2010 Ryder Cup host achieves significant leisure-visitor increase; forecasts additional gains
(NEWPORT, Wales) – The Celtic Manor Resort – host of golf’s 2010 Ryder Cup and premier luxury retreat less than two hours outside London – announces 2009 was a record year for leisure visitors.
The five-star resort sold more than 20,000 room nights to leisure visitors compared to 2008, bucking worldwide economic trends. It also enjoyed significant revenue increases across its golf, spa and restaurant amenities.
The massive upturn resulted from a combination of Celtic Manor’s increased international profile as host of the 2010 Ryder Cup, and a new leisure strategy to compensate for the global downturn in corporate and conference business. This year’s golf and leisure bookings also look strong.
“As evidenced by our recognition as the UK’s Top Conference Hotel three of the last four years, corporate guests have always been a key market,” says Ian Edwards, Celtic Manor’s Vice-President of Operations. “But grim forecasts for 2009 business meetings galvanized us to focus more on leisure travelers and improving our appeal to families.
“The strategy included offering different packages to attract a range of guests, such as groups of golfers and families. This has brought our overall room occupancy up to record levels, while the golf courses, bars and restaurants have never been busier.”
Rounds on its flagship Twenty Ten Course by visiting golfers almost doubled from 2008, and 81 percent of all available visitor tee times were booked. Corporate and individual memberships for the Twenty Ten Club have steadily grown as people join to receive Ryder Cup season tickets. This membership benefit expires in March.
2009 also saw:
* An additional 22,000 rounds played on the three championship golf courses
* Golf visitor green fee income up by 58 percent
* Forty-five percent increase in overseas visitors
* Overall room occupancy up by eight percent, despite the downturn in conference business
* Bar and restaurant revenue up by 26 percent to record levels
* Spa revenue elevated by 18 percent
Golf and leisure facilities at Celtic Manor include luxury spas, kids’ club and crèche, tennis courts, mountain biking and walking trails, not to mention the choice of five different restaurants. A new family games room and the appointment of a guest activities manager highlight the 2009 emphasis on leisure offerings, when special offers included three nights for the price of two during the school holidays.
Plans for 2010 include the improvement of guest suites and many public areas in the Resort Hotel to ready for the Ryder Cup. Flat screen TVs will be installed in every bedroom and the Olive Tree restaurant and Rooftop Garden barbecue terrace will both be expanded.
“We expect to welcome even more visitors in 2010 as the Ryder Cup draws ever closer,” added Mr. Edwards. “This is a very exciting time for the resort and it’s great going into this landmark year with 2009’s momentum.”
About Celtic Manor Resort
Located less than two hours outside London, Celtic Manor Resort (www.celtic-manor.com, 44 (0) 1633 413 000) will host golf’s 2010 Ryder Cup and is the UK’s foremost luxury retreat. Featuring 1,400-plus acres of panoramic parkland and wooded hills, it is recognized as the “Gateway to Wales.”
A popular destination among business and leisure travelers, golf-tour operators and corporate incentive agents, five-star Celtic Manor offers myriad amenities. These include three championship golf courses (the Twenty Ten, Roman Road and Montgomerie), two lavish hotels (the majestic, 330-room Resort Hotel and historic, 70-room Manor House), five savory restaurants, two tranquil spas and state-of-the-art health clubs, a golf academy and miles of hiking trails. A convention center, exhibition hall, array of well-appointed suites, meeting rooms and large ballrooms are also available to host groups up to 1,500 for conferences, weddings and other special events.
Celtic Manor is privately owned by founder Sir Terry Matthews, the Ottawa, Canada-based telecommunications entrepreneur who was born on the Celtic Manor site when the original Manor House was a maternity hospital.
Getting There: Celtic Manor is 45 minutes from Bristol International Airport (BRS) and Cardiff International Airport (CWL). Daily, non-stop flights are available from Newark, New Jersey (EWR) to Bristol on Continental; and daily, one-stop flights are from New York (JFK) to Cardiff on KLM via Amsterdam. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is a two-hour shuttle, with rail service from Paddington Station (London) to Newport, Wales also available.
Contact:
Stephen Reynolds
Buffalo Communications
703.891.3509
sreynolds@buffalocommunications.com
www.buffalocommunications.com
www.twitter.com/buffalocomm
David Wood
Buffalo Communications
703.635.0577
dwood@buffalocommunications.com
