This year’s Irish Open Golf Championship at Adare Manor in Co. Limerick is expected to generate an estimated €15 million in revenue for the local economy in Limerick and the surrounding area. To maximise the visitor appeal of the event Shannon Development has launched a major tourism marketing campaign and has announced its sponsorship of the prestigious Irish Open for a second year. The Company has put in place a number of key marketing initiatives as part of its support for this major golf tournament which takes place at Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort from 15th to 18th May ’08.
“Golf tourism is important for Ireland and is worth €151 million annually in revenue to the economy. Last year golf tourism attracted over 170,000 overseas visitors to Ireland. These golfers stayed in local accommodation, dined in local restaurants, and used a range of local services,” said Mr Kevin Thompstone, Chief Executive, Shannon Development.
“The Irish Open Golf Championship is a hugely important event as it gives Shannon Development the opportunity to showcase the Shannon Region to key business and tourism influencers in our role of promoting this Region as a superb location in which to live, work, learn and enjoy leisure time. As part of the TV coverage for the event images of the Region will be beamed to over 100 million homes in 30 countries worldwide and this will attract not only golf tourists, but a broad range of overseas visitors,” he said
“Tom and Judy Kane are to be congratulated for securing this prestigious event for the Region. As the Shannon Region Tourism Authority, Shannon Development will do everything in its power to ensure that the event is a success, and we will use Irish Open in national and overseas marketing campaigns to help promote the Region as a wonderful golf and holiday destination,” he added.
Welcoming Shannon Development as an Irish Open sponsor, Mr. Tom Kane, Managing Partner, Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort, said “We are delighted to once again have Shannon Development onboard as an Official Sponsor. Having the backing and commitment of the local tourism authority is wonderful. In addition to their sponsorship, the Company’s tourism marketing team are working closely with our team here at Adare Manor to ensure that the event surpasses all expectations”.
Shannon Development has put a full marketing team behind promoting the event which it believes will generate additional visitor numbers to the Shannon Region. The Company has devised a full promotional campaign backed with advertising. The event is been heavily branded with the Shannon Region tourism message.
“It is a major attractor for visitors to come to the Region and it is estimated that up to 60,000 spectators will attend the Irish Open. It provides an ideal opportunity to highlight the greater Limerick area as a visitor destination in its own right, and to position the Shannon Region as one of the top golfing locations in Ireland. With 25 superb courses around the Region it is no wonder that one in four of all overseas golfers who come to Ireland choose to play a round of golf in the Shannon Region,” says Mr. John King, Heritage and Tourism Director, Shannon Development.
Nandi O’Sullivan
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