Leading players in the hospitality industry congregated at the newly opened Crowne Plaza Oxford, part of the Heythrop Park Resort, on Monday (October 11th) to take part in the 8th Annual Hotel Booking Agents Association (HBAA) Golf Classic.
The highly anticipated and competitive annual tournament took place on the spectacular Heythrop Park Resort Golf course designed by renowned golf course architects Mackenzie & Eberta. The course, dubbed as one of the finest new venues in the UK, is situated in the stunning Oxfordshire countryside creating the perfect setting for members and partners of the HBAA.
A key date in the diary, the Golf Classic played host to General Managers and Sales Managers from some of the UK’s leading hotels and venues as well as major hotel booking agents and representatives from the corporate world. Sponsors of prizes included the De Vere Collection, who presented the ‘Best Individual Front 9’ prize to Steve Essex and Marriott Hotels, who handed the ‘Team Winner 1st Place” prize to The Belfry team which included Ian Cross, Rene Lamarque, Curt Craig and Bashir Mohammed.
The HBAA Golf Classic provides a relaxed and fun day for networking and business discussion and has become a major talking point in the hospitality calendar. This year’s guest speaker was cricket’s Essex and England wicketkeeper James Foster, who entertained guests after the evening awards dinner which was hosted in the hotel’s stylish ballroom. The impressive new hotel has been noted for its unique cosmopolitan style complimented by a distinguished countryside setting.
Stuart Gillett, Director of Golf at Heythrop Park said “Heythrop Park Resort were very pleased that the HBAA chose its venue as the host for the 2010 HBAA Golf Classic. The Bainbridge Course celebrated its first birthday on the day of the event and the participants were rewarded with a beautiful sunny day. To have the sponsorship from the various companies helped add something different to the day and our thanks goes out to them.”
Stephen Usher, Chairman of the HBAA said “we were rewarded with a really sunny day on one of the most spectacular new openings in the UK. Once again we were able to raise money for the HBAA’s Chairmans charity, the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA).”
