Ryder Cup venue winner at Sport Industry Awards 2011
(NEWPORT, Wales) — The Celtic Manor Resort – host of golf’s 2010 Ryder Cup and premier luxury retreat less than two hours outside London – announces it was named Sport Venue of the Year at the Sport Industry Awards 2011.
The award caps a fantastic year for the five-star Resort, which was hailed as hosting the “greatest ever” Ryder Cup last October. The Sport Industry Awards are Europe’s largest and most prestigious commercial sports awards and Celtic Manor won the award after a judging process involving more than 60 key industry figures and 50 hours of intensive scrutiny. Celtic Manor beat competition from The O2 and Ascot Racecourse to win the award, while it was also shortlisted for “Best Use of PR in a Sport Campaign” on what proved to be a memorable evening for the Resort.
Celtic Manor’s Marketing and Commercial Director, Gareth Rees Jones, and PR Manager, Paul Williams were on hand to collect the award, which was presented by Olympic Gold Medalist, James Cracknell and TV presenter, Charlotte Jackson. The award recognizes the venue that offered the most flexible, creative and meticulous approach to hosting events and serving the needs of its visitors in 2010.
Commenting on the win, Gareth Rees Jones said: “The whole team at Celtic Manor is delighted to have won this prestigious award. We’ve had a very memorable year with the 2010 Ryder Cup proving a successful climax to more than a decade of hard work from everyone involved in the Resort.
“The Ryder Cup effect continues to have a very positive impact on our business and we look forward to hosting more exciting events including the upcoming Saab Golf Week and Elemis Polo at the Manor.
“This award further highlights the caliber of our venue and the facilities it has to offer visitors coming for golf, family holidays, leisure breaks, corporate events and weddings.”
The latest recognition tops a remarkable 12 months for Celtic Manor, which is shaping up to host Saab Golf Week from May 30 to June 5. It was crowned Europe’s ‘Golf Resort of the Year 2011’ by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO), the UK’s Top Conference Hotel for the fourth year running and the UK’s Best Hotel at the Meetings & Incentive Travel awards 2011.
For more information: www.celtic-manor.com; 866.789.5779 (U.S.) / 877.354.2003 (Canada).
About Celtic Manor Resort
Located less than two hours outside London, Celtic Manor Resort (www.celtic-manor.com) hosted 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), charming country inn (Newbridge on Usk), six 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). London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is a two-hour drive, 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
