This annual conference was originally scheduled for June 2020. It was then moved to September 2021 and ultimately got going in June 2022. Our host city, Reno Nevada, did what many of the great travel suppliers have been doing over these past 2 crazy years - they accommodated all the changes to help us finally get to what was for many of the suppliers their first face to face meetings in over two and a half years. Old friends met again, new friends were made and for 3 days we immersed ourselves in all things golf travel - it was great to have it back!
  | June saw Golf Away Tours at what is usually the Annual IAGTO NAC. Taking place in Reno, this was a 2-year delayed event that saw many of the top Tour Operators and suppliers from North America, and quite frankly from around the world, descend on Reno for a reunion after over 2 long years! NAC is the perfect place to meet key suppliers, get updates on all the latest developments / opportunities / upgrades / news from top resorts, and discuss issues that are impacting golf travel throughout North America, and the world. Peter Walton, Chief Executive, IAGTO summarized this amazing week well so we thought we would share it with you. |
“40 tour operators arrived a few days earlier to experience the golf, culture and scenery of Reno-Tahoe and, separately, Las Vegas. NAC itself kicked off with the Golf Tournament at the magnificent Tahoe Mountain Club where delegates played Gray's Crossing and Old Greenwood, just three weeks ahead of the Barracuda Championship, a PGA Tour Event.
All 186 delegates stayed at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino, part of The ROW complex with its three hotels, multiple themed restaurants, bars and outlets as well as of course the casino floors. The Welcome Reception set the tone for the event with everyone starting off in the Rum Bullions bar, next to the magnificent multi-story recreation of a working silver-mine under the resort's sky dome. From there we drifted into one of the best indoor TopGolf suites where we stayed until the early hours, and where the temporal distance of three years apart quickly dissipated.
The Reno Ballroom was the perfect meeting place and after the two-year postponement everyone quickly got back into their stride. The Opening Address included a journey through the pandemic from an IAGTO perspective along with presentations from Reno-Tahoe and event sponsors Sweet Home Alabama, NBC Sports Next, Andalucia & Costa del Sol, Minor Hotels, Golf Ireland, Golf Safe Insurance and European Tour Destinations.
20-minute appointments along with optional extra meeting time at the beginning and end of the day, allowed us to introduce the concept of 'IAGTO Bingo' in this gambling town, which led to a wealth of additional meetings and introductions whereby every supplier got to have quality time with virtually every participating buyer.
There were many first-timers along with guest buyers which led to one of the most positive responses from the 90 suppliers who attended this more boutique-style event.
Everything was close at hand throughout the three days - we could walk to the eponymously newly named Carlton Bar on the 2nd night and while the Farewell Party at the Peppermill Reno was only a 10-minute drive away, it demonstrated a completely different environment for the most splendid of final night events.
Then it was done, and we returned to our 25 different countries, thankful to our amazing hosts in Reno-Tahoe who had not only shown incredible patience and flexibility over the past three years, but who were ever-present throughout the event and were as emotionally involved with the Return of the NAC as those of us for whom this event has become an integral part of our annual golf travel business.”
All 186 delegates stayed at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino, part of The ROW complex with its three hotels, multiple themed restaurants, bars and outlets as well as of course the casino floors. The Welcome Reception set the tone for the event with everyone starting off in the Rum Bullions bar, next to the magnificent multi-story recreation of a working silver-mine under the resort's sky dome. From there we drifted into one of the best indoor TopGolf suites where we stayed until the early hours, and where the temporal distance of three years apart quickly dissipated.
The Reno Ballroom was the perfect meeting place and after the two-year postponement everyone quickly got back into their stride. The Opening Address included a journey through the pandemic from an IAGTO perspective along with presentations from Reno-Tahoe and event sponsors Sweet Home Alabama, NBC Sports Next, Andalucia & Costa del Sol, Minor Hotels, Golf Ireland, Golf Safe Insurance and European Tour Destinations.
20-minute appointments along with optional extra meeting time at the beginning and end of the day, allowed us to introduce the concept of 'IAGTO Bingo' in this gambling town, which led to a wealth of additional meetings and introductions whereby every supplier got to have quality time with virtually every participating buyer.
There were many first-timers along with guest buyers which led to one of the most positive responses from the 90 suppliers who attended this more boutique-style event.
Everything was close at hand throughout the three days - we could walk to the eponymously newly named Carlton Bar on the 2nd night and while the Farewell Party at the Peppermill Reno was only a 10-minute drive away, it demonstrated a completely different environment for the most splendid of final night events.
Then it was done, and we returned to our 25 different countries, thankful to our amazing hosts in Reno-Tahoe who had not only shown incredible patience and flexibility over the past three years, but who were ever-present throughout the event and were as emotionally involved with the Return of the NAC as those of us for whom this event has become an integral part of our annual golf travel business.”
Golf Away Tours came back with new insights and options for winter getaways to not only the Dominican Republic (a client favourite) but also new opportunities in Mexico, Jamaica and the southern US.
 | We reconnected with our partners in Ireland who were in attendance and saw some of the amazing upgrades that we made over the course of the pandemic – the golf and accommodations are even better than ever, and the hospitality will remain second to none! |
Perennial favourites of not only our clients but also the Golf Away Team, Portugal and Spain, showed off their upgrades and we are equally impressed with them as we were with Ireland – the investments in properties over the pandemic is, quite frankly, phenomenal and golf travelers from around the world will benefit for this strategic investment from our partners with an even stronger product than they experienced pre-pandemic.
Overall, the mood amongst suppliers and agents was upbeat and positive. Business is booming, people are wanting to travel and the single biggest issue we are all facing (other than the short-term airline capacity issues) is available. EVERYTHING is booking up so fast that inventory is scarce and the commitment we were all making to each other was to keep those lines of communication open so we can all take advantage of every opportunity we have to meet all your travel needs.
After an amazing NAC conference, we are looking forward to our next conference in Ireland this fall as well as events in Scotland and Spain over the winter to ensure we are always on top of all the great destinations and trends so we can help you knock of your bucket list trip as We Take You Around The World, To Play The Game You Love!
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