News

Travelers Championship News

Web Site: http://travelerschampionship.com
90 State House Square, 11th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103
Tel: (860) 502-6800 Fax: (860) 502-6809

View all News Articles for Travelers Championship

Travelers Championship Named 2017""Tournament of the Year"

December 10, 2017

"On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I am pleased to congratulate the Travelers Championship for being named the best among its peers on TOUR," said Andy Pazder, the PGA TOUR's Executive Vice President and Chief Tournaments and Competitions Officer. "The tournament team worked tirelessly with its title sponsor on new and innovative ways of improving the tournament experience, and this award is a testament to that."

With record attendance, sales and fan engagement, the 2017 Travelers Championship raised the bar across the board through a strategic approach that focused on providing a first-class experience for fans, players, sponsors, volunteers and charity. This marks the first time that the Travelers Championship has been recognized as "Tournament of the Year."

"We are incredibly honored and humbled to be named �Tournament of the Year,' which reflects the selfless work by our volunteers and the support of the TOUR, its players, our sponsors and fans," said Travelers Championship Tournament Director Nathan Grube. "What took place at TPC River Highlands this year will go down as one of the most exciting in tournament history. We'd like to congratulate all the other tournaments that helped make the PGA TOUR season so unforgettable."

"We work hard on making sure everyone who attends or participates in our event has a world-class experience, so no detail toward that goal is too small," said Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Travelers. "We are proud to associate our brand with the PGA TOUR and this event, and are honored by this tremendous recognition. The best part is that any success we have means more money and attention raised for so many local charities that partner with the tournament."

This year's Travelers Championship was won in dramatic fashion by Jordan Spieth, who holed out from a greenside bunker on the 18th hole to beat Daniel Berger on the first playoff hole.

As the "Most Fan-Friendly Event," the tournament provided options for everyone, including affordable access, more than 18 food and beverage locations, fan and kid zones and public on-site concerts. The tournament increased fan engagement by 441 percent through creative video and dynamic content, and following Spieth's thrilling hole-out to win, the tournament handle trended on Twitter for nearly four hours and the video reached YouTube's front page within 24 hours.

The tournament continued to enhance the player and caddie experience, providing a complimentary charter flight from the preceding event, healthy food options and a variety of special features including caddie appreciation day, a performance by Kevin Nealon and multiple off-site events. To determine the new "Players Choice" category, TOUR players were asked to vote for one event based on tournament services, hospitality, player and family amenities, community support and attendance.

At the heart and soul of the tournament is its volunteers and charity. With approximately 4,000 volunteers working over 80,000 hours, the 2017 event generated more than $1.7 million for 165 deserving charities.

Through a collaborative approach with the PGA TOUR, the Travelers Championship has developed long-range planning goals and implemented software and programs that have resulted in a significant increase in sales, returning sponsor investment and admissions, year-over-year. For its efforts, the Travelers Championship was recognized with the "Best Sales" award in 2017.

The 2018 Travelers Championship will be held June 18-24 at TPC River Highlands.

Member News is provided as a service of the Midstate Chamber of Commerce and is also featured in the monthly "Chamber News" newsletter mailed to members.