Abu Dhabi wants visitors to go ‘Week at the Tees’
Abu Dhabi Tourism& Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) has launched a series of ‘Play, Stay and Watch’ packages to increase international attendance at next year’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, which runs January 16-19 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
The offer is based around three-, five- and seven-night products dubbed ‘Tee For Three’, ‘Five Beats Fore’ and ‘Week at the Tees’.
The packages – which include varying options for flights, on-the-ground transfers, accommodation, tee-times at the emirate’s six playing facilities – are available via TCA Abu Dhabi’s specialist one-stop ‘Golf in Abu Dhabi’ initiative.
TCA Abu Dhabi also plans to ramp up the championship package product line by rallying the emirate’s hospitality partners – including DMCs, hotels, airlines, tour operators, travel agents, golf clubs and attractions – at an inaugural ‘Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Stakeholder Briefing’ on September 11.
"At this mega summit, we will give guidance to our local partners and seek their innovation on how the industry can collectively work together to create enticing, tailored package products that leverage one of the emirate’s most popular annual sporting and lifestyle events, as well as the wider destination," said Faisal Al Sheikh, director, Events Bureau, TCA Abu Dhabi.
"We will also be looking to stakeholders to assist in promoting the event, and to activate around it by running dedicated transport facilities, theming f&b products, supporting corporate entertainment and adding to the already vibrant activities in the Championship Village."
Having attracted 61,240 fans over four days to this year’s Championship, TCA Abu Dhabi is targeting international attendance of 15% at next year’s event and has introduced a series of ‘money can’t buy’ add-ons for long-stay package products.
These include complimentary VIP group clinics at the championship with a world top 30 player for all five- or seven-night package buyers.
"The Championship is now globally-renowned for bucking expectations and next year’s event has been launched earlier than ever so local and international trade reps can push Abu Dhabi and the tournament, which offers the ultimate in up-close viewing, as the ideal leisure-meets-sports experience to see in the New Year, " added Al Sheikh.
International fans attending the championship can expect to see defending champion, Jamie Donaldson; Rory McIlroy, the world number three; Justin Rose, the reigning US Open champion and world number five; Luke Donald, the world number 11, and Abu Dhabi’s global golf ambassador, Matteo Manassero, the world number 28.
With more big names due to be unveiled in coming the months, the battle for the Championship’s coveted Falcon Trophy and US$ 2.7million prize fund – the richest purse offered on the Desert Swing, the European Tour’s trio of early-season, regional events – will kick-start a huge Ryder Cup year for global golf.
For bookings and more information on three-, five- and seven-night ‘Golf in Abu Dhabi’ packages, visit www.golfinabudhabi.com
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026