The industry’s best performing properties and leaders were announced as 59club unveiled their Eminent Collection – signifying the benchmark of excellence within the Global Golf & Hospitality landscape.
An exclusive event hosted aboard the Sunborn London; a floating super-yacht hotel in Royal Victoria Dock, marked the special occasion for those having achieved the highest long-serving standards of customer service excellence. With a previous soiree delivered days before at one of Dubai’s leading restaurants; Carine at Emirates, as 59club’s first inductees were welcomed.
Simon Wordsworth CEO of 59club said; “having amassed over 12 years of non-subjective performance data spanning all aspects of customer service, 59club has an unparalleled vision over those within the Golf & Hospitality Business who have proven their excellence, time after time, year after year. In honour of those years of dedication, the Eminent Collection was born to represent an international benchmark of excellence, which recognises the finest individuals & properties who are leading the industry in the customer experience realms. It is the only badge of honour that is an unbiased testament to having created a customer-centric culture, that puts the customer and their needs first, whilst regularly seeking objective affirmation that those needs are exceeded”.
Eligibility into the Collectionis based solely on achievements across the 59club Service Excellence Awards, with individual and team accolades, along with property flag designations, all contributing towards the Eminent Benchmark of Excellence; measuring performances over a minimum of 5 years.
Simon added “There is no debate to be had, you are either in or not, if in it is crystal clear why, if out then likewise you know what you must do. There is no self-assessment, no bias, no cloudy subjective entries – if you are in the Eminent Collection, you are there because you put yourself, your team, your venue up for independent non-subjective scrutiny of your customer service performance. The venues and individuals are proven to be amongst the best operators in the business – that is what the Eminent Collection is there to show. That is exactly why a brand like Club Car, who are all about customer experience and vehicles of the highest quality has chosen to support us in highlighting these achievements.”
Twelve Properties from within 59club’s international network achieved the Benchmark of Excellence. Four were from the UAE, one from Europe and seven from the UK. They are The Belfry Hotel & Resort; The Celtic Manor Resort; Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club; Emirates Golf Club; Forest of Arden; Foxhills Club & Resort; Gleneagles; Golf Son Muntaner; The Grove; Rockliffe Hall; Trump International Golf Club, Dubai; and Yas Links Abu Dhabi.
2022’s induction roll has twenty-two individuals. Three are from the UAE, one from the USA, one from Europe, and seventeen from the UK.
Seven of those are outstanding high-performing leaders, with Andrew Whitelaw GM/COO, Aronimink Golf Club; Anna Darnell Resort Director, The Grove; Barney Coleman Club Manager, Emirates Golf Club; Bernat Llobera Area Golf Director, Arabella Golf Mallorca; Chris May CEO, Dubai Golf; Gary Silcock General Manager, Murrayshall; and Stuart Collier Director of Golf, Stoke Park, all joining the elite realms of Eminent status.
Fifteen individuals spanning Golf Operations (six), Greenkeeping (six), Retail (two), and Food & Beverage (one) have thus far achieved the benchmark of excellence required to be invited into 59club’s Eminent Collection, with Brad Gould Director of Golf, The Grove; Chris Reeve Director of Golf, The Belfry; Fraser Liston Director of Golf, Forest of Arden; Sean Graham Head of Golf Operations, Foxhills; Stephen Hindle Golf Manager, Worsley Park; Stephen Hubner Club Manager, Jumeirah Golf Estates; Angus Macleod Director of Golf Courses & Estates, The Belfry; Craig Haldane Golf Courses Manager, Gleneagles; Jim McKenzie MBE Director of Golf Courses & Estates, Celtic Manor; Jonathan Wyer Golf Course Manager, Rockliffe Hall; Phillip Chiverton Golf Course Manager, The Grove; Rob Rowson Golf Course Estate Manager, Forest of Arden; Jacques Hobson Food & Beverage Manager, The Belfry; Simon Howell Golf Operations Manager, Forest of Arden; Tom Hughes Head of Golf Retail & Operations, The Belfry, all having maintained exceptionally high standards during their long-serving engagement with 59club.
As 59club continue to be the leading customer service management authority, dedicated to advancing the customer experience, one thing is certain for the Eminent Collection, and all those engaged within 59clubs global network, the golf & hospitality landscape will continue to thrive under their watchful eye.
