Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau hosted golf tour industry clients and travel industry partners from 13 countries during the American Cup Golf Invitational (ACGI), held October 2-6, 2017.

The attending golf tour operators and partners experienced a taste of Minnesota’s championship golf courses, which are highlighted in Bloomington CVB’s Great Northern Golf Trail itinerary. China, Finland and Mexico were first time participants in the 2017 American Cup, with Jesus Garcia and Paco de la Rosa of Mexico winning the invitational.

“American Cup was a fantastic platform for tour operators to showcase our Great Northern Golf Trail itinerary and it was an exciting International event to host. During the American Cup, we launched our seven to 14-day itineraries of the best golf in our region. We have golf unlike anywhere else in the country, built out of forests and thousands of clear lakes,” explained Dan O’Neill, vice president of strategy and sales at the Bloomington CVB. “Plus, coming on the heels of the 2016 Ryder Cup success and promoting future events like the 2019 Women’s PGA Championship and the 2020 PGA U.S. Amateur Championship made it even better.”

Participants started in Bloomington, staying at the JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America and enjoying practice rounds on local metro golf courses, including The Wilds Golf Club and White Bear Yacht Club. Hazeltine Golf Club, home of the 2016 Ryder Cup, was featured with a links event which included instruction by Hazeltine golf professionals. After events held at Mall of America, the group played competitive rounds at Rush Creek Golf Club before heading north to Grand View Lodge, where they played The Preserve and The Classic Golf Clubs over two days.

The closing night event was held at Hard Rock Café Mall of America with highlights including a Prince tribute band and a $17,500 donation to Cornerstone, a local Minnesota non-profit that works with victims of domestic and sexual violence and human trafficking.

Attendees praised the quality of the golf courses and beautiful fall colors, the exciting and varied venues in Bloomington, the stellar accommodations at the JW Marriott, Mall of America shopping, and the hospitality of the region. “It was my first visit to Minnesota but I will definitely be back before too long,” stated one tour operator.

American Cup attendees included senior level decision makers from tour wholesalers, receptive operators, retail agency networks, airlines, specialty operators (i.e. golf) and others capable of using their experience to develop new or enhance product to the host destination. In addition to the 30+ clients in attendance, a similar number of U.S. suppliers participated, representing destinations, hotels/resorts, transportation and attractions, to promote their products and services during the 3.5-day networking and destination learning experience.

Terry Selk, the founder of the ACGI, spoke to the choice of Bloomington hosting American Cup. "Bloomington and Minnesota provided the perfect backdrop for both golf and non-golf destination experiences during the American Cup 3.0. As a lesser-known destination with phenomenal product opportunities, bringing the event to the Land of 10,000 Lakes provided an educational experience to raise awareness among key decision makers in 13 countries who can influence their companies' choices on U.S. product to offer their customers. Attendees were impressed with the high quality of the golf tracks as well as the unique non-golf leisure travel experiences that are available, and I am very confident that new product development will emerge in the months to come.”

Selk went on to say, “The Bloomington CVB staff was excellent to work with and took every step to ensure that the Minnesota experience would be one that ‘Cuppers’ would remember and be inspired by for many years to come. Their highly professional approach to showcasing their destination is a model for many others to emulate." The ACGI is the sister event to the California Cup Golf Invitational, now in its 15th year. American Cup took place in Scottsdale, AZ, in 2016, Bloomington in 2017 and is set for Las Vegas in 2018.

ENDS

Photo caption: Largest golf operator FAM descends on Bloomington, MN to play American Cup Golf Invitational. Celebrate Luxury in Bloomington, Minnesota!

About Bloomington CVB
The Bloomington Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official marketing organization for the City of Bloomington and markets Bloomington, Minnesota, area attractions, and the surrounding communities, to visitors around the world. Bloomington is located adjacent to Minneapolis and St. Paul, just minutes from the International Airport, is the home of Mall of America, and is a premier destination for meetings, conventions, and tourism. For visitor information, special offers and to book hotel rooms online visit www.bloomingtonmn.org.