Qualitas Project Control/Dragon Rock Continue Drive to Promote Golf Tourism in Asia: Launches Destination Golf Brand in Asia
August 2019
Sam Sakocius, President of Qualitas Project Control has teamed with Zenta Thomas, President of Dragon Rock bringing Qualitas’s 35 years of his Golf Development, Civil Engineering and Design background together with Dragon Rock’s many years of media production, marketing and cross-cultural consulting experience specializing in the introduction of Western brands to the Asian Market, to announce their latest initiatives to launch and instantly position Destination Golf as the top Golf Travel Media Brand in Asia.
Recently named respectively as Destination Golf’s Asian Brand Ambassador and Senior Feature Editor in charge of content creation, Thomas and Sakocius have guided new client, Destination Golf Media (www.destinationgolf.travel) into the Asian market with a creative, measured and strategic campaign aimed at propelling the European based media company, considered to be the world’s number one golf travel magazine, into the uppermost travel media position in Asia.
Says Thomas, “A multi-pronged approach was key to achieving the two goals of bringing awareness of Destination Golf Media to golf properties and stake holders in Asia while simultaneously stimulating Destination Golf’s worldwide subscriber base’s interest in the vast, exotic golf offerings Asia has to offer.” She elaborates, “This year’s push to launch Destination Golf in Asia was comprised of a series of initiatives covering high profile golf events, conferences, trade shows, tourism board conclaves and tourism influencer consultations. We produced one on one celebrity interviews with the knighted, six time major winner Sir Nick Faldo, on the heels of his world golf designer of the year acclaim and created video content featuring top designers like Dana Fry, hot off the Erin Hills US OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP. We also embarked on adventurous fam tour treks to produce regional coverage of places as unique and exotic as Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Abu Dhabi, Myanmar, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, and Laos.” All in a year’s work for the Qualitas/ Dragon Rock brand building machine.!
Sam Sakocius, Zenta Thomas, Peter Walton, Managing Director of the IAGTO (International Association of Golf Tour Operators) at the AGTC (Asian Golf Tourism Convention).
Reflecting on his efforts on behalf of Destination Golf and what he’s accomplished with his content creation to increase Golf Tourism to the region, Sakocius states, ‘It has been a joy to be able to introduce the exotic wonders of Asia to traveling golfers. Travelers from the west are sometimes intimidated by the long trip or foreign customs and language. Demystifying the region and actually communicating the charm and sense of adventure for them has been personally rewarding. The travel and experience coupled with writing and feedback, has enabled us to advise developers and operators on the best ways to target that elite, well-heeled strata of golf travelers.”
By leveraging both Qualitas’s and Dragon Rock’s ever expanding networks, which cover multiple sectors of the golf Industry including tourism, resort development, operations, and market entry programs, Thomas and Sakocius were able to create a slow burn of intense brand building throughout the golf industry in Asia which recently culminated in the highly anticipated and very successful launch of the first Destination Golf Global Guide dedicated to Asia.
Commenting on its launch, Founder & CEO of Destination Golf Media, Dermot Synnott commented: “Although our brand is very established in Europe and on the internet, we knew that our market entry into Asia would take a special approach and dedicated team. I found this is Zenta and Sam, who have visited the major golf destinations in Asia and attended the Asia Golf Tourism Convention (AGTC) for the last 2-years to have a personal face to face approach with clients, listening to their goals and aligning them with our global strategies. With Zenta and Sam looking after our market entry, I am very excited about the future of Destination Golf in Asia.”
The first Asian guide was launched earlier this year at the Asian Golf Tourism Conference in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The issue featured a list of Asia’s most memorable courses as selected by a panel of expert judges. Awards were presented providing photo opportunities and social media marketing options for the recipients. A special inaugural sweepstakes was held with the winning property, Rainbow Hills Golf Resort, garnering a ten page feature article which appeared in the summer global guide.
DG ASIA GOLF GUIDE - https://www.destinationgolf.travel/asia2019/
The second Asian Global Guide will be published and released at the AGTC next Spring 2020. If you would like to set your club, hotel, or tourism board up for consideration, please contact Zenta Thomas at Zentathomas@msn.com
For a Free Subscription and the chance to win a 10-page feature article on your club or property, which will appear in an upcoming Global Guide, click here https://destinationgolf.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=674abc38e066059f8b06f3226&id=70808cfd83 .
Stakeholders, regions, and events interviewed by Sam and featured in DG during this initial phase have responded with feedback that the coverage has been a great adjunct for them to use in tandem with their own social media marketing.
Sir Nick Faldo, Sam Sakocius, Zenta Thomas, Andy Haggar
Qualitas Project Control & Dragon Rock, multi layered, multipronged, ever creative.
Contact:
Zenta Thomas, zenta@projectcontrolintl.com or sam@projectcontrolintl.com
www.dragonrockllc.com - www.qualitasprojectcontrol.com - www.destinationgolf.travel
TESTIMONIALS FROM GLOBAL LEADERS
Peter Walton, Managing Director, IAGTO. “What Destination Golf does is very important for the golf tourism industry because 70 percent of golf travelers are looking for new destinations to visit. In their search they need a source that they trust. So, by giving golfers who are curious about new golf destinations recommendations by good and seasoned golf travel writers, destination golf is providing an essential service to the travel industry. There are so many wonderful, but maybe little known destinations, so it’s a very important ambassadorial job that Destination Golf is providing to traveling golfers and the industry.”
