More than 300 golf tour operators from 33 countries took Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail to the Deep South city of Birmingham to attend the International Association of Golf Tour Operators’ (IAGTO) 16th annual North America Golf Tourism Convention.
Owned and operated by IAGTO, the event saw 70% of the participating golf tour operators and golf travel advisors coming from North America and Latin America, with the remainder travelling from Europe, Australia and Asia.
“It was an absolute pleasure to welcome IAGTO and its global members to Birmingham,” said Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau’s President & CEO, Dan Williams. “It was such a fun and energizing week, and we were proud to showcase our city, our golf and our Southern hospitality.
“We hope everyone enjoyed their time here as much as we enjoyed hosting them, and we look forward to welcoming all of our new friends back to Birmingham soon.”
IAGTO Chief Executive Peter Walton commented: “Birmingham was the perfect venue for the NAC because it lies at the heart of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, which spans the state of Alabama with some 22 amazing golf courses.
“We were also able to showcase much of the state from Mobile in the south to Huntsville and Muscle Shoals in the north on pre- and post-convention trips for dozens of tour operators – many of whom had never previously visited Alabama.
“But the city of Birmingham delivered everything that we could have asked of it, with great restaurants all nearby and fantastic meeting venues. We were lucky enough to stage our Welcome Reception at the Protective Stadium, an impressive, multi-sport venue, and the Farewell Dinner at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, which has to be one of the most spectacular car and motorcycle marvels of the 21st century!”
NAC included two days of meetings between the golf tourism industry’s buyers and suppliers, and two rounds of golf at RTJ Golf Trail’s Oxmoor Valley and Ross Bridge courses, both of which are just minutes from the city centre.
“We have been telling the story of golf in Sweet Home Alabama over the past few years at previous NACs, emphasizing our theme of “this is Alabama.” Now we have been able to have IAGTO members truly experience what that looks, feels, tastes and sounds like… from our great food and variety of music to our one-of-a-kind attractions and the one-and-only original golf trail of world-class RTJ golf courses. We are so proud to have hosted everyone,” beamed Kerry Teague, Golf Marketing Director of the Alabama Tourism Department.
While Birmingham is often referred to as the “Dinner Table of the South”, it also has a vibrant cultural pedigree and live music was scheduled throughout the event. The stand-out moment was a gospel choir performance by Allen Pruitt Jr and the Called to Worship Ensemble to launch the Opening Address. Other functions were accompanied by blues, soul, classical and rock musicians from the neighborhood.
Summing up the overall experience, Walton added: “That was the most fun we have had while also showing up for our day job and putting Birmingham, Alabama on the golf tourism map for the international market, while reinforcing its position as an unbeatable southern golf destination for the domestic market.
“The RTJ Golf Trail, many other courses and the hotel and hospitality industry in Alabama and beyond will all reap the rewards of NAC 2025 over the coming 18 months.”
About IAGTO
Established in 1997, IAGTO is the global trade organization of the golf tourism industry with over 2400 members in 93 countries including 700+ golf tour operators in 69 countries, which are responsible for more than 90% of golf vacation packages sold worldwide. IAGTO runs annual conventions in Asia, Europe and North America in addition to the prestigious IAGTO Golf Tourism Awards.
