Mission Hills Golf Club, China, affirmed by the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest golf complex, and The Celtic Manor Resort, venue for the Ryder Cup in 2010, have announced the creation of the Goodwill Trophy and Business Forum, a ground-breaking collaboration that will enhance trade, tourism and cultural exchange between the United Kingdom and China through golf.
The inaugural event will be held at Mission Hills Golf Club in November 2006 and feature a golf tournament of the highest possible standard as well as a business conference that will be attended some of the most significant business and political figures in the world.
On the course, The Goodwill Trophy will pit a team of the best players from the Ryder Cup countries, Europe and the United States, against a Rest of the World team representing China, Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America in a matchplay tournament.
Off the course, the Goodwill Business Forum will, for the first time in China, bring together leading figures from the business world in a unique environment. The Goodwill Forum will gather top executives of global commerce, heads of state and leading business thinkers to focus on the most pressing issues facing the world economy. The Forum will provide these figures with a platform to share strategies and forge alliances that will transform these challenges into opportunities.
Participation at the Goodwill Business Forum will be target at chairmen, CEOs, and presidents of major multinational corporations. A combination of the highest calibre guests, global representation, a strategically-focused programme led by the hosts and sponsors, as well as the intimate size of the meeting will ensure that the Goodwill Forum is the premier summit for senior global executives.
Mission Hills China, founded in 1994, boasts ten 18-hole courses designed by international golf stars Jack Nicklaus, Vijay Singh, Annika Sorenstam, Ernie Els, Greg Norman, Jose Marie Olazabal, Nick Faldo, David Duval, renowned golf instructor David Leadbetter and Jumbo Ozaki. Members have access to the luxurious 315-room hotel and enjoy Mission Hills’ US$400 million investment worth of facilities.
The five-star Celtic Manor Resort is set in more than 1,400 acres of panoramic parkland at the gateway to Wales. With 330 rooms from the luxury hotel and 60 more from the bedroom hotels, two health clubs, shooting and tennis facilities and the largest hotel spa in Europe, the Celtic Manor Resort provides a complete resort experience for the individual business, leisure and golf travellers. Celtic Manor Resort is the home of the Celtic Manor Wales Open, one of the premier events on the European Tour. Host venue to the 2010 Ryder Cup, the Celtic Manor Resort finds Mission Hills the perfect reciprocal partner.
Dr David Chu, Chairman of Mission Hills Group, said: “This announcement is the most significant development to result from the partnership agreement that we have signed with The Celtic Manor Resort. A clear comparison can be drawn between the rapid expansion of the Chinese economy and the growth of the game of golf across the country. We anticipate that, by developing the concept of The Goodwill Trophy and Business Forum, we can help the United Kingdom and China to grow closer economic, cultural and sporting ties”.
Sir Terry Matthews, Chairman of The Celtic Manor Resort, said: “When we signed our partnership agreement with Mission Hills, I knew we were putting ourselves in a position to develop innovative concepts that could really showcase our shared interests in international business and the game of golf. The Goodwill Trophy and Business Forum demonstrates our mutual belief that golf provides an excellent vehicle to increase international prosperity”.
In 2007 The Goodwill Trophy and Business Forum will be held at The Celtic Manor Resort with the golf event played on the newly completed course that has been specifically designed to host the Ryder Cup in 2010″
The reciprocal partnership agreement between The Celtic Manor and Mission Hills Resorts was signed in June 2005 and was designed to go beyond commercial benefit. Both organisations believe that international goodwill can be created through golf that will enhance trade, tourism and cultural exchange, and this is the core principle behind the development of The Goodwill Trophy and Business Forum.
About Mission Hills China
Founded in 1994 and just 30 minutes from the Hong Kong border, Mission Hills Golf Club, China, is the world’s largest golf club as accredited by the Guinness World RecordsT in 2004. Mission Hills China is the world’s premiere golf destination with 10-signature golf courses designed by golf legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Vijay Singh, Greg Norman and Annika Sorenstam and the exclusive home to China’s David Leadbetter Golf Academy. The resort features luxury accommodations, a spa complex, meeting and convention facilities and nine restaurants and lounges. More than 30 tournaments and events have been hosted by the facility, including The World Cup of Golf, the Mission Hills Tiger Woods China Challenge, the inaugural Dynasty Cup and numerous international competitions and several APEC International Conferences. For further information, visit www. missionhillsgroup.com.
About Celtic Manor Resort
Set in more than 1,400 acres of beautiful parkland in the Usk valley, The Celtic Manor Resort is much more than a five-star hotel. Host venue to the 2010 Ryder Cup, the resort boasts three championship golf courses, four restaurants and two health clubs, not to mention Europe’s largest hotel health spa. Its purpose built Convention Centre is already recognised as one of the top conference venues in Europe. Celtic Manor is the perfect destination for business and leisure. For further information, visit
http://www.celtic-manor.com/.
For further information regarding interviews or promotions, please call:
Mission Hills Golf Club, China
Anita Lai
T: +852 2973 0303
F: +852 2869 9632
E: anitalai@missionhillsgroup.com
Celtic Manor Resort
Gareth Rees Jones
T: +44 1633 413 000
M: +44 7901 511 302
E: gjones@celtic-manor.com
Four Communications
Neil Hopkins
T: +44 870 420 3274
M: +44 7968 716 938
E: nhopkins@fourcommunications.com