Mark Siegel, Managing Director of Golfasian, Re Company and Personality Feature. “Golfasian has received excellent coverage in Destination Golf. The publication quality and distribution are first-class. Moreover, the editor's knowledge and regional travel experience give Destination Golf unique capabilities to cover all aspects of destination branding.’ Siegel added, ‘I wish DG complete success with the launch of their new Asian edition, and I recommend Destination Golf as a publication for any operator, tourist board, or marketing organization who wants to get the message out on what's available.”
Nick Faldo, President Faldo Design, Re Celebrity Designer Profile. “I did an interview with Destination Golf Feature Editor Sam Sakocius that captured my thoughts about, and love for golf in Asia. He really “got” the fact that Asia is not just a design opportunity, but that Asia is a place that I have enjoyed ever since I was first playing in professional events there, and now as a holiday destination and for my various business interests. Destination Golf does a great job around the world introducing travelling golfers to new and exciting venues and it is gratifying that Asia has now become a focus that will benefit not only our clients, but the regional interests as well.”
Kyi Hla Han, President Kyi Hla Han Golf Design, Former Chairman of the Asian Tour, Re Myanmar Regional Feature, “As native of Myanmar and former Touring Professional, It was my pleasure to host Sam Sakocius, Destination Golf’s Asia Feature Editor, on a tour of golf and culture throughout the country, including a stop at the course where I was the signature designer, Myotha National. Sam’s feature captured the essence of a Golf Vacation in Myanmar with honesty and a perfect understanding of the nuances that make Myanmar so special. With Several new world class courses in the works, we are poised to become one of the great golf destinations. For sure, Developing Markets need this kind of coverage and exposure as a tool for our tourism boards and operators to use to promote golf in the region.”
Clinton Norris, Group Senior Sales Manager, Troon International (Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, and Yas Links), Re Cover Story - Regional Feature. Tourism Event,
“Not only were Sam and Zenta an absolute pleasure working with, they were an incredible addition to our Abu Dhabi Golf Tourism Week group of key global trade and media. The energy and knowledge the pair share is infectious and superb industry conversationalists. The exposure that Destination Golf provided our destination, Abu Dhabi, was exactly what we needed and most importantly to the right demographic. We thank Sam and Zenta for visiting and working with us and have already recommended our sister Troon clubs to work with Destination Golf.”
Nguyễn Danh Ngọc, VP Vin Pearl Marketing. “Re Most Memorable Edition, “Destination Golf gave us a great chance to show the natural beauty of Vinpearl Golf Phu Quoc to global golf-lovers. It was our honor to be crowded as one of the most memorable golf courses in Asia 2019 on its first Asian edition. This recognition marked a milestone for us to promote tourism in Phu Quoc and the 5-star Vinpearl’s resort complex. We hope the award will be served as a credential for customers to choose us in the future, especially Destination Golf’s readers in Europe and America who are searching for a remarkable golf trip in Vietnam.”, Ngoc Nguyen – Marketing Manager of Vinpearl Golf.”
Peter McCarthy, President, Go Golfing, Re Coverage of an Event. “Dragon Rock/ Destinaton Golf did an amazing job profiling our Centara World Masters Golf Championship, Asia’s biggest and richest tournament for club golfers. As representatives of Destination Golf Zenta the Brand Ambassador and Sam Sakocius, the Asian Feature Editor, sought to understand the event profile and our clientele and produced wonderful features pre and post event in Destination Golf that captured the essence of the event and what golfers really love.”
Sam Sakocius, Mark Siegel, Managing Director, Golfasian, Zenta Thomas, Peter McCarthy, President of Go Golfing at the Centara World Masters
Belinda Udin, Tourism Promotion Officer, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, Re Feature on the Region. “The golf courses in Mauritius were beautifully portrayed and very professional assistance received.”
Asela Wavita, GM Victoria Golf and Country Resort, Sri Lanka, Re Regional feature.
“We have been enormously pleased with the coverage we have received from destination golf over the past years. We are fortunate to have DG feature editor Sam Sakocius guiding our project and not only developing a strategy, through his articles and advisory services, for the marketing of our Victoria Golf and Country Resort but for introducing our entire country’s growing golf offerings to the world.”
Adrian Wahyudi, Executive Consultant to Rainbow Hills Golf Club. Re Feature on Resort. “Rainbow Hills Golf Club thanks Destination Golf for its thorough coverage of our golf course and facilities. The article is well written and it certainly opens up a window to global golf tourism in the region. Destination Golf is an undeniably top platform to expose all the achievements that Rainbow Hills have achieved in the last several years. We will certainly use the article to enhance our future promotions. I wish all the success to Destination Golf in future to come. Adrian Wahyudi, Executive Consultant to Rainbow Hills Golf Club.
COVER PIC
Zenta Thomas. President, Dragon Rock
Dermot Synnott, CEO and Founder Destination Golf
Sam Sakocius. President, Qualitas Project Control