Business & Finance

Speakers Set for KPMG's Seventh Annual Golf Business Forum at Belek, Turkey, May 12-14, 2010

This Year’s Theme: ‘Rethink, Redesign, Reposition the Global Golf Industry’

BUDAPEST, Hungary – March 2, 2010 - KPMG today announced a world-class line-up of speakers for its seventh annual Golf Business Forum at Belek, Turkey, one of golf’s hottest new destinations and a country set for significant new resort and real estate development.

Under this year’s theme of ‘Rethink, Redesign, Reposition the global golf industry’, delegates and influential business leaders from in and outside of golf will be joined by former World Number One golfer, entrepreneur and course designer Greg Norman, plus Annika Sorenstam, one of the greatest professional golfers of all time and herself an emerging entrepreneur.

Mario Natarelli, CEO of FutureBrand, the global branding consultancy, will speak on how to successfully position and market golf developments, keeping the brand ahead of the competition.

Giovanni Gregoratti, Director of Citi Real Estate & Lodging Group, will offer insight into the banking industry’s appetite for golf-related developments, and give his recommendations on the appropriate project preparation and background work needed before developers approach organisations like Citibank.

They will be joined by over 35 leading golf industry professionals and Turkish developers at The Gloria Resorts, May 12-14, 2010, including:

  • Alexandra Armas, Executive Director, Ladies European Tour
  • Hasan Besneli, Chairman of The Board, Belek Golf Club
  • Tenniel Chu, Executive Director, Mission Hills Golf Club
  • Peter Harradine, Principle and Senior Architect, Harradine Golf
  • Achilles V. Constantakopoulos, Managing Director, Temes S.A.
  • Haluk Kaya, Chairman of the Board, Bekay Property Partners
  • Gary Michel, CEO, Club Car
  • Steve Mona, CEO, World Golf Foundation
  • Chris White, General Manager, Aldar Golf

The two-day event will include a focus on key issues facing the industry, insights from experts on marketing a golf development along with various topical debates, all moderated by CNN International’s Justin Armsden, sports anchor and presenter of the Living Golf show.

There will also be a dedicated session discussing the excellent prospects for Turkey as an emerging golf development sector, in addition to updates on the current economic state of the industry and financing trends, and opportunities within the golf industry on a local market level.

Among the topics being tackled in Turkey are:

  • Golf & Development – global leaders tackle key issues
  • Financing – what you need to know in the post credit crunch world
  • Country focus on Turkey – one of golf’s most exciting emerging destinations
  • Golf & the Olympics – golf’s big opportunity to grow globally
  • Marketing, Positioning & Branding – learn from international experts
  • Golf & the Environment – the issue you can’t afford to ignore
  • Third Party Management versus Privately Operated Courses – what will work for you?
  • Technology versus Tradition – golf’s big hitters debate the future and the implications for golf developments
  • Ladies Golf – here come the girls, and their spending power
    Tours and Professional Sponsorships – do tournaments and players deliver value?

Andrea Sartori, head of KPMG’s specialist Golf Advisory Practice in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said: “The Golf Business Forum is the leading golf business event for the EMA region and an excellent opportunity to expand your golf business internationally, meet and network with developers and investors, or simply learn from the experts on the key issues facing the industry.”

KPMG will present Annika Sorenstam, one of the greatest professional golfers of all time and an emerging entrepreneur, with the Golf Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the seventh annual Golf Business Forum at The Goria Resort, Belek, Turkey, May 12-14, 2010. Sorenstam, who dominated the women’s game and amassed 89 tournament victories worldwide, including 10 majors and 72 LPGA wins, stepped away from tournament golf in 2008 but now has a burgeoning portfolio of golf business interests including course design, academy and online retail.

Andrea Sartori, head of KPMG’s specialist Golf Advisory Practice in EMA, said: “Annika is as skilled, committed and driven in business as she was in golf, which makes her an impressive and inspiring entrepreneur.

“As well as receiving her award in person, Annika is going to take part in a special debate about women in golf, focusing on both the challenges of developing the women’s game, but also the great opportunity that golf developments have in catering for and targeting the women’s market.”

Also, Greg Norman, widely recognised as the most successful golf professional-turned-businessman, whose golf course design practice has completed more than 70 projects on six continents in the past 20 years and whose apparel brand, Greg Norman Collection, is one of the best known in golf, will attend in person to accept the Golf Business Forum Lifetime Achievement Award.

This year’s Golf Business Forum features an array of enjoyable and entertaining events to promote a meeting of minds, including cocktail receptions and lunches, golf outings at some of the finest golf and leisure facilities in the region and a spectacular gala dinner.

For more information about the Golf Business Forum and to register, visit: www.golfbusinessforum.com

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