie and Michael Campbell and featured 60 players from 19 countries. A number of low-scoring performances including the course record being broken on both tournament courses – The Bay Course and the International Olympic Academy Golf Course – were among the tournament’s highlights. America’s Clark Dennis started the final day of the 54-hole tournament one stroke behind the leader, Sweden’s Mickael Lundberg, but an impressive back nine which included six birdies helped him to a third successive 66 and a final score of 17-under-par to win the title by four shots from Australian Scott Hend. Lundberg eventually finished third alongside James Kingston from South Africa, England’s Greg Owen and Adilson da Silva from Brazil. Dennis, who registered only one dropped shot all week and was a mark of consistency at Costa Navarino, said: “It feels great, we have had a great time this week. It’s probably the best venue the Legends Tour’s been to since I’ve been on the Tour, and that’s eight years now. It’s been amazing having my wife Vickie here and my youngest son Philip on the bag. It’s a third victory for him as a caddie, so we’ve just had a great time. It’s indescribable, you know, at our age we don’t know how many of these we’re going to have left and to have them with me, it’s been amazing.” Michael Campbell, who won the US Open in 2005, said: “It’s just great here. The destination and the facilities are fantastic, and you look around and you just can’t beat the beautiful views.” Peter Baker, the 2023 MCB Road to Mauritius winner, added: “What a stunning place. This is the first time I’ve been to Greece so it’s nice to come here. The people are really nice and the courses are in great condition.” Located in Messinia in Greece’s southwest Peloponnese, Costa Navarino is a sustainably driven destination and has joined the European Tour Destinations network. It offers a world-class golf experience on its four 18-hole signature golf courses, with breathtaking views of the Ionian Sea, the historic Bay of Navarino and the lush Messinian nature with centuries-old olive groves. The Costa Navarino Legends Tour Trophy was played over two of the destination’s courses – The Bay Course for round one on Friday June 7 and then the International Olympic Academy Golf Course for rounds two and three on Saturday June 8 and Sunday June 9. Players and guests chose from the destination’s five-star resorts for their stay: The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort – where most of the professionals stayed – W Costa Navarino, Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino and The Westin Resort Costa Navarino. Helping to set the scene for the tournament – which will be played at the destination until 2026 – was the Costa Navarino Legends Tour Pro-Am on The Bay Course, where the field included Hollywood star Bill Murray Murray, whose hit films include Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day and Lost in