GOLF PEI, the golf industry group on Canada's Prince Edward Island recognises the power of media representation and has signed a partnership agreement with the European Golf & Travel Media Association to get access to the European media.
Barry MacLeod, Chief Operating Officer of Golf PEI: "Prince Edward Island is a fabulous destination for golf with great courses and a fantastic atmosphere. It is very European with a big Irish and Scottish influence which shows in the way our courses, pubs and restaurants are presented. We are still an unknown destination in Europe but with great flight connections from every European capital city, we are as accessible as any other destination."
With connections to Charlottetown through the major airports like Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, European golfers are only one stop away from an exciting new golf destination for guys and girls looking to golf somewhere different. There are over 20 courses to choose from, all within half an hour drive from PEI's capital Charlottetown, golfers are spoilt for choice. Charlottetown, with its provincial feel, has excellent opportunities to eat and drink and the quality quality of the food, seafood being the dish of choice, freshly caught off the shores of the island is unsurpassed.
Barry MacLeod added: "Our golf courses are constantly featuring in not only Canada's but also the world's top courses and have hosted many prestigious events. Major champions like Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, John Daly, Vijay Singh and Mike Weir have all played golf on PEI. We lack exposure into the European market and feel that teaming up with the EGTMA will get us into the European media to entice golfers to come and see for themselves what we are all about."
Jo Maes, Chairman of the EGTMA: "I had the privilege recently of seeing for myself whether or not Barry was exaggerating about golf on PEI. I knew they were voted the Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year for 2011 by the IAGTO organisation and frankly, before that ... golf on PEI was very much an unknown quantity to me. I couldn't have been more surprised. The quality of the courses, the open and friendly people in the golf clubs, genuinely welcoming golfers and the atmosphere in Charlottetown with great restaurants and pubs. Golf PEI is a complete golf package for golfers who look for a new and fresh destination."
Jo Maes added: "We are obviously delighted that the Golf PEI organisation has seen the merit in associating themselves with the EGTMA. It is proof that the years of our hard work are starting to pay off. Our reputation of a genuine and solid media association has been strengthened over the years as we provide destinations with a Return on Investment report and they see that have received hundreds of thousands worth of media exposure. This is the merit of our associated journalists who all know what is required from them when accepting an invitation for a media visit and never fail to deliver."
Jo Maes: "Our main focus will be generating media exposure for PEI Golf in Europe and in order to do that we will be organising some media events on the Island in the middle of 2012 which will see many European journalists seeing for themselves how wonderful golf on PEI can be. This will automatically enhance the profile of the destination. We are very excited to be able to offer PEI as a destination to our members."
