May 26, 2025 – Gran Canaria’s towering Faro de Maspalomas lighthouse formed the stunning backdrop to the 25th Awards ceremony staged by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators in front of more than 800 IAGTO members.
The honours were led by Gran Canaria and the Costa del Sol, with golf resorts, golf courses, hotels and destination management companies in England, France, Turkey, Italy, Portugal, Ireland and Spain’s Mallorca and Sotogrande also recognised.
Gran Canaria was honoured for its Outstanding Contribution to Golf Tourism for hosting the third IAGTO European Convention (IEC) and for facilitating the largest and most productive gathering of IAGTO members to date.
Costa del Sol in Spain’s autonomous Andalucia region was voted Golf Destination of the Year by IAGTO’s golf tour operators, who are responsible for more than 90% of international golf vacation packages sold worldwide.
The IAGTO Awards ceremony was the climax of an open-air gala dinner for IEC delegates in the impressive setting of the Plaza del Faro Maspalomas and followed a dazzling audio-visual light show beamed onto the 56-metre-tall lighthouse.
Presenting the Awards, IAGTO’s Chief Executive, Peter Walton, said: “For 25 years we have been platforming those destinations, golf resorts, golf courses, hotels and golf tourism suppliers that have delivered the best experience for visiting golf travellers over the past 12 months, as voted for by the world’s leading golf tour operators.
“We only issue a handful of Awards each year, which lends added weight to the value of this accolade for all recipients.”
The winners for the European section of the IAGTO Awards are:
Golf Destination of the Year
- COSTA DEL SOL
Golf Resorts of the Year
- ARABELLA GOLF RESORT MALLORCA, SPAIN
- CARDEN PARK, ENGLAND
- EVIAN RESORT, FRANCE
- SO/SOTOGRANDE SPA & GOLF RESORT HOTEL, SPAIN
Golf Course of the Year
- CULLINAN LINKS GOLF CLUB, TURKEY
DMCs (Destination Management Companies) of the Year
- GOLF AROUND ITALY, ITALY
- INGOLF TOUR OPERATOR, PORTUGAL
Hotel of the Year
- THE KILLARNEY PARK, IRELAND
Outstanding Contribution to Golf Tourism
- GRAN CANARIA
- SALOBRE HOTEL RESORT & SERENITY
- SALOBRE GOLF
- LOPESAN HOTELS GRAN CANARIA
- MELONERAS GOLF BY LOPESAN
- ANFI GOLF BY LOPESAN
- MASPALOMAS GOLF
- REAL CLUB DE GOLF DE LAS PALMAS
Agustin Manrique, President of the Gran Canaria Golf Association, said: “We set bold goals. We work together – public and private sectors – to become a benchmark in the tourism industry and we’ve always aimed to be one of the top golf destinations in Europe. We do it to make visitors happy. To surprise them. To make sure they never forget us. And we do it all with love and deep commitment to our island, our landscapes, our people and our future.”
From Costa del Sol, Francisco Salado, President of Málaga Provincial Council, said: “This recognition is a great honour for the Costa del Sol and reflects the commitment and dedication of everyone who works to deliver an exceptional experience to golfers from around the world. We are proud to be a leading golf destination and remain committed to continuous improvement and innovation in order to maintain our position as one of the top golf destinations in Europe. We would also like to thank all the golfers, professionals, and organisations who have contributed to our success.
This award is a testament to the passion and hard work of our community to provide an unforgettable golf experience.”
Bernat Llobera, Director of Golf of Arabella Golf Resort Mallorca, said: “We are deeply honoured to be recognised by IAGTO and its global network of golf tour operators. This award is a testament to the hard work of our entire team and our unwavering commitment to excellence across all aspects of the guest journey. At Arabella Golf Resort Mallorca, we take great pride in being Your Mediterranean Home for Golf — a destination where championship golf, luxury hospitality and unforgettable experiences come together in one exceptional location.”
Stéphane Menou, General Manager of SO/ Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort Hotel, said: “We’re honoured that SO/ Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort Hotel has been recognised by IAGTO’s global network of golf tour operators as one of Europe’s Top Golf Resorts for 2025. This award reflects the outstanding service delivered by our team and the distinct lifestyle Sotogrande offers, where world-class golf, wellness and understated luxury unite. Our resort not only boasts superb golf facilities, but also offers bespoke golf packages with access to iconic courses including Real Club Valderrama, Real Club Sotogrande, and La Reserva Club – a dream for any golfer.”
